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MCASitis? State Testing Stress And Your Kids
Too bad the medical advice is on how to accommodate the test instead of "Don't subject your child to this needless strain."
by Dr. Gwenn
Yesterday I saw a young girl in my office who had very bad tummy aches. She told me her tummy ache came "out of no where". Her mom was concerned because she had just finished a round of antibiotics for Strep Throat and stomach aches are often a "sure sign" of Strep in her. But, something was off. This child looked really well. Honestly. This was not a "sick" appearing child.
So, I checked her out head to toe and did a Strep test. Still, nothing. Her exam was normal - in fact, the tummy exam yielded giggles and I discovered she is quite the hopper and very adept and climbing on and off a tricky to climb exam table! And, office her Strep test was negative. Very reassuring all around.
Chatting with this young, pleasant child and her mom I learned she's in third grade in a town near mine and facing the dreaded MCAS testing today - our State's standardized testing that starts in third grade and goes all the way through tenth. Out of the blue she said "I'm scared of the MCAS - my teachers told me that the graders are tough and we have to watch how we answer the written answer."
Now I had my answer. This young girl had what I have come to call "MCASitis"...a form of performance anxiety brought on every Spring here in Massachusetts. You likely have a similar form in your State.
Test taking anxiety is truly real, even for young kids. And, with anxiety can come physical symptoms such as stomach aches.
I worry about the impact of State testing on kids. I blogged about this a couple years ago when my youngest daughter was starting this journey, also entering third grade. Even today as a MCAS veteran, she is not thrilled to be facing testing today. She, too, has MCASitis but she has more gentle butterflies these days in her tummy than bats out of control as my patient had. Part of the reason is we've made sure she doesn't view herself through this test. In fact, I don't even show my kids their scores and suggested to my patient's mom she do the same. Young kids don't need that pressure and I feel very strongly about that.
Two years ago in my "MCAS Musings", I tossed out some ideas to help you and your kids get through these testing weeks. Given how much more standardized testing our kids have now compared to back then, those tips are even more useful today so here they are again:
1. Let's not tell them they have years of more standardized tests ahead! On the upside, think of all the practice they'll have by the time they have to take a standardized test that actually "matters".
2. Can you imagine biking the PanMass Challenge or running the Boston Marathon on only carrots, apples and water? Just won't work. Granola bars, pretzels, sports drinks - sugary and salty "brain food" needs to be close at hand for our test-takers brains to stay fueled. Even a brownie will do in a pinch. "Nutrition" takes on a different definition when a young body is under stress...I'd say hours of testing a day for many days falls into that category.
3. Expect "butterflies" even in kids who are MCAS pros by now. Helpful to remember when your normally calm elementary school or middle school child has an unexpected meltdown or does something out of character. This may not be the week to explain to your child why wearing flip-flops in the snow is a bad idea!
4. End of the day exhaustion happens with all test takers - physically and mentally. Perhaps slow down the week; curtail some activities; and settle down for bed a tad earlier. And, enjoy the early quiet to the house that occurs as a result(one of the few parental benefits of the MCAS experience!).
5. Keep the best brain food on hand at the start and end to each day: lots of praise and hugs (for you, too, for showing unusual restraint during those unexpected, odd behavior moments).
6. Don't underestimate the power of extra recess or lack of homework. Those are just rewards for a taxing intellectual experience. And, helps combat "spring fever" which strikes annually each spring. Keep in mind, young kids are not used to sitting for this long doing school work. The pent up energy will need an outlet.
We all know that it's the non-numbered achievements in life that matter most - let's start reinforcing that lesson while our kids are young. And, the best way to reinforce that with State testing is to not show our kids the test scores. So, what should you tell your child when the test score arrives? That's simple. Regardless of the result you say this: "I don't recall the number but you did great. We're proud of your effort." Leave it at that then focus on whatever other great stuff your child has going on at the that moment: music, sports, drama, art, karate....
— Dr. Gwenn
Dr. Gwenn is In
2008-03-24
http://pediatricsnow.blogspot.com/
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