Teaching Tips to help students with test anxiety
There are several things that a teacher can do to help alleviate test anxiety with their students. These things include but are not limited to:
Teaching Good Test Habits:
Early on in the year, it can be good to have a few brief lessons on good study habits. Some of these include how to take good notes, How to review material, how to manage time, etc. Many teachers assume that their students know this but there are many who do not or simply do not realize the importance of these things. It is also important that the teacher emphasizes the importance of getting an adequate amount of sleep and that they students eat properly.
Have Realistic Expectations for the Students:
There are many cases when a teacher will notice that his or her students did not do well on a test and will be very hard on the students about it. They are hard on the students because they expect so much more. However, if the teacher is expecting something unrealistic then the students will never meet those and will become anxious about disappointing their teacher for the remainder of the tests throughout the year.
Try Not to over emphasize the Importance of the Test:
It is natural for a teacher to really emphasize the importance of a test with his or her students. The goal is usually to make the students realize that the test is important and that they need to study for it. However, if the importance of the test is over emphasized, then it can lead to more anxiety for the students. If the importance of a test is exaggerated, then a student may feel like it is the end of the world if they do not do well and that can cause them to become more anxious.
Relaxation Exercises:
Relaxation exercises can be a really good way to calm students down. Examples of this could be yoga or simple deep breathing exercises. It is important to note, however, that one needs to be careful that he or she is teaching deep breathing rather than hyperventilation.
Have Healthy Snacks Available for Students:
Let's be honest, no matter how much you emphasize the importance of nutrition when it comes to test taking, many students will not eat properly before a test. Having easy and healthy snacks available on test day can eliminate malnutrition and hunger which can be a source of anxiety or something that would exacerbate anxiety.
Create a Comfortable Testing Environment:
An uncomfortable test taking environment can exacerbate test anxiety. Things that can help are making sure that the room is well lit, that the temperature of the classroom is as good as it can be, and have a set procedure for bathroom breaks. If students are required to "hold it" their anxiety may go up.
Provide Practice Questions for the Test:
Obviously you do not want to give the students the actual test questions, but if you provide them with similar questions or questions of a similar format, it may make things easier for them as the test format will be one less unknown variable that they have to deal with. This is something one of my teachers in high school did and it helped reduce stress by quite a bit.
Test Structure:
http://www.csdvt.org/chs/main/guidance/testanxiety.pdf
It is a good idea to start your test off with one or two easy questions to start the students off. If the first question is a zinger, then the student with anxiety may lose all confidence right at the beginning of the test. By starting off easy, the student will feel as if they can do it and it will help keep a certain level of confidence throughout the test.
Stay Positive:
Be sure to reassure students and let them know that you believe that they can do it. There is nothing more discouraging than a teacher who does not believe in his or her own students. If a student is reassured, they are likely to be at least a little bit more confident, therefore anxiety is reduced.
Resources:
http://www.humboldt.edu/celt/tips/helping_students_deal_with_test_anxiety/
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/classroom_resources/tips/assessment/overcoming_test_anxiety.html
http://www.csdvt.org/chs/main/guidance/testanxiety.pdf
http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/6674318/40167.pdf
Teaching Good Test Habits:
Early on in the year, it can be good to have a few brief lessons on good study habits. Some of these include how to take good notes, How to review material, how to manage time, etc. Many teachers assume that their students know this but there are many who do not or simply do not realize the importance of these things. It is also important that the teacher emphasizes the importance of getting an adequate amount of sleep and that they students eat properly.
Have Realistic Expectations for the Students:
There are many cases when a teacher will notice that his or her students did not do well on a test and will be very hard on the students about it. They are hard on the students because they expect so much more. However, if the teacher is expecting something unrealistic then the students will never meet those and will become anxious about disappointing their teacher for the remainder of the tests throughout the year.
Try Not to over emphasize the Importance of the Test:
It is natural for a teacher to really emphasize the importance of a test with his or her students. The goal is usually to make the students realize that the test is important and that they need to study for it. However, if the importance of the test is over emphasized, then it can lead to more anxiety for the students. If the importance of a test is exaggerated, then a student may feel like it is the end of the world if they do not do well and that can cause them to become more anxious.
Relaxation Exercises:
Relaxation exercises can be a really good way to calm students down. Examples of this could be yoga or simple deep breathing exercises. It is important to note, however, that one needs to be careful that he or she is teaching deep breathing rather than hyperventilation.
Have Healthy Snacks Available for Students:
Let's be honest, no matter how much you emphasize the importance of nutrition when it comes to test taking, many students will not eat properly before a test. Having easy and healthy snacks available on test day can eliminate malnutrition and hunger which can be a source of anxiety or something that would exacerbate anxiety.
Create a Comfortable Testing Environment:
An uncomfortable test taking environment can exacerbate test anxiety. Things that can help are making sure that the room is well lit, that the temperature of the classroom is as good as it can be, and have a set procedure for bathroom breaks. If students are required to "hold it" their anxiety may go up.
Provide Practice Questions for the Test:
Obviously you do not want to give the students the actual test questions, but if you provide them with similar questions or questions of a similar format, it may make things easier for them as the test format will be one less unknown variable that they have to deal with. This is something one of my teachers in high school did and it helped reduce stress by quite a bit.
Test Structure:
http://www.csdvt.org/chs/main/guidance/testanxiety.pdf
It is a good idea to start your test off with one or two easy questions to start the students off. If the first question is a zinger, then the student with anxiety may lose all confidence right at the beginning of the test. By starting off easy, the student will feel as if they can do it and it will help keep a certain level of confidence throughout the test.
Stay Positive:
Be sure to reassure students and let them know that you believe that they can do it. There is nothing more discouraging than a teacher who does not believe in his or her own students. If a student is reassured, they are likely to be at least a little bit more confident, therefore anxiety is reduced.
Resources:
http://www.humboldt.edu/celt/tips/helping_students_deal_with_test_anxiety/
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/classroom_resources/tips/assessment/overcoming_test_anxiety.html
http://www.csdvt.org/chs/main/guidance/testanxiety.pdf
http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/6674318/40167.pdf