Tip of the Week

January 31, 2023

Don’t panic! We have a strategy!

Test-taking is stressful for many students. And nothing is worse than when your mind goes blank during a test. No matter how well your child prepares, sometimes panic sets in, their mind loses focus, and they can’t get themselves back on track. One way to guard against a mental block causing panic and derailing a test is to write down important information in the margins as soon as the test begins. Depending on the test, some examples of a “data dump” might be: formulas, multi-step processes, dates to remember, important timelines, key facts, or a list of major book characters. Having this information available will calm your child’s nerves, jog their memory, and keep them on track. This simple strategy can make all the difference between bailing out of the test or finishing strong.