Supporting your child with assessments

1) What does the research say about the effects of test anxiety/stress?

Neuroimaging research reveals that high-stress environments disrupt the brain’s learning acquisition and memory retrieval. The flow of information into and out of memory requires that it pass through the amygdala. In a neutral or positive state—when students are comfortable and confident in their ability to do their best—information can pass through the amygdala to get to and from the memory storage and executive function networks in the prefrontal cortex.

In a high-stress state, the amygdala reduces the flow of information to the prefrontal cortex, reducing access to the information stored in memory and providing less guidance from the executive function networks.

With less access to the executive functions of emotional self-regulation and judgment, students are limited to a narrow set of behavior responses: fight, flight, or freeze. They have less cognitive ability and judgment to evaluate test questions and their own responses.

Information retrieved from the post, "Building Metacognition Into Test Prep." Edutopia.com, https://www.edutopia.org/article/building-metacognition-test-prep

5) Social Media and Academic Performance

What to Know:

Researchers from the University of California–San Francisco analyzed data from more than 6,500 students as part of the nationwide Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study: the largest long-term study of brain development in the U.S.

• The results: Students who spent up to three hours daily on social media scored as much as four points lower on reading and memory tests compared to students who rarely used social media.

• Why it matters: Skills like reading comprehension and memory are essential to learning and can impact students’ academic performance as a whole.

• Possible causes: Researchers suggest that social media can take away time spent on reading, studying, or resting, all key to supporting students’ academic performance.

Over the past few years, states across the country have enacted cell phone policies, whether that is requiring an outright ban or mandating schools put a policy in place, and schools are working hard to empower distraction-free learning. These findings reinforce the importance of helping students strike a balance and build mindful tech habits early on.

Key Takeaways:

Helping students strike a balance with tech and social media isn’t about banning social media or devices. It’s about empowering and equipping them with mindfulness and self-control skills with tech. By empowering students to strike a balance and strengthening their understanding of how social media affects their brains, focus, and motivation, we* can guide them toward healthier, more intentional screen habits that support their academic success.

Information retrieved from: https://thesocialinstitute.com