It is testing time in schools across the parish, with students, parents and teacher gearing up for the LEAP test.
Each year, students in grades three through high school take state tests to measure their knowledge and skills in each subject area and their readiness for the next level of study.
The results from the tests will be used to help teachers identify when students need additional support or more challenging work in each subject area.
This information is also used to measure how well schools and school systems are helping students achieve higher expectations.
Testing can be stressful for all involved, so here are some tips for you and your student that may make the processes easier:
Have a positive attitude: Reassure your child that he or she does not have to answer all the questions correctly to pass. It is not expected that students answer every question correctly
Try, Try and Try again: Tell your child to attempt to answer all of the questions and not to leave any blanks. There is no penalty for guessing, and students can get partial credit on the open-ended items
Time is a friend: Explain to your child the importance of using time wisely. If your child gets stuck on a question, encourage him or her to make the best guess or place a mark in the test booklet by that item and go back to it after finishing that section of the test
Sleep tight: Make certain your child gets a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before taking the test
Rise and Shine: Try to make the morning of the test a pleasant one. Do not add to your child’s stress
Be prepared: Get your child to school on time the day of the test
Listen up: Remind your child to listen carefully to the instructions from the teacher and to read the directions and each question carefully
This is not a race: Encourage your child to stay focused on the test, even if other students finish early.
Whatever works: Remind your child that it is okay to mark in the test booklet as a help in taking the test -- i.e., underlining important words, etc. -- but to mark all answers on the answer sheet
Tips for students:
Read: Reread the question. Make sure you understand what is being asked
Think: Come up with an answer to the question before looking at the list of choices
Eliminate: Read ALL of the answers and cross out the choices that don’t make sense
Mark: Underline the section in the text or question that supports your reasoning
Be cautious: Look carefully at similar-sounding answers. Find the more precise answer
Think it through: Select “All of the above” if two or three answers seem correct