Test Day

Apologies to those who read this from outside the Kent Test area but this week many of us in this corner of our green and pleasant land are preoccupied with just one thing. The Test.

Now, I know I have only just posted about the first day back at school - if this was handwriting the ink wouldn't have dried on the previous post - but that's pretty much how things are right now. We have barely drawn breath after dropping the off at the school gates before our minds - and the children's  and indeed the teacher's minds - switch into Kent Test mode. It's this week. No time for them to ease themselves back into the swing of things, straight into testing.

Now those of you who know me personally will be able to imagine the expression of exasperation and disgust on my face as I type this. It's too soon. Half the children will have been in bed till lunchtime over the last 6 weeks, the other half outdoors, or on game consuls. It's a shock to the system getting back into routine as it is but to add to the joy we schedule an important test on day 4 (and in all probability a practice test on day 3). Oh for the days when the first week was a gentle process of class and teacher getting to know each other.

Still that's by the by. We have the system we have. so what can we do to make things easier for the children? A few of my top tips.

 Parents:

• Make sure they get to bed nice and early this week.
• Provide a good breakfast before they go - it's proven that nutrition really does make a difference.
• Make sure they have water bottles - hydration is vital.
• Reassure them that whatever the outcome you are proud of them for trying - never use the F word...'failure' is banned in this household. All the test does is provide an indicator of where they will learn best, not how' clever' they have the potential to be.
• Remind them that of the test seems hard to them it will seem just as hard to everyone else, so no panicking. It's not a fixed pass mark so if everyone struggles the pass mark will be lower.

Children:

• Remember them to fill in an answer for every question . Apart from there being a 20% chance of it being the right one, the mark will act as a 'place holder' to ensure the following answers don't get shunted across into the wrong box.
• Circle questions you want to come back to. Take another look if you have time at the end of the test.
• Don't spend too long on any 1 question. You might not want to let a question 'beat you' but if you spend 5 minutes on 1 question when you could have answered 10 easier ones then it really has beat you. Go for the easy marks and get as many as possible.
• Use every single minute. If you finish early, check, check and recheck!
• If you start to feel panicky close your eyes for 10 seconds and breath slowly. This will help control those feelings...oh and don't forget to remind yourself that you are a star and your parents and teachers are enormously proud of you for doing this - for giving it your best shot.                                                                

  

  For all our stars