Test time? No sweat

Local students will once again be put to the test, and area schools are busy preparing them to make the grade.

Caldwell County elementary and middle school students will embark on the End-of-Grade (EOG) tests May 19-23, while high schoolers will take the End-Of-Course (EOC) tests June 2-6.

Although the mere mention of the word can evoke a certain level of stress in most anyone, Caldwell County principals are advising their students to avoid the anxiety that often arises at exam time.

“So many students get upset about test-taking,” Lower Creek Elementary School Principal Debbie Indicott said. “We're trying to downplay that aspect this year.”

Each school in the county has been preparing students academically for the tests, and several have sent letters home to parents to offer tips on how they can ensure their children are ready. Local principals agree it is important to begin the preparation process early.

“This is not a time for cramming and not a time for worry,” Hudson Middle School Principal Dr. Jeff Church said. “If we continue to teach and review - and students study - the tests will take care of themselves.”

Granite Falls Middle School Principal Brian Suddreth said like other schools in the county, his students have received on-going test preparation, both from teachers in the classroom and through other agencies, including BrainWorks and private tutoring.

“We've been tutoring in math and reading since February,” Suddreth said. “Our students actually practice with the materials that follow the format of the tests they will be taking. Students should be familiar with this format come test time.”

Suddreth said pupils should remember to keep a good attitude and avoid getting overwhelmed.

“Students should try to stay positive,” he said. “It's really difficult, especially with the younger students, but we are encouraging them to stay calm - and we want our teachers to be relaxed. This is a one-time snapshot of everything they've done all year. If a kid doesn't do well on the test, it doesn't mean they didn't have a successful year.”

Along with various student study sessions both during and after school, West Caldwell, South Caldwell and Hibriten high schools also offer online EOC practice tests on each school's Web sites.

“It is something the teachers put together, and it is open to anyone,” South Caldwell High School Principal Mike Peake said. “If students go home and say they don't have homework, parents should get them online so they can start reviewing.”

Many schools, including Sawmills Elementary, have curriculum coaches that have been working with students throughout the year to ensure their test readiness.

“We went to a workshop in April, and Larry Bell was there talking about the 12 powerful words,” said Barbara Fisher, Sawmills Elementary School curriculum coach. “We have been putting that into our EOG preparation and doing other fun activities to help students review.”

The Sawmills Elementary slogan for this year's test is “believe, achieve, succeed.”

“This week, we're trying to boost everyone's spirit and morale,” Fisher said. “Students will be successful, and we're excited about what we're doing here. It's helpful to have a slogan to help take the pressure off of them. If students have been paying attention all year long, they will do well.”

There will be some changes to the reading section of the EOGs and the science portion of the EOCs, so these areas will be a focal point this year.

“That is a bit of a concern because this is brand new to us,” Hibriten High School Principal Lewis Wright said. “We won't know exactly what is on it until the day of the test, but we do know the goals and our curriculum matches that. Students need to focus on the areas their teachers have reviewed.”

Because students can't do well on the tests if they aren't in school to take them, coming to school each day is a top priority.

“We certainly are hoping to create a sense of urgency, especially when it comes to attendance,” West Caldwell High School Principal David Colwell said, “We just finished bench-marking in biology and are waiting to aggregate the data. That will help us to see which areas are in need of the greatest amount of review. It's really important for students to make sure they are in class from now until the end of the year.”

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