Tip #1: Make attendance a priority, especially on days that you know standardized testing will be administered or there is a test in the classroom.
Tip #2: Make a note of test days on the calendar -- from spelling quizzes to big high-stakes tests. That way both you and your child know what's coming and will be prepared.
Tip #3: Look over your child's homework daily and check for understanding.
Tip #4: Avoid pressuring your child and provide him with encouragement. Few children want to fail, and most will try their hardest to do well. Being afraid of your reaction to a bad test grade can increase anxiety, which makes careless mistakes more likely.
Tip #5: Confirm that your child will be receiving any pre-determined accommodations during tests. These accommodations are detailed in his IEP or 504 plan. If he doesn't have one but needs some assistance, make sure you've communicated with his teacher about his needs.
Tip #6: Set a reasonable bedtime and stick to it.Tired children have difficulty focusing and are easily flustered by challenges.
Tip #7: Make sure your child has enough time to wake up fully before he has to go to school. Just as rest is important, so is having enough time to get his brain engaged and in gear.
Tip #8: Provide a high-protein, healthy, low-sugar breakfast for your child. Kids learn better on full stomachs, but if their stomachs are full of sugary, heavy foods that will make them sleepy or slightly queasy.
Tip #9: Talk to your child about how the test went, what he did well and what he would have done differently. Think of it as a mini-debriefing or brainstorming session.
Tip #10: Go over the test with your child when he gets it back or when you receive the scores. Together you can look at any mistakes he made and correct them so he knows the information for the next test.