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The First Tests are Disappointing: What to Do?
Sep 24, 2014 3:43 PM
By Jean Bonnyman - FF/S
Five weeks have flown by since the beginning of the school year, and most teachers have given their first tests. For many students, the happy grades on the web page just took a disappointing plunge. The first few weeks of school were so optimistic, but now reality hits. What to do now? Here are some suggestions.
First, do not indulge in negative thinking. A positive attitude and willingness to work gets people farther in the world than brains and talent. This is documented by research and the test of time, as proven by people who have excelled over time. So keep perspective; this is just the first test.
Now is the time to start asking honest questions. Being truly honest with oneself is just about the hardest skill out there, especially for teenagers who feel the pressure to excel. Here are some guideline questions for starters:
1. Did I really focus in class and take good notes? Did I check and compare my notes with another student who works hard? Do I have a good “note buddy” I can compare my notes with before a test?
2. When I had a question, did I ask the teacher, go to coach class, or get help from a friend? Or did I just let it slip by; the teacher didn’t check homework anyway…
3. Did I do a thorough job on my homework or did I just run through it to get it done? Doing a good job on homework looks like annotated reading, taking careful reading notes (topic and supporting details), thoroughly answering questions and looking up components of homework that are unknown or unfamiliar. In other words, do I routinely make my best effort?
4. Did I plan my time carefully starting on Monday morning? Homework is posted for the week by Monday morning for a reason: so students can plan their week ahead. The mix of sport competitions and tests during the week call for time management! If the game is on Thursday and two tests are scheduled for Friday, studying had better be done ahead of time as much as possible.
5. When it is time for studying at night, do I work in a distraction-free environment? This means put the cell phone in another room on silent! Give yourself the study environment you need to focus. If music helps, this is fine as long as it is not a distraction (such as changing the songs frequently). Tell friends and siblings your needs, as in leave you alone at night so you can get your work done and get enough sleep.
6. It is well documented most teenagers don’t get nearly enough sleep. Fatigue slows down processing, working memory disappears and the world looks negative without enough rest. Sleep is the time the brain digests all newly learned information, so get at least eight hours of sleep (many researchers say teens need 10 hours).
7. Finally, ask yourself honestly, do I really know how to study? Do I know the right skills for success? If you are not sure, show your teachers your notes, tell them how you study, and ask them for suggestions. Compare what you do to students who got a high grade. Work with a “study buddy” before tests. This is common routine in college.
Focus on the “process” of doing your best in school. If you focus on improving your skills and your growth as a student, it takes away the stress of focusing on just grades. Test anxiety comes from too much focus on just grades, also known as the “product.”
Beware of the common excuses that only sabotage a process orientation to school and learning. Here is my favorite: “The teacher hates me.” Teachers don’t hate students; if they did, why would they be teaching? “Everyone in the class did badly on the test.” If that is really true, the teacher would probably do a remediation, but it is likely not true. Find out what you need to know to learn the material you missed, and how you can do a better job for the next test. “I didn’t have time to study.” Learn to manage your time. “I can’t do math,” or “I hate to read.” It isn’t that you can’t; it is you didn’t practice or work at it. Practicing an academic is no different than practicing a sport or any skill. Remember, attitude and effort over time is the secret to success.
First, do not indulge in negative thinking. A positive attitude and willingness to work gets people farther in the world than brains and talent. This is documented by research and the test of time, as proven by people who have excelled over time. So keep perspective; this is just the first test.
Now is the time to start asking honest questions. Being truly honest with oneself is just about the hardest skill out there, especially for teenagers who feel the pressure to excel. Here are some guideline questions for starters:
1. Did I really focus in class and take good notes? Did I check and compare my notes with another student who works hard? Do I have a good “note buddy” I can compare my notes with before a test?
2. When I had a question, did I ask the teacher, go to coach class, or get help from a friend? Or did I just let it slip by; the teacher didn’t check homework anyway…
3. Did I do a thorough job on my homework or did I just run through it to get it done? Doing a good job on homework looks like annotated reading, taking careful reading notes (topic and supporting details), thoroughly answering questions and looking up components of homework that are unknown or unfamiliar. In other words, do I routinely make my best effort?
4. Did I plan my time carefully starting on Monday morning? Homework is posted for the week by Monday morning for a reason: so students can plan their week ahead. The mix of sport competitions and tests during the week call for time management! If the game is on Thursday and two tests are scheduled for Friday, studying had better be done ahead of time as much as possible.
5. When it is time for studying at night, do I work in a distraction-free environment? This means put the cell phone in another room on silent! Give yourself the study environment you need to focus. If music helps, this is fine as long as it is not a distraction (such as changing the songs frequently). Tell friends and siblings your needs, as in leave you alone at night so you can get your work done and get enough sleep.
6. It is well documented most teenagers don’t get nearly enough sleep. Fatigue slows down processing, working memory disappears and the world looks negative without enough rest. Sleep is the time the brain digests all newly learned information, so get at least eight hours of sleep (many researchers say teens need 10 hours).
7. Finally, ask yourself honestly, do I really know how to study? Do I know the right skills for success? If you are not sure, show your teachers your notes, tell them how you study, and ask them for suggestions. Compare what you do to students who got a high grade. Work with a “study buddy” before tests. This is common routine in college.
Focus on the “process” of doing your best in school. If you focus on improving your skills and your growth as a student, it takes away the stress of focusing on just grades. Test anxiety comes from too much focus on just grades, also known as the “product.”
Beware of the common excuses that only sabotage a process orientation to school and learning. Here is my favorite: “The teacher hates me.” Teachers don’t hate students; if they did, why would they be teaching? “Everyone in the class did badly on the test.” If that is really true, the teacher would probably do a remediation, but it is likely not true. Find out what you need to know to learn the material you missed, and how you can do a better job for the next test. “I didn’t have time to study.” Learn to manage your time. “I can’t do math,” or “I hate to read.” It isn’t that you can’t; it is you didn’t practice or work at it. Practicing an academic is no different than practicing a sport or any skill. Remember, attitude and effort over time is the secret to success.
