Time Management Questions Answered #3
Q: Great webinar. Thank you. One of the biggest obstacles for my sixth grader has been test anxiety. It really took up a lot of time as my student studied, and over-studied, for her quizzes. I think we have addressed this, but your input on this would be helpful.
This is a big issue – and one that is not easily surmounted without effort on the part of both the parents and the child. My first thought – and often MY first action – would be to consult our Education Counselors. Remember, they are your best asset. 1.888.487.4652, ext. 4. Call them. Beyond me, they can offer a wide variety of practical advice. In my own world, I have had two children suffer from this – what we needed to do was unhook the emotions surrounding the event. So we would play a game called “Test Me”. I would take the questions in an ATS test, and compose similar ones, and more than necessary – and then just toss them out over a period of days… “OK – Test me time – Give me five prepositional phrases…” The key here is to catch them when they are NOT having anxiety… over time – tossing out a wide variety of questions, it diminished their anxiety to be “tested”. We were pretty successful, because now, as adults, both are faring well in the high-anxiety world of college tests.
And let me add another aside here – as independently educating your children – remember, YOU are responsible for the test atmosphere. If you make it high drama and intense, it becomes that (I know this because I have done this – but I repented!) If you make it fun, and provide rewards for its conclusion, then it becomes something to look forward to. Each child is different – sometimes it has taken as long as a week for us to complete an ATS tests series. And if I note that a child is REALLY struggling with a concept, we may “practice” several times before they actually complete the test itself. It is up to me to give them the opportunity to be successful (and those are not my words, rather the sage wisdom of one of our beloved ATS teachers over the years…)
 Q: How do different participants have access to the google calender? Is this something you have set up yourself or does google have something built in?
This is an easy answer – Google has tutorials on how to set up different calendars for family members. The key is to have a Google email. I guess the best answer is “google it”.
Q: What steps should a parent take when their child has a learning disability that affects their executive functions more so than other children?
Again, in this instance I cannot emphasize enough how beneficial it is to have a conversation (or more than one) with an education counselor. Additionally, our Verticy counselors have skill at dealing with children with LD concerns and can be a positive source of support for you. Give them a call.
