In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at some of the simple ways parents can help their children as they prepare for standardized tests. Standardized tests are one important piece of the middle school or high school student’s experience, and while they can sometimes be stressful to prepare for, parents can offer a number of forms of assistance that will help limit this burden.
At Beehive Science & Technology Academy, we proudly offer a wide range of academic resources for our STEM and other students, with helpful themes for areas ranging from testing to tutoring and more. What are some other ways parents can go about providing simple, non-invasive help and resources to their students as they prep for standardized tests? Here are a few to consider.
Emphasize Importance of Directions
Your child might have a lot on their mind leading up to test day, so it’s important to keep them focused on certain simple task-management items. One of the most important things they’ll need to do on test day is to follow directions. Make sure your child knows that you think this is important, and help them practice by going over some of the sample questions and talking about how best to approach each one.
Not following test directions is one of the simplest ways to hurt your child’s performance, so make this an important part of your prep discussions.
Go Over Different Question Types
Some parents will be centrally involved in their child’s schooling and will know what types of questions are going to be on the test. If you’re not as familiar with the material, however, it can be helpful to go over some of the different types of questions that might appear.
You can find a number of these online, and they can be a great way to help your child understand the different ways they might be asked to demonstrate their knowledge. This will help them feel more prepared and confident going into the test, and it can also help you better understand what’s being asked of them.
Review Practice Tests Together
If your child is taking a practice test or two in the days leading up to the real thing, go over the results with them. This can be a great way to identify any areas where they need more work, and it can also help you understand the test format a bit better.
Even if your child doesn’t want to go over the results with you in detail, simply asking them how they did and what they thought of the test can give you some indication of how they’re feeling going into the test. This can be useful in gauging their stress level and helping them manage it.
As you help your child prepare for standardized tests, keep these simple tips in mind. By providing non-invasive support and resources such as those offered at Beehive Science & Technology Academy, you’ll make a real difference. For more on this, or to learn about any of our testing programs or academic resources, speak to our caring staff today.
