Basia with friends at MoMath Museum, NYC, September 2016
“Don’t Risk Your Child’s Future. One Test
May Change Everything!
It’s a shame our
education system places so much emphasis on testing.
But when testing
determines your child’s future - you have to act!”
Karen
Quinn, best-selling author of The Ivy Chronicles
and Testing forKindergarten , testing authority and the Testing Mom.
Basia with dad at MoMath Museum, NYC, September 2016
To help my daughter to get ready for another state test I took a part in a webinar organized by TestingMom.com and would like to share Dr. Chung’s tips I was e-mailed after the webinar. Thank you!
"How
to Help a Child Sit Still and Focus:
- Memory games – like Simon, or Memory with cards, or echo game
- Crossword puzzles and sequencing tasks
- Imagery or doing something well and pair with relaxation exercises
- Mind-body integration by sitting in a static position in a chair or spot for increasing periods
- Mindfulness – mindful describing using 5 senses (great for vocabulary questions as well!)
- Use of Timer or metronomes – beat the clock or work to a beat or rhythm
- Exercise 30-60 minutes daily
- Proprioceptive input (exercises that create heavy lifting or resistance work on your muscles) – before sitting down to do work or during breaks
- Dietary changes – reduce simple carbs, sugars, and possibly milk products
- Be positive and praise a lot – offer rewards because it’s hard work for them
- If offer rewards, be very specific and clear of expectations
How
to Help your Child Become More Interested in Test Questions:
- Try to understand why? – is it too hard, is child tired?
- Mindfulness – refocus attention
- Proprioceptive input
- Encourage effort, not results
- Stop, then come back to special work
- Make it fun!
- Take turns asking each other questions – play “school”
- Role play what being with the “special teacher” will be like
- Use rewards if motivating
How
to Encourage your Child if They Shut Down:
This
is about building perseverance or grit
- Encourage and build up the child, not just praise of focus on results
- Model grit and dealing with failure as a parent
- Remind child of past efforts that led to positive results when kept trying
- Teach child to always make a best guess, not to say “I don’t know”
How
to Help if Your Child Picks an Answer Without Thinking:
- Present same question with a different ending or question.
- Focus on importance of listening – making it a big deal to focus on every word
- Have them practice going through each answer and explaining why it’s right or wrong. When they do this praise the effort and not being “quick”!
- Make it a game, like being a “detective” looking for each clue in the answers
Help Your Child Feel More Comfortable On Test Day
Get
More Comfortable Meeting Safe Strangers:
- Practice talking / meeting SAFE strangers
- Model that it is okay to speak with SAFE strangers
- Do not label or say that your child is “shy”
Get
More Comfortable with Separation:
- Allow your child to practice separation – Increasing time
- Never leave without saying goodbye
- Explain where you will be, whom will be with child, when will be reunited
- Have a plan if child misses you or has worry thoughts about being separated – some techniques below!
- Let child know they can earn a reward for successful separation
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques:
Mindfulness
to increase focus, concentration, and relaxation
Relaxation
techniques:
- Deep breathing / bubble breathes
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Muscle squeezes / Toe squeezes
- Imagine self as favorite superhero, cheerleader, or TV character
- Count backwards from 10 or 20
Help Kids Know What to Expect and Test Day Tips:
- Walk by the test site/building or browse the hallways
- Familiarize your child with the types of thinking needed on these tests - not only about test taking, but life-long academic skills
- You will be waiting for him/her the whole time
- The examiner is a teacher just like Ms. X
- Go to exam with person from whom the child most easily separates
- Show up early, let child warm up to setting
- If you have a high energy or anxious child! Proprioceptive Input
- Bring something to do in waiting room (nice distraction)
- Mindfulness or relaxation skill in waiting room to stay calm and centered
If parents are stressed out, children will be stressed out! Find your inner calm"
Check also “A Parent’s Survival Guide to Testing Children – Pre-K to 6th Grade” By Karen Quinn
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