To prepare, students should vary what they read outside of school.

High-stakes assessment season is about to be in full swing. While your child’s teachers might be spending their final weeks trying to fill their students’ heads with more information, there are also things you can do to help your child ace the state’s test.

Practice the procedures

Let the teachers worry about the actual content. Practice at home should consist of preparing your child to actually take the test.

For instance, many students don’t know what 45 minutes “feels” like, so when the proctor starts issuing time warnings, they are caught off guard and might freeze up (or rush, which is worse). On many assessments, there may be types of questions they haven’t seen yet. Both can be remedied with some dry runs before the big day.

Relaxation techniques

Test anxiety takes many forms and may not manifest before the big day itself. If you know your child might experience anxiety, start working on some relaxation techniques that can help calm them down.

Here’s a quick rundown on some breathing exercises proven to lower stress levels in 10 minutes or less. Here is a list of stretches that students can do while staying in their desks. Both can pay dividends during testing season.

Read deeply

Most of the next generation assessments focus more on non-fiction when it comes to their reading comprehension sections, rather than fiction and poetry. This forces students to be well rounded in their approach, having to understand everything from history to science to data.

To prepare, students should vary what they read outside of school. Mix in a newspaper or some advanced magazines, like National Geographic or The Economist, as well as some non-fiction books.

Eat right and rest—for more than just the night before

Educators and others often preach that it’s important for students to get a good night’s rest and eat a solid breakfast before a big test. That is crucial, but good habits start long before the last night. Eating right as soon as possible can produce energy reserves that can have benefits on test day and beyond. And if good sleep habits are established early, it will be less of a shock to the brain when your child goes to bed early on test day.

Get your facts straight

As a school year wears on, a parent can become increasingly unhappy with their child’s teacher. Perhaps they feel as if their child is being singled out or that the teacher is not keeping control of their classroom. Whatever the reason, there are ways of trying to help while still being diplomatic and leading everyone to a positive solution.
Get your facts straight
Before you even approach the teacher, you want to know the specifics of why your child is unhappy. Don’t settle for “she’s mean to me”. Badger your child for specific details. If other children are involved, you need names. If it happens only during a certain subject, which one? There are always two sides to a story and you want the most complete picture you can get before hearing the other side.
Schedule a collaborative meeting
If it comes time to speak to the teacher, schedule a separate meeting rather than having a quick word at drop off or pick up. You want to have enough time to come to a resolution.
In your meeting, take the collaborative approach. Coming across as working toward a common goal is much more effective than demanding things or accusing the teacher of wrongdoing. Patiently ask to hear what the teacher’s perspective is. He or she might not even know that there is a problem. Ask how you can help in the situation. At the end of the meeting, both sides should have a clear idea of what they should do moving forward.
Follow up
Give it a week or two, then follow up with both your child and the teacher. Have they noticed a difference? What has been done (on both sides) to improve the situation. More often than not, they have started working better together.
The principal
If your child is holding up their end of the bargain but the teacher is falling short, or if there simply is not any progress being made, it’s time to get the principal (or assistant principal, if that is the teacher’s direct superior) involved. Again, take the collaborative approach. Explain the situation and the steps you have already taken. Take notes. Also again, everyone should know what he or she is doing to move the situation forward once the meeting has concluded.
The last resort: changing classes
Schools hate changing a student’s schedule. It throws off the balance of other classes and is disruptive to the child in question and their new classmates. But sometimes it’s unavoidable. After a reasonable amount of time and proper follow up (make sure the principal knows you aren’t going to let this drop), if no improvement in the situation has been made, it’s time to request a change. It’s the best way to rescue a school year that has probably become toxic.