As middle school counselors, we notice that certain problems or issues tend to re-occur more frequently than others. Because of this, we have developed a series of tips that we offer both to students and parents that we hope will help you resolve some of these problems together. Middle School students typically want to do things on their own, but they also need guidance from the adults in their lives. Here are some suggested strategies for a few common middle school issues.
Test Anxiety Does your child worry about taking tests? Does your child tell you he/she forgets everything as soon as the test is handed out?
Encourage your child to beat test anxiety with these few simple steps:
Mark test dates on a calendar.
Read over your notes for several nights before the test. Don’t try to memorize information yet, just read over it as many times as you can. For an extra brain boost—try reading your notes out loud!
Highlight, rewrite or make flashcards with your notes—this task alone will help you learn the information.
Make sure you are well-prepared and then relax.
Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test and eat a good, nutritious breakfast in the morning.
Be confident on the test day—you have studied; you know the material; you will most likely do well on the test—just believing in yourself will help you to perform better.
Always feel free to ask your child’s teachers, principals or school counselors for additional suggestions!