How about you, do you like to take tests?
Many of us have experienced some level of test anxiety. I certainly did.
What has us so afraid? What part of us is running the show?
Stressful emotions can reduce a person’s ability to absorb, retain and recall information. Anxiety creates "noise" in the brain. That mental static blocks our ability to retrieve what’s memorized and also impairs our ability to reason and comprehend. So, it stands to reason that negative thoughts and self doubt can lead to more fears and eventually anxiety.
While it is natural to get a little nervous about taking a test, there are several things we can do to prepare ourselves for the event and greatly ease the tension. Wouldn’t it be great to have your child gain these skills now so that they can use them throughout their life?
I believe it was my fear of tests that led me to become a teacher. In my 20+ years working with children, I have found fantastic ways to calm test anxiety. Not only have these strategies worked for me but I have taught hundreds of elementary students and their parents the same techniques.
Building test taking confidence doesn’t begin the night before the test. Ample preparation and self-confidence will make all the difference.
Over time, these 6 Test Taking Tips will become your child’s best friend during assessments.
Tip #1: Be Prepared
Nothing helps a child feel more confident then knowing what the answers are when going into a test. Teaching a child to properly study, at an early age, is an excellent way to avoid test anxiety all together. There are many books, websites, and even local courses that teach study skills to children as young as 9-10 years. This is an investment of time and energy that you won’t regret.
Here are some creative study tips to get you started:
· Squirt some shaving cream on to a plastic or sealed surface desktop or table and smooth it out. Have your child practice their tests for spelling or math facts by writing the answers in shaving cream with their fingers.
· Remember flash cards? Go buy some! They provide an excellent format for studying. Have your child use colored pens or crayons to create the flash cards and if it is appropriate, let them draw pictures that relate to the questions/answers too. We memorize easier with pictures and color.
· Buy some washable markers and surprise your child with multiple choice or fill-in the blank test questions on the window or bathroom mirror. Let them use the marker to record their answers and then have fun cleaning the area together.
Tip #2: Tests Abound
Start to notice and share with your child how tests are all around us as adults. Do so with a fun and light heart, of course. If they see that tests are simply a part of life, they will be less intense about it.
Tip #3: Breathing and the Neutral Zone
When your child becomes anxious or concerned, teach them “conscious breathing”. Breathe in through your nose deeply until you can’t take in anymore air and then hold it for five seconds. Then, just as slowly, breathe out through your mouth until you have released everything. Have them repeat this ten times. Doing so will give them a sense of neutrality for whatever it is they are feeling concerned about. When they are done with the conscious breath exercise, have them replace their fear with a positive statement about themselves in relation to the test.
Tip #4: Fantasy vs. Reality
Discuss “what if” scenarios with your child. “What if you don’t pass this test?” Brainstorm the natural (and imposed) consequences for failing the test. You might be surprised to learn that they think you or the teacher will not like them if they don’t do well. Or, they may think they have to repeat a grade if they get a low score on a single test. Help your child see which beliefs are fantasy and which are reality. While it is important for them to understand the potential results of consistently low test scores, it is important for you both to know how much they are exaggerating around it.
Tip #5: Testing Workbooks for Practice
Multiple Choice
True/false
Fill-in-the-blank
Essay
Graphs/Diagrams
Contrast and compare
Opposites
These are just a few examples of test questions your child will encounter in elementary school. Are they familiar with how to answer these types of questions? For many children, they do indeed, know the answer to a question; but, it is the format for the test that has them feeling anxious and having them potentially answering it wrong. There are many great workbooks available at your local teaching store (or online). Ask your teacher for recommendations.
Tip #6: The “Big” Day
It is essential for a child to get plenty of sleep and to have a hearty breakfast on school days in order to reach their learning potential. On the day of a test, it is extra important for them because it helps keep anxiety low – from a physiological perspective. Some parents think that it is helpful to “play up” the idea of going to bed early or eating well before a test with their child. Be aware, this might heighten their awareness of how important you think the test is and create unnecessary stress or even worse, distaste for tests in general.
Prior to opening her own business, Karen Nowicki was a teacher, asst. principal and vice president for public and charter schools. Karen is dedicated to helping you become the greatest expression of yourself. She accomplishes this through her private coaching, tele-seminars, and her Snuggle Deep Retreat. Karen is the author of Maddie Moonbeam's Garden, an inspirational gift book which offers a sweet tribute to each person's journey toward self acceptance. Karen lives in Chandler, AZ with her husband and three children.
For more with Karen, sign up for her free newsletter at www.apeacefulintegration.com.
