Final exams can be a stressful time of the school year for any student. But, if your child has learning differences, exams can cause extra stress, and students can feel an uncomfortable amount of anxiety and pressure to perform. If you have a child with learning differences and you want to make final exam time as bearable as possible this year, there are some things you can do to help ease the stress and lift the pressure. These steps can help make the end of the semester as enjoyable as possible for the entire family.
Prep Properly for Tests
One of the best ways to ensure that your student feels as little pressure as possible when exams roll around is to ensure that they are properly prepared. Feeling ready for exams can ease the anxiety children feel and make them more confident about their ability to perform. In addition to helping them study the exam material starting several weeks in advance, you should also work on time management strategies. Here are several time management exercises you can tackle to help ensure your child feels ready to complete their tests within the allotted time: time management for students with learning disabilities.
Speak to Teachers about Accommodations
Weeks before final exams, speak with your student's teachers about any testing accommodations he might need or available school resources to help with the exam experience. Your child's teachers might have some ideas about accommodations that can ensure exams are not so difficult, like time extensions, extra study questions, different testing rooms with no distractions, and more.
Shift the Focus Off of Grades
It's possible that your child feels pressure about performing or what grades she is going to get. Do your best to shift the focus from the grade outcome of the exam, to the process of studying, reviewing, and learning the material. Make sure your child knows that you are proud of them as long as they take the time to learn the material, and do their best, and that the final grade is not what matters at the end of the semester.
Brain Balance Can Help
For over a decade, we’ve helped over 50,000 individuals improve the critical skills needed to create a brighter path for their future. If you're concerned that your child is not meeting academic milestones or is struggling socially or behaviorally, contact us online to learn more about how the Brain Balance Program can help. You can also view the research and results of the program on the website.