If you have a small in 3rd grade, surely you know that these days are carrying out external evaluation tests that were established with the LOMCE, to assess the skills of students, both 3rd and 6th.
I have many kids in 3rd, and these last few days have been particularly nervous with these tests.
But it seems that is not a timely issue, but rather something widespread, increasingly common and, I must say, that has me quite worried.
How could a boy or girl 8 Malito years put almost every time you have an exam? Is not it possible that we are pressuring them too with notes? With the "importance" of being the best?
Today I want to leave you some “tricks” that, from my point of view, They will help you avoid exam anxiety, whether you are teachers or parents.
What can we do as teachers?
- Avoid the word exam.
There are many educational centers that avoid the word exam during the primary education stage., replacing it with words like token.
If we go to the RAE and read the definition of an exam, We will see that the concept itself carries an implicit connotation of “control.”.
Exam:
- Inquiry and study carried out about the qualities and circumstances of a thing or fact.
- Test that is made of the suitability of a person for the exercise and profession of a faculty, office or ministry, or to check or demonstrate achievement in studies.
Suitability??? And he who does not pass an exam is not suitable...?
- Explain why you have to do this “sheet”.
We teachers have gotten into a dynamic in which we barely justify anything we do to our students..
If we explained to them the reasons for what we do, we would get them to understand things much better, and therefore, later, were able to make their own decisions, not to wait for others to take it for them.
Explain to your students that we make these worksheets to review the concepts we have worked on., and thus make sure that we have learned everything well. So that, if we have not understood something, let's go over them again.
- Avoid competitive situations.
Some teachers sing the notes out loud. I don't quite understand the pedagogical “advantages” of this method., but from my point of view it is counterproductive.
I believe that, just as we take our time to explain certain concepts, We must take the time to give the grades to our students and explain to them where they have failed..
Take advantage of a moment when your students are working to give them their notes.. Go calling them one by one. Think of a compliment that has nothing to do with their grade., but with your knowledge. “Good job with the map”, “I see that we know the rivers great”, etc. Exalt the positive and then go into detail about what needs to be improved., but avoid negative phrases like “You don't know…”, “You haven't studied…”.
Finally give them their note. But showing them that the importance is not in the 7 or 9, but in what we have learned.
Obviously you will not be able to prevent your students from sharing notes with each other.. You will not be able to avoid comments like: “I have a 9 and you a 6”, but sure, that little by little, and after a lot of work, you will get your students to “compete” for the concepts, “I know the rivers”, and not by the numerical notes. That kind of competitiveness, Yes it will help them improve 😉
- Always praise the positive side.
Absolutely all of our students, are more or less bright, or more or less studious, they have something positive.
When you give them their note, praise that positive part, and make others aware of it too. This way you will avoid negative labels.
- Promotes teamwork and collaboration.
A while ago I made an infographic about how to encourage teamwork and collaboration.
I think that the exams and how we approach them, will have a lot to do with this.
think that, through exams, you can see how your students are doing, What concepts do they control best and worst to promote teamwork?. If Pedro has understood prehistory brilliantly, ask him to explain it to the rest of his classmates, and so with the others. You can create discussion and collaboration groups. Many times, among them, They can better explain and understand certain concepts that we have already explained to them in another way..
What can we do as parents?
The role of parents in avoiding anxiety is also essential. As parents you can put the above tips into practice., but also...
- Constant communication with your teachers.
Communication between parents and teachers must be constant. It is essential that the line of action is the same at home and at school. If your teachers are not doing it the way they should, help them.. You are the one who knows your son or daughter best. Transmit this privileged information to them and everything will surely be much easier..
- Organize the study.
If you leave everything for the last day, situations of tension and stress will come..
Organize the subjects so that every day you can do a little. This way you will be able to create routines and prevent your little one from becoming overwhelmed with too much material in one day..
If every day you review, The concepts will settle better and the day before the exam you will only have to review.
- Don't pressure them.
Downplay the grade itself. Explain to them that we are going to learn at school. That the grades are simply so that the teachers can know how they are doing., but what is really important is that they understand what is explained to them.
If your child has obtained a 6 but you have seen that he has studied, don't scold them. Try to understand why it has been, Maybe it's because he gets nervous when it comes to putting his knowledge on paper.. If so, you should work on that nervousness..
We live in a society where competitiveness is the order of the day.. Only those who are successful are rewarded, to those who “achieve” something, but, what does it mean to get something? Aren't failed attempts small successes in achieving our goals??
We must transmit that idea to our little ones.. The idea of the importance of the process, more than the result itself.
I'm sure that working together we will achieve it!! 😉
Thanks for being there!
A hug,
Cristina
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Wayne Dyer
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