In today’s test-taking focused environment, we all have a part in making the grade. Help your kid do their best with 5 Ways How to Help Your Kid with Test-Taking.
Thanks to McDonalds of North Texas for sponsoring this post.
One of those less than fun moments is doing homework with your kids.
It’s rough, especially when you’ve had a long day and you just want to get everything scratched your ever-growing list of things to do before you go bed to do your “adult homework.” But it’s one of those things you’ve signed up as a parent and when they’re young, indoctrinating those good study habits is absolutely what’s necessary to lay the framework for them now so they aren’t asking you to help them with their homework when you no longer can help.
Read between the lines: Help them now so you don’t have to help them later.
And when it comes to the big test, it’s so important to give them what they need to ace it. All kids are different – some are awesome at test-taking and some not so much. But with a few strategies (for both of you), it’s possible to make it through school in one piece.
5 Ways How to Help Your Kid with Test-Taking
Engage.
“How was your day?”
Just knowing what your kid is working on is key to their success and can answer a lot about knowing where their focus is (and isn’t.) In the evenings, homework is something we do as a family and as parents we try to take turns at overseeing and helping our kids. For us, this is so the kids know it’s a priority so they should to. Another reason engaging with them is that we know what parts are easy for them (and not so easy) and you can work on it together. From there we can reach out to their teachers if necessary when a concept isn’t catching on. Having an open line of communication with your child’s teacher is so vital to ensuring so when it’s time to take the test, we aren’t finding out the problem when it’s too late.
Encourage.
We all know that getting the pat on the back feels good and makes us want to do the right thing again and again. At our child’s school, during big tests we as parents were asked to write letters for the kids to open before taking their test to inspire them and help mitigate any anxiety the kids have before taking a long test like the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.) A post-it in their lunchbox or backpack can do the same thing to show you are in their corner.
Nourish.
Good sleep and a nutritious meal before a big test is such a simple, but necessary way to set them up for success. There’s nothing worse than feeling groggy or hungry to get in the way at the task at hand, especially during a long standardized test. And studies show that when kids get at least 8-10 hours of sleep and eat a healthy, balanced breakfast they do better at test-taking period.
Our local McDonalds of North Texas, with 363 restaurants throughout DFW and Tyler, works to help parents with this easy step by providing a free healthy breakfast the day of the STAAR test, Texas’ standardized test. They know parents are rushed in the mornings and just finding a few moments to take breathe and eat a breakfast will go the extra mile. The free breakfast options like the Egg White McMuffin Delight, apple slices and oatmeal are part of McDonald’s Dietitian Approved Menu, part of the fast food giant’s commitment to education and offering healthier options for families. When it’s free and healthy, McDonald’s makes it rather difficult not to make this strategy a no-brainer and to show how it important it is to make healthy happen.
Recognize.
After all the buildup of a big test, it’s good to show credit where credit was due, especially if you find out your child did gave a good effort and even more so if they scored well. They should be rewarded, especially for the big test, but that doesn’t mean it has to be big. It could be something as small as grabbing an ice cream cone and a little playground time that will reinforce a job well done is worth the effort. And what if your kid doesn’t do so great, but you know they did their best? Punishment isn’t going to help them do better, so encouraging them to still get it their all every time will reap success in the long run.
Support.
Yes, it’s good to say a job well done, but sometimes the test doesn’t always go well. That doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t feel your support and hear the words “I’m proud of you.” For instance, I asked my son how a test went and I found out he had tons of reading time because he was the first to finish. Later after we received his results, it wasn’t that he knew the material that well, but it was that he wanted that extra fun time to read. So the next time I spent a lot of our studying explaining the importance of taking our time and checking our work, not being the first one done. This was so important for us to learn now so the next test he was armed with better test-taking strategies.
No matter their age, being a parent doesn’t just mean that their education is the responsibility of their school. As a community, we all have to work today together for the success of their future tomorrow.
About McDonalds of North Texas Commitment to Education
In addition to providing healthy breakfast during the STAAR test, McDonald’s continues to show its commitment to education. In addition to this program, the Archways to Opportunity™ program helps its employees further their own education and achieve their dreams by offering English classes, earn a high school diploma, work towards a college degree and help create an educational plan for success. There are also scholarships opportunities and tons of other resources on the website.
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