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Common problems that lead families and schools to seek testing include: learning and academic difficulty, speech and language issues, neuromotor, behavior and social skill deficits.
Parents who consider having their child tested, quickly discover that there is a large amount of specific, unfamiliar vocabulary used by testing professionals that they need to learn in order to be a better advocate for their child(ren).
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Parents are often the first to pick up on possible problems that may affect their child’s performance in school, but are not always sure how to go about getting the best help for their child.
Different testing instruments can help to pinpoint specific problems and the information from these assessments can lead to helpful interventions. A good pediatrician can help parents to pinpoint issues and concerns, and to discover resources and options available in the local community.
If it is determined that pre-screening and psychological testing is a next step, the question of where to go follows. Families vary in the reasons they choose one method over another. Read more on Pros and Cons of Private vs. Public School Testing…
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Over the past several years, there has been a great deal of controversy regarding standardized testing. While some view these tests as necessary benchmarks with which to measure students' (and, in many cases, teachers') performances, others worry that the tests take an inappropriate one-size-fits-all approach to measuring learning — which can be highly problematic for students who do not do their best work in a high-stakes testing environment. Despite the controversy over these tests, they are still widely used. Even if you don't agree with the high-stakes testing process, the results can be used to help your child.
How? By simply helping her change her attitude toward standardized-test results. Help her to view the results not as an indication of areas of "failure", but rather as a tool that can show both of you where her strengths are, and in which areas she might need tutoring. Read more on Making the Best Out of Standardized Tests…
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Following are some simple tips that can help to increase your chances of success on multiple choice tests.
PREPARING for the Test
- Begin studying early: study, review, reread, review and study again.
- Cramming for a multiple choice test is not a good way to remember detailed information.
- Study notes from class.
- Read, reread and review information from your text.
- Read captions, review charts and pictures.
- Pay attention to details.
- Notice events, key facts and dates.
- Review new vocabulary, definitions and concepts.
- Study a little every day.
- Set up a study group of other students in your course.
- Try making up your own multiple choice quiz questions.
- Take turns asking and answering questions.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I understand all that was covered in class?
Can I explain new vocabulary and concepts in your own words?
Can I answer the review questions at the end of the chapter?
How much time will you have to take the text? Read more on Multiple Choice Test Tips…
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Summer vacation is quickly approaching, and this three-month expanse of time means different things to different students. Perhaps it's an opportunity to travel cross-country with family. Perhaps it's the perfect chance to snag that lifeguard job or that gig at the coffee shop, in order to put away some money for the following year.
Students might also want to capitalize on the studying opportunities that long summer days bring. This is particularly true for high-school students who will be taking high-stakes standardized tests in the following year. If your child will be taking the PSAT, SAT, or ACT in the coming academic year, you may want to encourage her to fit some vocab-studying sessions into her summer plans. Read more on Test Prep: Add Vocab to the Summer Routine…
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The phrase "SAT sentence completion" can strike fear in the heart of even the best-read student. After all, just how frequently do we use words like "circumlocution," "abrogate," and "pellucid"? (Yes, those actually are some of the most commonly found words on the SAT!) Don't let a few three-dollar words put a damper on your child's confidence. With the right test-taking skills, it's very possible to excel at these sentence-completion questions. Read more on Conquer SAT Sentence-Completion Anxiety…
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If you're the parent of a high-school student, you know a thing or two about creative scheduling. With so many extracurricular activities available (and practically required) at most high schools, you may only see your high-schooler for a quick hello over breakfast and dinner.
And then there is the SAT.
While some universities are placing less of an emphasis on this test now than in years past, the SAT remains an important "benchmark" by which students' academic skills are judged. In other words: This test is kind of a big deal. Your high-schooler will want to come prepared—and that requires more than just sharpening the old No. 2 pencils! The SAT is divided into three sections: critical reading, math, and writing. That means your student needs to study three distinct (and individually time-intensive) areas. Read more on Great SAT Tutoring — in Cyberspace…
