This week we will work on some tips to help students prepare for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. We will work on ways to relieve the stress of being "timed," and we will practice the skills of skimming and scanning a text to assist with timed tests.
I have included tips for parents to help with preparing Graettinger-Terril students for ITBS. Parents- your support and encouragement before, during, and after the tests is vital. Please express to your child that you care about their attitude and effort toward this test.
Parent Tips to Help Prepare Your Student for Standardized Testing
by Pete Garlinghouse (http://www.siouxcityschools.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2007/09/12/46e829ac64595)
All parents want to see their student(s) perform well in school. Parents play an important part in helping their children give their best performance on a test. The ideas presented below may serve as a guideline for parents when helping their student(s) prepare for testing.
The following list of activities represent things parents can be doing throughout the year.
1. Read to your children and/or have older children read to you.
2. Discuss with your student(s) what they have read.
3. Make sure your student reads al least 20 minutes a day.
4. Know what kind of homework teachers expect and make sure students complete it.
5. Provide your student(s) with a regular, quiet place where they can do homework
6. Expect every child to take tough courses.
7. Take an active interest in what your student is doing in school. What is he or she learning? Communicate with them daily.
What your student is learning on a daily basis builds the foundation for being able to demonstrate high achievement on tests. During the weeks leading up to the TEST begin to talk with your student about the importance of giving their best effort during testing. The following thoughts will help you in preparing your child for being ready to give the test his or her all.
The night before:
• Help your child get to bed on time. Research shows that being well-rested helps students do better.
• Help children resolve immediate arguments before going to bed.
• Keep your routine as normal as possible. Upsetting natural routines may make children feel insecure.
• Mention the test to show you’re interested, but don’t dwell on it.
• Plan ahead to avoid conflicts on the morning of the test.
The morning of the test:
• Get up early to avoid rushing. Be sure to have your child at school on time.
• Have your child eat a good breakfast but not a heavy one. Research shows that students do better if they have
breakfast before they take tests.
• Have your child dress in something comfortable.
• Be positive about the test. Acknowledge that tests can be hard and that they’re designed so that no one will
know all of the answers. Explain that doing your best is what counts. The important thing is to make your child comfortable and confident about the test.
After the test: (WHICH IN THE CASE OF GRAETTINGER-TERRIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DAILY.)
• Talk to your child about his or her feelings about the test, making sure you acknowledge the effort such a task requires.
• Discuss what was easy and what was hard; discuss what your child learned from the test.
• Discuss what changes your child would make if he or she were to retake the test.
• Explain that performance on a test is not a condition for you to love your child. You love your child just for
the person he or she is.
Reading and Language Arts Schedule for January 24 - January 28.
Monday:
Reading- DEAR/ Collection of Reading Logs; Finish presentation of Reader's Theater
Homework: Read 20 minutes, complete reading log for Monday.
Language- Planners will be checked to see if the new list has been added to the current week; Weekly Journal Writing assignment will be discussed and assigned; ITBS practice for vocabulary and mechanics.
Homework: Study spelling list for Wednesday pre-test; study Stem Week 7; Begin work on Weekly Journal Writing assignment, due Friday.
Tuesday:
Reading- Discussion, "What is skimming and how do I do it well?"; ITBS practice for comprehension tests.
Homework: Read 20 minutes, complete reading log for Tuesday.
Language- ITBS practice for grammar and usage as well as combining sentences.
Homework: Study spelling list for pre-test tomorrow; study Stem Week 7 for Friday quiz; continue work on Weekly Journal Writing assignment, due Friday.
Wednesday:
Reading- Discussion, "What is scanning and how do I do it well?"; ITBS practice for comprehension tests.
Homework: Read 20 minutes, complete reading log for Wednesday.
Language- Spelling pre-test; ITBS practice for verbs, grammar and usage, as well as composition.
Homework: If you did not get 100% on your pre-test you should study from your pre-test the words that you missed, study Stem Week 7 for Friday quiz, Weekly Journal Writing assignment is due FRIDAY.
Thursday:
Reading- Review and practice the skill of skimming; ITBS practice for comprehension tests.
Homework: Read 20 minutes, complete reading log for Thursday.
Language- ITBS practice for vocabulary, mechanics, and composition.
Homework: Spelling Final tomorrow for those who did not get 100% on the pre-test, QUIZ over Stem Week 7, Weekly Journal Writing assignment is due at the beginning of class on Friday!
Friday:
Reading- Review and practice the skill of skimming; ITBS practice for comprehension tests.
Homework: Read 20 minutes, complete reading log for Friday. REMINDER: YOUR COMPLETED READING LOG IS DUE ON MONDAY, JANUARY 31ST AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
Language- Spelling final, Stem Week 7 Quiz; Game Day (if time allows (-:) )
Homework: NO HOMEWORK! Relax and enjoy the weekend so that you are prepared to take ITBS next week.
Please copy your spelling list into the space provided in your planner. Be sure to copy the spelling correctly AND neatly so that you can read the words.
6th Grade Spelling: revise, advantage, memorize, active, organize, criticize, shortage, advertise, attractive, college, explosive, exercise, encourage, summarize, wreckage, recognize, positive, percentage, sensitive, heritage
7th Grade Spelling: departure, entertainment, fixtures, gossip, museum, orchestra, physical, religious, association, conception, hospital interview, laundry, sincerely, mischief, triumph, unpleasant, violence, inquiries, practically
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