Bayside 6th Grade Campus
Testing Dates:
English SOL Test: May 20
Math SOL Test: May 30
Testing Tips from Bayside 6th:
The best advice is Normal, Normal, and Normal! If your child does not normally eat pancakes, don't eat pancakes. Do not move your child's bedtime to something very early or they will toss and turn instead of getting a good night's sleep. The best thing for "normal" is to be calm and relaxed the day of testing. The calmer you are the more relaxed your child will be for testing.
The Night before the Test
* Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before the test.
* Plan ahead to avoid problems before the test so he/she doesn’t go to bed upset.
* Be encouraging – let your child know you think he/she will do well on the test.
The Morning of the Test
* Have your child get up early enough to avoid hurrying.
* Make sure your child has a good breakfast the morning of the test.
* Have your child dress in layers so that he/she doesn’t get overly hot or cold. Comfort is important!
* Please be sure to have your child at school ON TIME! If testing has started, students coming in late will have to make up that test at another time. Being on time creates less stress on testing mornings.
Working with students who are anxious about testing
* Try not to put too much pressure on the student. Reinforce that as long as they worked hard in preparation and did their absolute best you will be proud of them.
* Have the child visualize success. Encourage them to rehearse what it will feel like to get a good score on the test.
* Work with them to focus on breathing. Stress is often caused by insufficient oxygen to the brain. Work with your child to take time before the test begins to take a number of deep breaths, exhaling slowly.
* Avoid cramming the night before a test. Cramming is rarely if ever effective. A longer, more systematic schedule of short reviews will prepare the student better.
* Plan for a fun outing or treat for your child after the test has been completed.
* Keep a positive attitude about testing in general around your child and emphasize their ability to demonstrate what they have learned rather than the consequences of not passing.
IXL
Summer Slide
As we head towards the last few days of school, you and your child might be discussing how they should spend their summer. Should they take enrichment classes? Is summer camp an option? Maybe they are burnt out from the school year and need to spend some time at home.
Recent studies have shown the increasing importance of active academic and social stimulation throughout the summer. Researchers have linked an excessive amount of time off during the summer to lower test scores and a gap in a student’s academic knowledge. This phenomenon is typically referred to as the Summer Slide.
What happens during the Summer Slide?
- Children forget fundamental concepts learned from the previous school year. According to research, kids lose an average of 2.6 years of math computational skills over the summer. Studies also show comparable declines in reading and writing skills.
- Nutrition falls by the wayside, as kids consume three more ounces of sugary drinks per day, leading to weight gain.
- Younger students watch an average of twenty minutes more of television during the summer than the school year, while maintaining the same exercise schedule.
How can you prevent the Summer Slide?
- Read to your kids, and have them read to you, every day – Even if it’s the sport’s page, the comics section or the book they are reading on their summer reading list. This activity will increase their knowledge and expand their minds through text. Encourage them to visit their local library and check out their summer reading list or ask your child’s teacher for their school’s summer reading list.
- Prepare healthy food options for your kids – Limit the amount of sweetened beverages they drink and increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they consume. Involve your children in food preparation to get them enthusiastic about healthy eating.
- Social activities – Sign them up for a summer camp, or an enrichment activity that engages them with other children.
- Make an effort to get your kids to exercise for at least 30-60 minutes per day, through morning or afternoon walks, bike rides, summer sports teams, or daily trips to the park.
- Use technology such as ebooks and mobile applications to make their summer learning interactive.