Exam Pressures and how to Deal ...

(Adapted from our school newsletter - 21 October 2016)

Dalai Lama XIV states, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

The weeks are rapidly passing as our year draws to a close. Our children in Grade 5 to 7 are preparing for exams and the Grade 4 pupils too, will write a series of tests over the same period. In preparation, I hosted a Study Skills Coffee Morning for parents. Very briefly, I’d like to share some of the key concepts discussed.

Ensuring optimal learning is dependent on three basic needs:

1. Mind - The brain needs to be in a comfortable place – children under stress, pressure or in a state of emotional upset, are unlikely to learn or retain information. The pre-frontal cortex – responsible for executive functioning and learning – cannot function optimally when the amygdala – responsible for emotional reactions – is activated. So, I guess, there IS truth in the meme – “Keep calm and study”

2. Body – Diet, exercise and sleep are the key ingredients here.

· Diet – feeding the body, also feeds the mind.

· Exercise – children need to expend the energy they build up during the course of a day – if not, it can manifest as nervous energy and block the brain in assimilating, reasoning and learning. The added oxygen also feeds the brain.

· Sleep – children need between 8 and 9 hours of good quality sleep. During this time, the brain, sorts, consolidates and processes the information.

3. Physical environment – keep your child’s study space uncluttered and well stocked with stationery, coloured pens, paper and sticki notes. It must be comfortable – but organized. Keep the exam timetable, study timetable and study guide close at hand.

REMEMBER: Your child – even at Grade 7 level – needs guidance, direction and encouragement at every stage of this process.

Some key strategies discussed included: (See elaboration of these in a follow up post)

1. Scrolling and Text mapping (a date for a follow-up workshop will be set this week). This technique includes:

• Chunking

• Isolating key words and concepts

2. The use of Post-it notes to record, process and make thinking visible

3. Mind mapping – as part of the process

4. The value of conversation in recalling and memorizing information

5. The importance of asking the right questions to encourage deeper understanding – in order to answer the questions that require application, inference and deduction as opposed to simply facts from a set of notes.

Parents, should not hesitate to contact teachers if they have any queries about the notes, content or exam strategy. Academic support lessons are available at our school and are offered every week. Children who need assistance over and above these lessons, should approach their teachers to make suitable arrangements. We do however, ask that the pupils make the attendance of regular Academic support lessons a priority.