The Home Stretch

Can you believe it? We're just one week away from the end of the first quarter of the year. That means we're almost one-fourth of the way through the school year! As always, the end of each quarter brings End of Quarter Testing (October 22nd - 27th). These tests, which are structured to be very similiar to the End of Grade Tests, are used by teachers to assess how well students have mastered the concepts we have covered during the quarter. While the results of these assessments are not used to determine students' grades, they are a valuable tool for teachers to use in planning for the future. By examining your child's scores from the quarter tests, I can tell what concepts they understand, as well as which areas need a little more work. This information helps me to plan my next steps so that I can better meet the needs of each child in our class.

In order for the information I gain from quarter tests to be most valuable, I need for students to do their very best on the tests. What your child chooses to do--or not to do--on the day of the test is ultimately up to them, but there are some things you can do at home to give them a nudge in the right direction.

• Make sure your child gets a good night's rest before each test. No staying up late to play videogames or to watch tv! Our students will be able to think most clearly if they are well-rested and ready to go.
• Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast the morning of each test. No one works well on an empty stomach. Go for something not too heavy or sugary to get the best bang for your buck.
• Arrive to school on time. The reason behind this one is two-fold. First, students can't do their best if they aren't in school to take the test. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, students won't do their best if they arrive to school late and are feeling frazzled.
• Do some simple review activities at home. For reading, this could mean reading with your child, asking them questions about what they're reading each night, or reviewing basic reading comprehension skills (i.e. main idea, comparing/contrasting, summarizing, etc.). For math, reviewing might include practicing math facts, doing a few practice problems from old homework sheets, or talking through some concepts from your child's math notebook. The possibilities are endless, and the benefits could be huge!

Most importantly, don't forget to remind your child to RELAX! We want our students to do well, but not to be too nervous. Reassure them that they are prepared for these tests. I tell them constantly that I promise to do my part by teaching them all the material they need to know. I've done that, and I feel confident that each of our students will be successful--on this round of tests and on all the tests to come.

Thanks for taking a few extra minutes to prepare for this quarter's round of testing. Look on the bright side...a two-day Fall Break is on the horizon!