What would be a helpful resolution to improve our children's lives at school? - Helpful
Answer: With the school year quickly reaching its halfway point, it's a good time to think about the standardized tests looming ahead. For some students there is a lot of anxiety surrounding these tests. Being successful in school certainly rests on students being good test-takers. Fortunately, there are a few things that parents can do to help their children approach these tests with more confidence.
First of all, you need to know that standardized tests are prepared by testing companies, not by the classroom teacher. And they are administered to millions of students across the country under the same carefully controlled conditions. Furthermore, they are important tests whose results let teachers update the curriculum to meet everyone's needs.
Standardized tests are not tests that your children will be able to study for the night before so that they can ace it! Here are some things that you need to know about standardized tests:
- -They are designed to assess students' academic knowledge.
- -The scores show children's strengths and weaknesses in skills and content area for their grade level.
- -Teachers spend time acquainting children with the format of the test.
- -The actual content of the test should have been taught to your children through the standard curriculum taught in their classrooms, not through weeks of test cramming.
Look over our checklist of strategies that will help to lower children's test anxieties. If you see any areas where you could do more, think about making a New Year's resolution to adopt them.
- -Have you taught your children to do all end-of-the-chapter exercises so the test items will look familiar?
- -Have you encouraged your children to make up and answer questions that might be on a test? More than likely, they will make up some questions that will be on the test.
- -Have you avoided putting too much emphasis on test scores? When parents stress on scores, their children stress on taking tests.
- -Do you praise your children for their efforts in studying for tests? Feeling confident in their abilities will help them do their best. If they are afraid of failing, they will be more anxious and will more likely make mistakes.
- -Have you stressed regular school attendance? Excessive absences can have a negative effect on achievement, and tests are a reflection of overall achievement.
- -Have you talked to their teachers if your children are quite anxious about tests? Putting your heads together is likely to improve the situation.