Standardized Test Success
Practice Skills at Home

There are a number of skills that you can easily incorporate into your home routine.

Reading
When reading a book or watching a television show or a movie, ask your child to repeat the plot, the story’s characters (including the main character), and the setting. Ask him to retell what happens in the beginning, middle, and end. After you read a book together, ask him questions about what happened.

Language Arts
Work on increasing your child’s vocabulary by using and defining more difficult words in everyday speech. Use a dictionary to check the meaning. Practice using antonyms and synonyms. Have your child become proficient at alphabetical order by organizing materials that way – books, kitchen supplies, videos, etc.

Writing
The writing portion of standardized tests usually asks children to respond to a writing “prompt”. This prompt is meant to structure their ideas. You may also want to review basic punctuation and capitalization.

Math
Rather than concentrating solely on computation, standardized math tests usually involve spatial skills, patterns, and sequencing. Encourage your child to learn to count by twos, threes, and fives. Create graphs based on family activities and practice reading graphs together. Practice time and money concepts.

Other Ways You Can Help
Parents and schools work together to help children learn. Students learn best when they know that their efforts are supported at home and at school. Everyone concerned, especially students, profits when there is a partnership for learning.

Here are some ways you can help your child do his or her best in school:

Be a Model. Parents are the first teachers a child has. From long before the time your child first entered school, he or she has looked to you as a model for behavior, opinions, and attitudes. If you show that you value learning, chances are your child will benefit. Your child needs to know that you think school is important. Children benefit when they see you are reading books and magazines, writing, and talking about what is going on in the world.

Provide Support. In order to do his or her best in school, your child needs your support in many ways. This means making sure your child has enough sleep and is eating well- balanced meals. It also means providing a quiet place where your child can study without interruptions. Once in a while, your child may need help with schoolwork from you or another adult. You also show your support every time you offer your child encouragement and set reasonable expectations for his or her achievement.

Stay Informed. Ask your child about school activities and learning experiences. Get to know your child’s textbooks and take time to look at his or her homework assignments. Keep in touch with your child’s teacher and the school. Attend parent-teacher conferences and parent’s night at the school. Find out the goals that are planned for your child, how the school plans to reach these goals, and how you can help. Schools welcome interested parents’ questions.