GCSE
Examination time can be a stressful period for both children and parents. The children have to prepare the curriculum and deliver at the exam time, and the parents have to ensure that they assist their children as far as possible in preparing for the exams. In fact, parents can play a major role in preparing their children to succeed in academic examinations. The role of parents in preparing their children for exams for different age group of children is highlighted below.
Ages 7 to 11
Children in the age group 7 to 11 are, basically, students of primary education. Children in this age group are just learning the basics of every subject at this stage. The immediate goal of children in this age group is to clear the SAT exams with a good score, and to prepare a good foundation for other important examinations in the future. As a parent, your task is to guide your child at such a tender age to come out of his/her exams with flying colors. Here are some useful tips that will help you in preparing your child for their exams.
1. Preparation is the best stress buster at exam-time. Make sure your child adheres to this golden rule, and is not left with any portion of the curriculum unprepared.
2. The period running up to the exams is a golden time. The key is to organize the timetable in such a way so as to cover all subjects thoroughly.
3. Children at this stage are quite impressionable. Therefore, it’s much easier to inculcate positivism in their minds so that your child can develop the coping mechanisms to learn to deal with the pressure of exams. This enables them to de-stress themselves and not panic at exam time. Panicking during an exam is one of the main reasons children under perform in exams. Teach them simple routines to deal with exam stress at his age and these methods will remain with them through the rest of their lives. This subject is covered in slightly more detail at the end of the article.
4. If your child is having a tough time concentrating on a particular subject, try out innovative techniques from everyday life to make the subject interesting. Try windows brain training software or one of the leading packages on the Nintendo DS console. This subject is covered in slightly more detail at the end of the article.
5. If the child is generally having a tough time concentrating on their studies, it’s better to give him/her a break. Preferably, you should persuade the child to indulge in the activities he/she likes the most. Eg. Sports, TV, games etc. This should recharge the batteries and improve concentration levels of the child.
6. Make sure your child has adequate physical exercise, a healthy diet and regular sleep during the examination period.
7. Don’t leave it until the last minute. If you’ve inculcated in the child the habit to be organized and adhere to all the deadlines throughout the year, half the job of preparing your child for their exams is already taken care of.
8. Children must be made aware of the importance of planning for the future. If the child knows what’s expected of him during the exam time, it’ll save him/her from the surprise element of added pressure. In this regard, preparing a monthly schedule for the child, and encouraging him/her to adhere to it, could be a good way of bringing in discipline in the child’s routine.
9. Lastly, do not overburden your child with high expectations. Just leave them be and there are far more likely to deliver good grades. Your child has probably put themselves under enough pressure without you adding to it.
Ages 11 to 16
The pre-teens and adolescent years are formative stages of a child’s academic career. Preparing for their High school exams and GCSE’s may seem the hardest task due to several distractions at this stage of their life. As a parent, you need to handle children of this age group with extreme care. Here are some useful tips that will help you in preparing the pre-teen and adolescent children for their exams.
1. Encouragement and letting your child know about the importance of GCSEs is your primary role as a parent.
2. Trust on hard work throughout the year rather than any last minute revisions.
3. The importance of organization and scheduling can never be overemphasized for any age group. Help your child prepare a timetable. Make room for their normal day to day activities. Never let them cut activities they enjoy to make room for more revision time. This will only lead to a build up of stress that could lead to poor performance in all of their exams.
4. Practice and revision throughout the year without leaving out any portion is the key to success and your child should be encouraged to clear any difficulties or doubts instead of omitting the tough portion altogether.
5. It’s extremely vital to allow and encourage your children to rest adequately so that they are refreshed every time they study. They should also be encouraged to indulge in different activities, and not just concentrate on studies.
6. Make the environment perfect for studies. Ask your family members not to disturb the child when he/she is studying, and avoid distractions from any source, like the TV. Please note that some children benefit from listening to some kinds of music while they study.
7. Make sure your child is sleeping well and adequately.
8. Always praise them for their hard work and reward them with little gifts.
9. Inculcate positive thoughts by explaining to your child that there is no point brooding over a bad performance in one exam.
10. Ask your child if he/she needs any help. This moral support is enough for your child to remain honest with his/her exam preparations.
11. Promise a big family celebration after the exams are over, and keep your promise!
You can only do so much, but the final results of exams are entirely the efforts of your child. Always remind your kids of the golden rule of life.
Games improve memory and exam performance
With the introduction of the brain training software for the Nintendo games console educational software as become cool. Children who are reluctant to learn using conventional methods are now being taught using educational software in the classroom. In one example we have created software that has different targets moving around a smart board and the pupil as to shoot the right answer using a remote control. This is a great fun method for teaching mental maths and spelling to the younger age groups.
Research into educational computer games like the brain training software for windows, and the Nintendo games console as shown that children who use the software for 20 minutes at the start of the day easily outperformed children using conventional methods.
Children using the software tended to settle down more quickly and concentrate with much higher levels of concentration. The same results have also been achieved by adults using the same software. Also, long and short term memory was found to be improved if the software is used on a regular basis.
To improve your child’s performance in their exams try to find the right balance between conventional methods, using past exam papers, revision guides and computer based methods, on-line learning (SAM’s Learning etc), computer software, brain training software etc.
Methods for controlling stress
In the months before the examination period take up a sport or try to get some light exercise by going on a bike ride or a long walk. Physical activity is a great method for reducing stress and anxiety.
At the start of the exam read the exam papers instructions carefully thinking about nothing else. This will prevent you from making mistakes by answering questions you shouldn’t’t attempt because you have attempted other questions; but it will also focus your mind removing thoughts that lead to anxiety. Find a perfume or deodorant that as a calming affect on you.
If you feel really anxious hold you nose and breathe out or breathe into your cupped hands. This increases the carbon dioxide in the blood causing a calming affect. Find your own destress points, massage your temples or just over your nose with a gentle circular motion. If you suffer from really serious nerves or anxiety don’t suffer alone, go and see a doctor.
GCSE
Source by Andrew Pilling
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