It’s finals and SAT season—a stressful time for students. In Unit 6 of the SMARTS program, we highlight lots of ways that you can help your students develop good study strategies to prepare for tests.
Students also need the emotional support of their teachers to keep morale up and stress levels down. When students are emotionally overwhelmed and frustrated, they are unable to produce quality work. Their ability to access executive function processes shuts down, causing additional frustration and grief (not to mention poor academic performance).
As adults, it is our task to model effective emotional regulation for our students. The BBC recently showcased some great ways teachers are helping their students manage the pressure during test-taking season. Here is a sampling:
This note sent to Year 6 pupils at Bucklebury Primary School in Reading, Berkshire has gone viral on social media.
This letter is from King Edwin Primary School in Nottinghamshire.
And, Silverdale Primary Academy in East Sussex sent this letter home to students.
What are some ways that you help your students handle the pressure of taking tests? Let us know in the comments!
- Elizabeth Ross, M.A., SMARTS Media Manager
