Does your child struggle with test anxiety?
It is normal for kids to feel a little nervous before a big test. However, if their anxiety level begins to affect their health, their attitude, and their grades, it should be cause for concern. Test anxiety is common for all types of students, even those who typically do well in school, and has become more of an issue as schools put greater emphasis on high-stakes testing.
Signs that your child may be overly stressed about a test:
Doesn't want to go to school on test day.
Does well on other projects/papers, but not on the test
Is hard on themselves, puts themselves down.
Gets more emotional than usual in the days leading up to the test.
Has a change in eating and/or sleeping patterns.
Is distracted and unable to focus.
Has an upset stomach or headache before a test.
Here are some suggestions for helping kids overcome test
anxiety:
Begin by evaluating your message. Are you contributing to your child's anxiety? Some parents unknowingly put a ton of stress on their children by having unrealistic expectations.
Be in touch with your child's learning style. Some kids need a higher level of support and intervention because their learning style is not consistent with their teacher's teaching style.
Never compare your children. Just because one child is an excellent test taker does not mean your other children will be exceptional in that area as well. No two learners are ever the same.
Teach test-taking strategies. Get outside help and support your child by arming them with the gift of test taking skills. This very specific skill set is rarely, if ever, taught at school. Some students seem to just come by it naturally while others need very specific coaching.
Teach them coping or stress management techniques. Teach your child how to manage their stress positively. If you need help with this, seek an outside expert skilled in stress reduction.
Dr. Melodee Loshbaugh
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