Re: MCASitis? State Testing Stress And Your Kids

[aburke5054@aol.com]

Funny thing.  Kids themselves say they don't stress overmuch about 
tests.  Dr Gwen must have missed that, probably because she's worrying 
too much.  Art


-----Original Message-----
From: Monty Neill <monty@fairtest.org>
To: ndsgroup@yahoogroups.com; ARN-state@yahoogroups.com; ARN-L 
<arn-l@interversity.org>
Sent: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 9:21 am
Subject: [arn-l] MCASitis? State Testing Stress And Your Kids

This is from a Blog called Dr. Gwen is in.
Monday, March 24, 2008
MCASitis? State Testing Stress And Your Kids.
Yesterday I saw a young girl in my office who had very bad tummy aches. 
She told
me her tummy ache came "out of no where". Her mom was concerned because 
she had
just finished a round of antibiotics for Strep Throat and stomach aches 
are
often a "sure sign" of Strep in her. But, something was off. This child 
looked
really well. Honestly. This was not a "sick" appearing child.

So, I checked her out head to toe and did a Strep test. Still, nothing. 
Her exam
was normal - in fact, the tummy exam yielded giggles and I discovered 
she is
quite the hopper and very adept and climbing on and off a tricky to 
climb exam
table! And, office her Strep test was negative. Very reassuring all 
around.

Chatting with this young, pleasant child and her mom I learned she's in 
third
grade in a town near mine and facing the dreaded MCAS testing today - 
our
State's standardized testing that starts in third grade and goes all 
the way
through tenth. Out of the blue she said "I'm scared of the MCAS - my 
teachers
told me that the graders are tough and we have to watch how we answer 
the
written answer."

Now I had my answer. This young girl had what I have come to call 
"MCASitis"...a
form of performance anxiety brought on every Spring here in 
Massachusetts. You
likely have a similar form in your State.

Test taking anxiety is truly real, even for young kids. And, with 
anxiety can
come physical symptoms such as stomach aches.

I worry about the impact of State testing on kids. I blogged about this 
a couple
years ago when my youngest daughter was starting this journey, also 
entering
third grade. Even today as a MCAS veteran, she is not thrilled to be 
facing
testing today. She, too, has MCASitis but she has more gentle 
butterflies these
days in her tummy than bats out of control as my patient had. Part of 
the reason
is we've made sure she doesn't view herself through this test. In fact, 
I don't
even show my kids their scores and suggested to my patient's mom she do 
the
same. Young kids don't need that pressure and I feel very strongly 
about that.

Two years ago in my "MCAS Musings", I tossed out some ideas to help you 
and your
kids get through these testing weeks. Given how much more standardized 
testing
our kids have now compared to back then, those tips are even more 
useful today
so here they are again:

1. Let's not tell them they have years of more standardized tests 
ahead! On the
upside, think of all the practice they'll have by the time they have to 
take a
standardized test that actually "matters".

2. Can you imagine biking the PanMass Challenge or running the Boston 
Marathon
on only carrots, apples and water? Just won't work. Granola bars, 
pretzels,
sports drinks - sugary and salty "brain food" needs to be close at hand 
for our
test-takers brains to stay fueled. Even a brownie will do in a pinch.
"Nutrition" takes on a different definition when a young body is under
stress...I'd say hours of testing a day for many days falls into that 
category.

3. Expect "butterflies" even in kids who are MCAS pros by now. Helpful 
to
remember when your normally calm elementary school or middle school 
child has an
unexpected meltdown or does something out of character. This may not be 
the week
to explain to your child why wearing flip-flops in the snow is a bad 
idea!

4. End of the day exhaustion happens with all test takers - physically 
and
mentally. Perhaps slow down the week; curtail some activities; and 
settle down
for bed a tad earlier. And, enjoy the early quiet to the house that 
occurs as a
result(one of the few parental benefits of the MCAS experience!).

5. Keep the best brain food on hand at the start and end to each day: 
lots of
praise and hugs (for you, too, for showing unusual restraint during 
those
unexpected, odd behavior moments).

6. Don't underestimate the power of extra recess or lack of homework. 
Those are
just rewards for a taxing intellectual experience. And, helps combat 
"spring
fever" which strikes annually each spring. Keep in mind, young kids are 
not used
to sitting for this long doing school work. The pent up energy will 
need an
outlet.

We all know that it's the non-numbered achievements in life that matter 
most -
let's start reinforcing that lesson while our kids are young. And, the 
best way
to reinforce that with State testing is to not show our kids the test 
scores.
So, what should you tell your child when the test score arrives? That's 
simple.
Regardless of the result you say this: "I don't recall the number but 
you did
great. We're proud of your effort." Leave it at that then focus on 
whatever
other great stuff your child has going on at the that moment: music, 
sports,
drama, art, karate....

=---------------

Monty Neill, Ed.D.
Deputy Director
FairTest
342 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-864-4810 x 101;  fax 617-497-2224
monty@fairtest.org
http://www.fairtest.org
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