In April, students across the state of Indiana will be preparing for the brand new ILEARN exam. Those familiar with the exam are expecting scores across the state to drop. This rigorous exam is said to be more difficult than the previous state exam, ISTEP. The mere thought of a state exam can give students anxiety. Schools have done their part to ensure their students are ready and prepared for the exam. The line of support should continue at home from parents. Here are five tips to help your student prepare.
Encourage them to Sleep – We know that teenagers like to stay up late and then turn around and get up early. Often when they get up early, they are sleepy for most of the school day. That may be doable on a typical school day, but this isn’t good on a school day that includes an exam. Typically, schools take these exams early in the morning, so sleepy students do not have the focus necessary to be successful. I recommend encouraging your children to get eight to ten hours of sleep to be fully rested for the day of the exam.
Teach your children problem-solving skills – Problems solving is a big part of these exams. Often problem-solving can come in the form of how they answer multiple choice questions. Problem-solving skills are essential to have not only while the student is studying but also on the exam. Problem-solving skills will help students do better on math exams.
Lessen the number of chores around the house – During exam season, if you want to help your children do well, consider cutting out the chores they have to do around the house. There are some benefits to students doing chores, but during the time they should be studying more, take them off of dishes duty, and bathroom cleaning duty.
Healthier Eating– It is important that students do eat. Hungry students do not do well on the exams. Students should eat dinner at night, and they should eat breakfast in the morning. Parents should also consider what they are feeding their students. They should especially consider this when they are serving breakfast. Students need brain power food. Food plays a critical role in brain development and academic performance. During this testing season not only get your student in the habit of eating breakfast but encourage healthier eating.
Have them teach what they learn – There is an old saying that says to teach is to learn twice. If you can teach it, then you know it. Every once in a while, parents should sit alongside their children and have them teach you what they have learned. Having your children be the teacher will help them see if they have genuinely mastered and learned the concepts they have been studying. Also, as a parent, it will let you know if they have been actually studying and preparing.
With exam season here, parents play a critical role in their children’s success. You can help them prepare and be prepared the day of the exam. Do not leave everything to the school; your role is important too.