-by Mimi Rothschild

Not every state requires that home schooled children be tested, so maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who don’t fall under a mandate. However, if you happen to live in a state that does require it, you know how intense, stressful and overwhelming it can be for your children.

The process of state mandated testing can be a daunting one, often for hours on end, so here are a few suggestions to make the experience a smoother one for everyone involved.

Lighten their workload. Realize that studying and preparing for an exam can be exhausting. You might want to lighten their workload a little the day before and the day following the test or even forgo it altogether. Overwhelming them with too much additional schoolwork can be detrimental to their success.

Try not to stress them out. We all know that technically, state testing is really a test of our abilities to adequately teach our children. That alone can cause us to feel anxious, because how they do is a direct reflection of our own abilities as an educator. It is extremely important that you never project your own stress or concerns onto your students. Remember that they have their own nerves to deal with, so keep yours to yourself.

Be sure they are well rested. A good night’s sleep the night before is critical to having a clear mind and being ready to concentrate during an exam.

Make sure they are prepared. Feed your child a healthy breakfast the morning of the test, and make sure that all required materials are on hand before he embarks on the test. For example, arm him with two or three sharpened number 2 pencils and ample scrap paper if that’s what the exam calls for.

Remind them of one thing: to do their best. After all, what more can we ask of them?

Take frequent breaks. Every hour or so, let them get up and walk around, or have a snack to avoid fatigue and help them recharge their batteries.

Resist the urge to look over your student’s shoulder while they are testing. Being timed while taking a difficult exam can be stressful enough as it is. Putting added pressure on your student may actually cause them to do poorly, and you certainly don’t want that.

After the test is done, allow your child to decompress. Head out shopping or get an ice cream sundae to celebrate that it’s all over. Shift their focus. There’s no reason to dwell on the results, since they often take several weeks to arrive. In the meantime, try to relax and return to business as usual.

Lastly, when the results do arrive, try to view them as a tool for your child’s success. Focus more on the positive, and use any negative results as an opportunity to view areas that you may want to spend a little extra time on. Most likely, however, the results will come as little or no surprise to you and your student.

State mandated testing can be a difficult and daunting task, but remember that it is what you make of it. If you are able to make it into a positive experience by not letting it stress your students out, and by implementing some of the tips provided above, you will likely find that it’s really not all that bad and it will be over before you know it.

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of LearningByGrace.org the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12 online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.