Testing Season is Almost Here!

As the temperatures in South Florida start to heat up, we know that most kids are starting to itch for summertime freedom. But the last month of school means testing for many of our students, and that can be a tough hurdle to tackle at the tail end of the year. Here are some tips to help your children prepare for these important assessments.

1. Put health first. The mind-body connection is a powerful tool, and research shows that students perform their best when their bodies are in good shape. In the days and weeks leading up to testing, encourage your children to eat healthy foods, get lots of sleep, and get in some vigorous movement. It's also important to take care of your child's mental health. These assessments can put a lot of pressure onto our students, and it's easy to get overwhelmed with a high-stakes test on the calendar. Routine, relaxation strategies, and time management can help alleviate some of that test anxiety.
   

2. Practice, practice, practice! One of the best ways to prepare for tests is to make sure that you are ready for both the format and the content that will be covered on the exam. If your student is taking a Florida FAST test, there are practice tests available online through the student portal. At Jill Abrams Tutoring, Inc., our qualified tutors are highly experienced with these assessments and can help guide your child through individualized, standards-based practice activities at their own levels, addressing strengths and weaknesses on a progressive and personalized pathway. Consider scheduling some extra sessions for an encouraging, positive tutor to help your child with some extra reading, writing, math, science, or social studies practice.
   

3. Set goals. Growth is the goal! We love to see our students make progress, and believe in celebrating every victory, no matter how small. We encourage our students to take a look at their own progress and set a target for themselves. Whether they are aiming for a certain score or just want to feel calm and self-assured as they work, setting achievable goals will ensure that your child feels accomplished and successful.
   

4. Plan for some fun.

There is a time and place for studying (our tutors are experts in this!), but we also believe that there CAN be too much of a good thing. Many of our students feel very overwhelmed and overstimulated when testing and studying takes over everything, and this can actually have a counterproductive effect, decreasing student performance. Don't forget to have some fun! Schedule a day at a favorite place, eat a favorite meal, or participate in a favorite activity to take some of the pressure off.

We know that tests are important for your student and their future progress through school, and we also know that they can be stressful for our students. At Jill Abrams Tutoring, Inc., our goal is to prepare our students as well as we can so that they will be ready for any assessment that comes their way - but we also know the value of FUN! If you would like to learn more about our hands-on, one-on-on model of individualized tutoring, contact Jill today.