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Tests are a big part of school
life, more so today than ever before with the emphasis on meeting higher
standards. Today’s tests not only tell students how well they are doing and
where they need to improve, they also allow teachers to identify where the
curriculum needs to be fine tuned.
So if tests are so helpful, why
do they cause some children so much anguish?
Any test that requires students
to show their best work is likely to produce some jitters. However, when those
jitters produce extreme preoccupation with failure, sleeplessness, trembling
hands, stomach pains or feeling faint, your child is likely experiencing
"test anxiety."
According to the U.S.
Department of Education, students who suffer from test anxiety tend to worry
about success in school and may be extremely self-critical. Instead of feeling
challenged by the prospect of success, they become afraid of failure. This makes
them anxious about tests and their own abilities. Simply encouraging them to
stop worrying usually doesn’t help ease their concerns.
To reduce anxiety prior to
tests, here are some things you might try:
- Encourage your child to
study over a period of time rather than "cram" the night before an
exam. This becomes particularly important with end-of-the-year tests, many
of which are reflective of the content that has been taught throughout the
year. Test preparation should be more like a review than a stressful attempt
to learn a year’s worth of curriculum in one night.
- Try to keep your talk about
tests casual (while driving in the car or preparing dinner, ask how your
child feels about an upcoming test). Children are more likely to open up
about fears or anxiety in less confrontational situations rather than when
face-to-face.
- Meet with teachers or a
guidance counselor to discuss your child’s progress. They can suggest
activities to do at home to help prepare for tests and improve your
child’s understanding of schoolwork.
- Stay well informed about
your child’s tests.
- Know how different test
results are used and how they will affect your child’s placement in
school. Many content area tests and projects count for a percentage of the
year’s grade and can determine whether a student passes or fails a subject
area. Others, like the eighth grade state tests, are designed to show how
well students have learned information in different content areas throughout
the middle school years. Students who score below a certain level will not
be retained because of their grade. Scores from these tests are used by
teachers to determine whether students will need remedial help to prepare
for the more challenging content in high school.
- Don’t dismiss the test as
unimportant. At the same time, let your child know that it’s his or her
effort and not the final score that really counts.
Before the test, make sure your
child:
- Gets a good night’s sleep.
- Eats a wholesome breakfast.
- Dresses comfortably.
- Is on time to school.
- Has all necessary materials
(pen, pencil, calculator, etc.).
- Avoids stressful situations
(such as arguments) prior to testing.
- During the test, encourage
your child to:
- Ask questions of the person
administering the test if unsure what is being asked.
- Answer questions completely
and in detail.
- Check to be sure no
questions have been skipped.
- Proofread answers.
- Avoid becoming distracted by
other test takers.
- Silently repeat calming
phrases such as "This is only a test," "I don’t have to be
perfect," or "I can be nervous later, but now I have to
concentrate on the test."
- Take a few deep breaths, get
up to get a drink or to sharpen a pencil, shift seating position or stand to
stretch.
- Don’t worry about who
finishes first or last.
- Go back and proof answers
again if finished early, but don’t change anything unless sure of the
change. Studies show the first answer is usually the right one.
Suggested reading for
parents and students
Ready, Set, Relax: A
Research-Based Program of Relaxation, Learning and Self-Esteem for Children
by Jeffrey S. Allen, Roger J. Klein -- This book for families teaches how to use
visualization and breathing techniques to overcome difficult situations.
Don’t Pop Your Cork on
Mondays: The Children’s Anti-Stress Book by Adolph J. Moser, Dav Pilkey
(Illustrator) -- This book written for kids (ages 9-12) talks about the causes
and effects of stress and offers practical approaches and techniques for dealing
with stress in daily life.
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For
permission to reprint this article, please contact the
Capital Region BOCES Communications Service at (518)
464-3960.
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