'Twas the Night Before . . . Testing?

'Twas the night before testing
And all through the house
Not a creature was cramming,
Not even a mouse. . . .

With a simple checklist, you can enjoy a peaceful slumber on the "night before testing" with visions of success dancing in your head . . .

Finish reviewing any remaining practice material
Confirm date/time/place/fees with test administrator.
Resume/continue regular schoolwork so that your child doesn't feel overwhelmed with upcoming testing.

Collect supplies: pencils, erasers, blank scratch paper, pencil sharpener, etc.
Prepare healthy snacks. Avoid messy treats like chocolate and powdered cheese snacks since these stain the test materials.
Make sure any notes to the administrator are written out as well as any instructions for your child about calling you when finished, etc.
Relax. Remember, the test is not "pass or fail." It's just a snapshot of how your child is doing academically at this point in the school year.
Make sure your child gets a good night's rest. An awake and alert brain will test better than one that's sleep deprived from cramming.

Take prepared supplies and notes.
Take prepared snacks.
Remind your child to listen closely to all instructions. If something is unclear to him, be sure he knows to ask the tester.
Explain to your child that he should expect to find some questions he doesn't know the answers to. The test always includes a few advanced questions to check the limits of a student's knowledge.
Encourage your child to skip the hard questions. He can always return to them if there's time left when he reaches the end of the section.

Praise your child for his hard work!
If he seems anxious, encourage him to remember that this is not a pass/fail for the grade--it's just a snapshot of his academic standing.
Celebrate with a milk shake or a burger!

With a bit of thoughtful preparation, the road to success can be smooth and testing can be an enjoyable experience each year. Print this checklist

A checklist for test administrators is sent automatically with the test materials. You may also view the checklist online