Starting Monday, thousands of public school students will begin to take the annual Stanford Achievement Test, 10th Edition, or the SAT-10. Testing will run through May 11.
These standardized tests serve two purposes, according to the Guam Department of Education. The results show parents how well their child or children are performing compared to his or her peers, and the scores give the school system a way to measure its performance in educating public school students.
The primary focuses of the tests are on math and reading, though other subjects are covered. The test measures what students have learned in the various subjects so far. That means that a weekend worth of cramming before the testing begins on Monday likely won't help student performance.
But there are some basic things parents can do to ensure their children are ready and at their best to take the test.
•Make sure your children get to bed early so they will have a good night's sleep before testing days, and give them a good, healthy breakfast. When students aren't well rested or are hungry, their performance suffers.
•Ensure your children get to school on time for every day there is testing. If possible, reschedule doctor's or dentist's appointments so your kids don't miss out on any test-taking time.
•Your children will need to have the supplies necessary to take the test. Ensure they have a good supply of pencils.
•Before the tests, talk to your children to reassure them. Let them know that their performance isn't about passing or failing; don't pressure them or add to their stress levels. These standardized tests show their strengths and weaknesses, and thus are valuable tools that can be used the show where improvement is needed.
Following this advice will help put your child or children in the right frame of mind to take these tests.