Back to School, and Back to Standardized Testing

Just as students begin settling in to their new school routines, they are hit with standardized testing week. For those students who struggle with a fear of tests, this is just another anxiety-ridden task to undergo. But there are things parents can do to help ease the anxiety, and ensure their student performs to his/her best ability. Here are a few tips from the experts at Club Z!:   1. Know the enemy! Or in this case, the test. It's important to know and remember that state standardized tests are not like regular classroom tests. They are designed to measure a student's ability to comprehend and apply knowledge, but they are timed and often include instructions that are confusing to students. You can help your child prepare by reviewing sample tests at home, just to familiarize him/her with test format, instructions, and general layout. Most states offer free sample test questions, or copies of old tests online. For example, check out these test prep resources from Florida (FCAT), Texas (TAKS), New York (NYSTP), Massachusetts (MCAS) and California (STAR). This web site from Time4Learning shows a state-by-state breakdown of standardized testing, with links to relevant information. Definitely worth a bookmark!   2. Reinforce key building blocks for learning, particularly in reading and math, to help your child achieve peak performance. These include reading comprehension skills, memorizing important math facts and principles, and mastering phonics. If your child is comfortable with the basic building blocks, he/she will have an easier time responding to more complex questions/problems, and alleviate some unnecessary stress on test day.   3. Make sure your child gets to sleep on time the night before the test. Most experts agree that children need a minimum of 8-10 hours of sleep per night to maximize brain and cognitive functions. If your child has a lengthy nighttime routine, be sure to start it early enough to get him/her in bed on time and ready for rest.   4. Just like #3 above, this may seem like a simple one, but it's as important as test prep itself - make sure your child eats a nutritious and filling breakfast the morning of the test. Focus on foods known for their brain stimulating powers, such as walnuts, berries or avocados. And don't forget the water! Dehydration has also been proven to rob the brain of cognitive abilities.   5. If your child suffers from severe test anxiety, a little extra reinforcement with a tutor may help. Contact your school's guidance counselor for suggestions on resource materials, and referrals to outside assistance. Many programs, such as Club Z!, offer targeted test prep for state standardized testing. Make sure the program you choose does not require a long term contract, and be sure to ask about tutor qualifications to ensure that the tutor matched with your student is a good fit. For example, with Club Z!'s Z! Tutor Match system, tutors are matched to students based on academic qualifications, personality, availability and proximity. With Club Z!'s Z! Guarantee, the tutor match process is guaranteed to produce a suitable tutor for each and every child enrolled.   Whatever you do this year to help your child prepare for state standardized testing, remember to encourage him/her and offer support and positive reinforcement. School can be scary enough without added pressure from home. A good solid after school snack and a hug can go a long way!   On behalf of Club Z!, good luck on state testing this year!