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.