FYI...
MAPS testing will take place on Tuesday, 8/29 and Thursday, 8/31. Please see that your child is well rested and has a healthy breakfast and lunch both days.
Reducing Test Taking Anxiety
Test anxiety is when a student excessively worries about doing well on a test. This can become a major hindrance on test performance and cause extreme nervousness and memory lapses among other symptoms. The following are tips on reducing test-taking anxiety that we share with students, but you can share with your child as well.
- Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test-taking anxiety.
- Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.
- Exercising for a few days before the test will help reduce stress.
- Get a good night's sleep before the test.
- Show up to school on time so you won't have to worry about being late.
- Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax and then get back to work.
- Read the directions slowly and carefully.
- If you don't understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain it to you.
- Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself.
- Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions.
- Don't worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.
- If you don't know an answer to a question skip it for the time being (come back to it later if you have time), and remember that you don't have to always get every question right to do well on the test.
- Focus on the question at hand. Don't let your mind wander to other things.
If your child is still experiencing extreme test anxiety after following these tips, seek help from your child's teacher or school social worker.
