My son does really well on homework and in class work, but he does poorly on the tests. He studies his math, and spelling (including taking a practice spelling test) and does fine. It is really frustrating to see him get one or two wrong out of ten on a practice test, and fails the test the following day.
Any suggestions on how to help him so he can better scores the tests?
M. *~
I think places like Sylvan Learning Center can teach him how to take a test and maybe how to get over the anxiety of it. I'm sorry he's going through this!
i was that way i was put into smaller classes for other resons but by being in those smaller classes i did better on those test so i would talk to the teacher about your son doing the test when there are fewer people around or maybe just doing them at home if the teacher is understanding and a good person there should be no problems with trying to work something out between the 3 of you good luck to you all
Try one of those learning centers. I have heard they have good results. Talk to your sons teacher too see if she/he has any tricks up her/his sleeve. YOu might also want to try having him teach you the subject matter of the test the night befor. If he can really explain to you say how to do the math problem it might come back to him more eaisly during teh test. i know that worked for my bother. It made him feel good to teach my parents instead of the other way around.
A.
Sounds like he has test anxiety. It's not at all uncommon. I used to tell my students... it's not a test.. it's a game. Once they retrained their way of thinking they started doing better on the "tests."
Have you tried online tutoring? - available 24/7 for 4th through 12th grade - summer is a great time to review before fall 2008 school start. www.referralco-op.com free trial 25 minutes of tutoring - great to do from home - no tutoring appointment necessary - saves on gas - can be done at time convenient for student and can boost test-taking skills. Good luck and God bless.
M.,
I have found that if they can say the answers out loud, they retain the information longer, and do better on the test the next day. Like for spelling, have him do the practice test, but also have do a spelling be, where he has to say the word, spell it and say it again. DO the same for math, if it is not algebra, or a visual equation only. DOn't waste your money on the learning centers, they are not what they advertise them to be, and they are not one on one either.
W.
Hi M.,
My younger brother had test anxiety. He saw some kind of expert for this -- perhaps your pediatrician could recommend someone. Our school also made some accomodations for his test anxiety -- I'm not sure exactly what they were, but perhaps once you seek an expert and that person meets with your son, he/she can speak to the school about reasonable accomodations. My brother did break out of this eventually. He has also been extremely happy and successful in his career. These early difficulties did not affect his ability to be a successful adult. Again, my parents did have him work with a professional (one-on-one, not a test prep center kind of a thing at all) for a couple of years.
K.
Besides anxiety, your son might either need more time or a place that does not have distractions - like a cubbie desk. My son is allowed at his school to listen to classical music on a CD player during tests. He is also allowed to take the test for however long it takes him. Take to his teacher, she may be willing to make suggesetions.
My son had the same problem that began in the 5th grade. He's very intelligent, always has good grades and is a bit of a perfectionist. We first discovered it with STAR testing. He had stomach pains, anxiety attacks and vomiting. We had a meeting with his teacher and she was able to make accomodations for him. During testing times he had permission to quietly leave the classroom to use the restroom if he felt naucious or had stomach pain. She made a point to walk over and offer encouragement. When test time was over he turned in his test whether he was finished or not. At lunch or after school he would come back to the classroom to review or complete the test. We were very careful to NOT make these changes obvious to his peers because we were afraid that may cause further anxiety. I talked to him about staying calm, closing his eyes and doing breathing exercises. These techniques worked through junior high. He's now in high school and at the beginning of the year he started having problems again in spanish class "his most difficult subject". We talked to the teacher again, he was given permission again to leave the classroom and discreetly listen to his Ipod while testing. The music distraction has helped alot. I think my son will continue to have these problems throughout his education, its just a matter of changes the way he copes with testing to keep his anxiety under control.
