Use strategies to prepare your child for standardized tests

Children from third grade on up will be taking standardized tests this spring.

These tests help the school measure your child’s performance against state standards. They also let you see where your child needs more work.

There are many things you can do at home before the test to ensure your child’s scores correctly reflect his academic capabilities.

For instance, give him lots of fruits and fruit drinks. Research shows children do better if they get plenty of sugar the week preceding the test. But the sugar does not have to come from junk food.

Making sure your child is hydrated is another documented test advantage. Give him a large bottle of water to take with him on test day.

Here are some other strategies:

Build your child’s reading stamina. Gradually increase the amount and time he reads in one session. He can take a break by closing his eyes for a minute or so.
Send your child to bed early the night before.
Review common words in test questions, like evaluate and predict. Practice by asking him to evaluate what he’s read or predict what might happen next in a story.
Make sure he wears comfortable clothes and has extra pencils and erasers.

Also on test day, tell your child to:

Read each question carefully. Underline key words.
Read questions first before reading the passage. Then look for the answers as he reads. Most elementary students can remember two questions at a time.
Answer questions he’s sure about first. Then go back to the more difficult ones.
Cross out answers on multiple choice questions he knows are wrong.
Pace himself. He shouldn’t spend too much time on one question.
“Just do your best!” Assure your child of your unconditional love with a hug.

Reprinted with permission from the February 2007 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2007 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Gary Hopkins, “Boosting Test Scores: ‘Principal’ Strategies That Work,” Education World, www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin366.shtml; “Testtaking Tips for Families,” Practical Parenting Partnerships, www.pppctr.org/maptesttaking.asp.

Discipline

Choose the right discipline option for each situation

Research shows that children don’t want parents to ignore misbehavior. In one study, children were asked to choose how parents should respond to various misbehavior situations. They preferred that parents explain why the behavior is wrong and talk about consequences.

Children between four and nine years old said that a permissive response—doing nothing—was wrong. But every situation is different. So tailor your responses to fit. Choose from three options:

Stop your child from misbehaving. Use words and actions if she’s about to hurt herself or another. Move her out of danger or stop her from hitting. Also step in and correct her when she’s breaking a rule, such as watching TV before homework. Turn off the TV and remind her about the rule.
Manage the situation. Try to solve the problem through negotiation and compromise. If your child and a friend are both grabbing for the same item, take the item and remind her about sharing.
Allow your child to correct her own behavior. Before stepping in, give your child a chance to behave correctly by setting a good example.

Reprinted with permission from the February 2007 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2007 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Jan Faull, Darn Good Advice … Parenting, ISBN: 0-7641-3226-1 (Barron’s Educational Services, Inc., 1-800-645-3476, www.baronseduc.com).

Building Respect

Teach your child to respect people with disabilities

Your child will get along with classmates and make friends more easily if he’s respectful. He’ll then be able to concentrate on learning rather than conflicts at school.

Of course, respect must extend to all people—not just those who look and act like him. Perhaps your child already knows someone in the family or neighborhood who has a disability. There might be a special education student in his school.

Advise your child that:

Some people have had an illness or accident that caused their disabilities. Others were born that way.
People with disabilities have many other abilities. People in wheel-chairs can be intelligent or funny. They can even be friends.
He can find similarities with those who are “different.” To make this point, create a list of all the ways he is like someone who cannot see. They both like to listen to music, play certain games, etc.
It’s not polite to stare at people just because they’re different. It makes them uncomfortable. But it’s okay to look at them. Ignoring them is like saying they don’t exist.
He can ask questions, politely. Let him know that some may not want to answer questions. The best approach is to make eye contact. Then say, “May I ask you a question?”