Couch's Corner for Parents
April 2023
Couch MS Parent Center Newsletter
Read it in your own language
The cool thing about this newsletter is that you can read it in your own language; just find the word “translate” on the upper right corner.
Léalo en su propio idioma
Lo bueno de este boletín es que puede leerlo en su propio idioma; simplemente busque la palabra "traducir" en la esquina superior a la derecha de su computadora.
April 15, Rising 6th grade Orientation
Help Your Child Manage Test Anxiety
Anxiety is a common emotion that all people feel to varying degrees throughout their lives. While it is normal, and even can be helpful, to feel this emotion, anxiety also can significantly impair an individual’s ability to function. For some children, test-taking anxiety may have an adverse effect on performance. Following are some strategies that parents and students can use to prepare for assessments and manage test anxiety so that children can meet their fullest potential.
Maintain a consistent, but flexible routine that includes regular, vigorous activity and adequate sleep. Both have been shown to have positive effects on mental health and academic performance. On test days, make sure your child has a good breakfast and a good night’s sleep the night before.
Have high expectations, but accept “less than perfect.” Let your child know that no one is expected to do everything equally well. Perfectionism can contribute to anxiety. Share your own mistakes with your child. You can show that everyone, including adults, makes mistakes and that we all can learn from the mistakes we make. Keep a rein on your own “test anxiety” and help your student keep things in perspective.
Know that testing and performance anxiety are real. Anxiety is an emotional response to a stressful situation, often characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety may cause a student to “go blank” during a test or performance, forgetting answers he knows or flubbing lines he had down pat. Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating may throw your student for a loop. Negative thoughts about past performance or consequences of failure may cause your student to “shut down” when faced with another “opportunity to fail.”
Teach your child to recognize the signs of anxiety. Everyone is different, but physical symptoms may include nausea, cramps, faintness, sweating, headache, dry mouth, increased heart and breathing rates, tense muscles, and fluttery or tingling feelings in the body, especially the stomach.
Help your child communicate his emotions in stressful situations. Work together to identify, describe, and talk about his emotions. Understanding what’s happening can help your student conquer, or at least tame, his anxiety. Be patient and prepared to listen. Understand that reasoning is not always effective in reducing anxiety.
Identify strategies that relieve anxiety. Examples include relaxation training, breathing techniques, visualization, positive self-talk, and deconstructing irrational beliefs (a poor test grade means I’ll never go to college…). Have your child verbalize and even write out the steps in her plan for managing test anxiety.
Communicate with your child’s teacher. Make sure that the teaching team is aware of any concerns and knows what strategies work best for your student. (Or ask for tips that might be helpful.) Work with your child’s school counselor or psychologist or seek outside help if needed.
For students… Test-taking tips
Before the test…
- Get plenty of rest the night before.
- Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test. Avoid high sugar foods.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Arrive to school on time. You will feel more relaxed if you’re not rushed, so wake up a few minutes early.
- Relax. You’ll do better if you don’t worry. Try to remember that the results of tests help your teachers plan for your education. It’s your time to “show what you know.”
- If you are “stressed out” about your test, here are four stress-busting strategies:
- Slow down and relax;
- Take slow, deep breaths;
- Close your eyes and think positive thoughts; and
- Take a moment to prepare for the test. Be sure you have sharp pencils, a good eraser, and blank scratch paper.
During the test…
- Always listen and follow the directions. Ask questions about any directions that are unclear.
- Make sure to mark your answers in the right place on your answer sheet. Darken the circles completely.
- Take your time and read carefully.
- Read all written directions carefully before you begin.
- Read the entire question or story before you answer.
- On multiple-choice questions, read all your answer choices before selecting your answer. If you are not sure, eliminate answers that you know are wrong before you make a guess. Remember, there’s no penalty for guessing!
- Think about your answers. Don’t second-guess your answers. Your first answer often is the right answer.
When you are finished with the test…
- If you have time, go back and review your answers.
- Check that you have answered every question. Guessing is OK if you don’t know the answer, but eliminate wrong answers first.
- If you find a mistake, erase completely and carefully, and bubble in the correct answer.
- Check for any stray marks and erase them.
Important test words that you need to know…
To do your best work, you need to make sure you understand the test question. Here are important terms you need to know:
- Synonyms— Words that have similar meaning
- Antonyms— Words that have opposite meaning
- Estimate— Make an approximate calculation
- Infer— Draw a conclusion using the information you are offered
- Explain your answer— Write a complete description of the way you got your answer.
Parent Resource Center
Email: cecilia.fuller@gcpsk12.org
Website: www.gcpsk12.org/couchms
Location: 1777 Grayson Highway, Grayson, GA, USA
Phone: 678 407 7309