Now that April 15th is over and we've all paid our taxes,  the next big thing on a teachers list is State Testing, April 21st-25. The students have all worked so hard all year learning the ABC's, how to add, subtract, read and write. Now it is their time to shine and show off what they know for the great state of California.  The students are ready, the teachers are ready, the principals are frantically organizing tests materials...and the administrators are already waiting for the results.

As a parent, what can YOU do to best prepare your child for the State Test from home regardless of age, grade, school or district? 

As you may already know, studies have shown that sleep and nutrition are the two most important factors that can influence test taking beyond the knowledge of subject matter. 

So to start your students day off right, by getting them to bed as early as they'll sleep.  I know for me a good nights sleep can make all the difference in the world on a daily basis regaurdless of state testing.  Recommendations for your childs bedtime from ME: (by grade level)  K-2 by 8:00, 3-5 no later than 9:00, and everyone else by 9:30.  Personally my ten year old, fourth grade boy goes to bed at 8:00 and reads for thirty minutes with lights out at 8:30, all school year.  During the week of testing we push everything a half hour earlier.  Yes, he is in bed by 7:30 for the week of testing.  I know, you have baseball and three other kids and an entire list of errands that need to be done, we do too.  The nights he has baseball he does all his reading and homework before the game, so he can go to bed right after his shower.  The point is... to make it work for your family and the student to get into bed (to sleep) as soon as possible during testing week. 

The second and maybe even more important thing you can do for your student is make sure they eat a "HEALTHY" breakfast and pack them a good snack too.  Breakfast is the fuel that turns on our brains in the morning.  Without this fuel we humans are subject to unstable levels of glucose in the body.  Our brains work much better when our body is functioning at optimum levels.  Breakfast helps this happen. We've all heard, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day."  Healthy breakfast ideas from ME: eggs and toast, oatmeal and fruit, yogurt and fruit, french toast,  fruit salad, smoothies, Last and my LEAST favorite, cereals.  If cereal is your only option make sure that they don't have a lot of added sugar, like Cheerios, Rice Krispies, add fruit AND try to avoid sugar coated cereals like Trix, and Captain Crunch.

This week of "State Testing"  is really no more important than any other week of school in a students life, in my opinion. However, this is "the week" that everyone looks at. The state, the administrators, the boards, the papers, the teachers, the parents.  No matter what YOU think about state testing: right, wrong, just, unjust, too high pressure, no big deal, an accurate measure of student ability or a huge farce...the fact is, "IT IS, WHAT IT IS". This IS, the way it is done in education at this time. Why not make the best of it and give your student every chance to be as successful as they can be.  That's just what I think...HAPPY TESTING!