State testing begins this week
Local districts in Washington County will begin administering the Mississippi Academic Assesment Program (MAAP) test this week.
Greenville, Leland, Western Line and Hollendale school districts have tips and advice for students and caregivers.
“Get a good night's sleep; eat breakfast; calm yourself; stay focused; answer all questions without leaving any unanswered; use your strategies, and if others finish before you stay focused on your test and do your best,” said Rev. Jessie King, superintendent at LSD.
“Limit the usage of social media or electronics,” said Mario Willis, superintendent of HSD. “I want to make sure the students are completely focus on their test and the materials they have learned instead of electronics and social media.”
“I would like to say good luck on this year’s state test to all of our students,” said Lawrence Hudson, superintendent of WLSD. “We have worked very hard this year to improve our schools. Remember the goals we set for each school and for the district. Remember only your best is good enough. Let’s make history.”
Tips for testing
According to Nemours, a nonprofit children's health system, founded to help families take charge of their health, there are actions students can take to aid them in best testing practices.
• Make sure you’ve studied properly. If you’re comfortable with the information, the more confident you’ll feel when taking the test.
• Get enough sleep. Late night cramming may seem effective, but the less sleep you get the less focus you’ll be on the information.
• Eat a light but nutritious breakfast.
• Come prepared with writing utensils and all things necessary for the test.
• Read through the test first. The test will be very long and filled with a lot of information but if you read over the entire test, you’ll know how you will be able to complete the test.
• Remember fun study tricks you may have. As long as it's not disruptive to the others in the testing site, utilize all means of remembering the information you studied.
• Listen closely to any instructions. As the teacher or proctor hands out the test, make sure you know what’s expected of you.
• Don’t rush. Go at your own pace. Take your time. It’s not a competition. Your main and only focus is your test.
• Relax. Breathe. The pressure levels will be high but don’t get defeated. Think of positive thoughts. Give yourself mini breaks. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Take deep breaths.
• If you finish your test early, go over your work as much as you can. You can also add details or take away details that you may have thought you didn’t have time for.
• If you’re one of the few that’s still in there and time is winding down, work on whatever you’re working on without panicking.
• Lastly, don’t leave anything blank. Don’t focus so hard on topics you don’t know and come back to them if time permits.
According to the National Education Association, in 2015, 67% of public school parents said there is too much emphasis on testing; 14% of parents said testing is very important in measuring school effectiveness; and 66% of parents oppose using test scores to evaluate teacher performance.
