Public Announcement from the Soapbox of the Midnight Housewife.
Colorado children are about to embark on a two month journey of state testing in all grade levels 3-11. I believe many other states are performing similar testing programs. Ours is called PARCC. If you have a student, you are well aware of the impending testing.
I have heard from parents, teachers, and all kinds of folks much complaining and adjetation. I have heard may children stressed out to the point of crying. My nine year old is so afraid of the typing element and failing just because he can't think what to write and how to type at the same time. Yes, he has had typing in computer lab when his class should have been doing paint and draw programs.
Here is my message. STOP FREAKING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN. By sharing all your burdens, unhappiness, and anger we are creating negative feelings in these already anxious students and pave the path for failure. I don't mean failing the test. I mean failing themselves.
HELP them by not sharing your feeling. Rather LISTEN TO THEIRS.
Let them know that EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME BOAT. Ask them how many kids in their own class is confident at typing. My 9 year old said "one maybe two." I would guess this is the stats for most classrooms with a slight increase per grade level.
Share that the only thing they need to do is DO THEIR BEST. Play some card games or trivia games encouraging them to do their best even though you might know a little more then them. Help them feel good about trying their best even if they don't win. Then draw the connection with tests.
Let them know this is really not about them but the global performance of the state. Whether true or not, it takes the pressure off of feeling like they are allone.
And last and definitely not least, HONOR YOUR TEACHERS. They are doing all they can and more to Shepard the kiddos to do their best with less stress. All the while teaching the curriculum their charges need to move to the next level in school in a dozen subjects. It is an awesome task to do.
Moan and grown in the privacy of adults.
FOSTER DOING "YOUR BEST" IN YOUR CHILDREN.
Afterall, if you didn't like the rules in soccer, you wouldn't whine and complain to your child and then throw him out on the field and expect him to do his best to score a goal with his team mates, would you?
End soapbox rant.
GO TEAM AWESOME ACHIEVERS
