10 things you can do to prepare your children for statewide exams!

April is a very stressful month for both students and parents. Students in grades 3-8 will be taking exams throughout the month. Your child has been practicing for these exams for months. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your child is ready for the exams.

 

1. Make sure your child gets enough rest every night leading up till the exam. Sending your kids to bed late may affect their sleeping patterns and you don’t want your child/children to be exhausted on the days of the exam.

 

2. Make sure students wake up an extra 20-30 minutes earlier to have enough time to wake up, get ready, and sit down have breakfast without rushing. No rushing at all, that can spill over to exam time.

 

3. Breakfast should be one that children enjoy and is filled with protein and whole grains. No sugary cereals or foods with artificial flavors. Follow this link for great breakfast ideas, http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-healthybreakfast.html

 

4. Spend 5-10 minutes motivating them and building their self esteem. Example, you’ve been practicing for months now, you will excel on this exam.

 

5. Personally drop your child off, and again speak motivational words to them. Children like to feel nurtured, helps them not to stress about the exam they are about to take.

 

6. Pack a special lunch or snack for them each day of the exam so they can receive something that will make them happy after finishing the exam.

 

7. Pick your child up from school, with a big smile on your face. Ask them how the test went? What were some challenges on the exam? What did they find easy? Might be able to give them advice for the upcoming days of the exam.

 

8. Give students some release time. Let them choose a home activity they would like to partake in.

 

9. Make a hearty dinner everyday of the exam. Keeping their bodies healthy will ensure they don’t become sick on any days of the exam or stress out.

 

10. Put children to bed with some inspirational quotes. The Everything I need to know I learned from a Disney book has great quotes for young children.

 

BE POSITIVE, POSITIVE POSITIVE!!!