Vo l . 1 1 N o . 1
C o o k C h i l d r e n ’s H e a l t h C a r e S y s t e m
Spring 2005
Cook Children’s Physician Network
Making the Grade on School Tests
is the
When schools focus on standardized exams, remember it’s learning that counts
largest
non-profit pediatric physician
network in North Texas with
more than 200
physicians, including primary care physicians and
pediatric
subspecialists in more than
30 locations in Tarrant, Denton and Hood counties.
find a pediatrician
To
near you or for a referral,
please call our toll-free number,
800-934-COOK.
I
t might not be a cold or the flu, but it’s something parents of school-age children frequently treat. It’s the exam-day jitters. As schools pass out the TAKS and other standardized tests and push pupils to do well on them, it’s becoming even more common. But parents can do a lot to ease test anxiety, both in their children and themselves, by focusing on the learning and not the scoring. “The bottom line is not testing, but measuring competence and understanding,” says psychologist Ruth Peters, PhD. “Some kids truly don’t know the material, and in the lower grades, it can be a real gift to hold them back a year and let them mature. Others get decent grades but can’t perform under the pressure of a test. It’s a very anxietyproducing situation.” To ease tension, experts say you can: ■ Teach your child deep-breathing techniques. ■ Make sure your child gets enough sleep and eats a good breakfast. ■ Keep your own emotions in check. “When a child demonstrates knowledge on a daily basis in the classroom month after month, yet fails on a standardized test, that shows you something is wrong,” Dr. Peters says. The child could be distracted or confused by the directions. Some problems have a physical
root. The list includes memory flaws, language defects and learning disorders, which may affect 15 to 30 percent of pupils. “Disturbances of mood, such as adjustment reactions and depression, also can affect concentration and overall performance,” says Clive Daniels, MD, of Cook Children’s Physician Network. “If your child is not meeting his potential in school or is experiencing significant difficulties with testing, your pediatrician can help
pinpoint the problem and make a diagnosis. You and your pediatrician can then choose from a variety of available treatments to assist your child in achieving his or her maximum potential.” ❖ Clive Daniels, MD, is a pediatrician with Cook Children’s Physician Network. He practices at 980 North Walnut Creek in Mansfield.