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Show SchooLrx and V-Vi Home J by Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Education Association I remember vivdly a sixth-grade student who showed up at school with a wide assortment of bruises. The child had flunked a test. Those bruises were the result of severe physical punishment by the student's parent. There are obviously better ways to help students. Among the things parents can do to help their children take tests and otherwise find success in school are: 1. Provide a quiet, well-lighted well-lighted study area without dist ractions. 2. See that there is adequate time for study and review. , 3. Don't force a schedule on the child that is too rigid, - but encourage acceptance of ; responsibility in getting the task of studying accom-; accom-; plished. 4. See that your child gets enough rest, relaxation and I proper food. 5. If a test is failed, don't I scold or intimidate. Rather review the test discussing I the errors and the correct answers. Use it as a learning learn-ing experience. 6. Commend your youngster for successes in school, but make sure such commendation commenda-tion is sincere and deserved. Tests are important and serve several worthwhile purposes. They help the teacher to find out how well students are doing in school, pinpoint areas where students stu-dents can use additional help, and are used to assign grades. Tests also help teachers to perform better. If a teacher notices an excessive number of incorrect answers to a certain test question ; or area of study, this may say something significant. The teacher may have felt that students had mastered this area of study. But, the test results may be telling the teacher that a review is in order, important concepts were missed, etc. Excessive punishment of children who fail tests can be a self-defeating gesture. This could cause unnecessary un-necessary fear of tests and a dislike for school. After all, very few, if any, people go through life without failing fail-ing some tests. Tests should be part of a positive learning learn-ing experience. It's better to raise a child's level of excitement for learning than to raise welts! |