Because many of you are new to SOLs and ALL of your third graders are new to taking SOLs, I wanted to share bits of an article I read that might help your child.

Managing Test Anxiety:  Ideas for Students by Jim Wright

- Create a quiet, neat study area without distractions
- Make a study schedule with time set aside for fun activities also
- Create a study group with friends at BASE or around your neighborhood
- Pretend you are the teacher and teach the information to a friend
- Set aside time each day to study rather than waiting until the day before
- Make flashcards
- Create acronyms or acrostics like (D for Deciduous and Dying or Drop to know a deciduous tree  drops its leaves)
- Tell yourself you can do it!
- Take practice exams (you can go to http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/released_tests/ to click on different content areas)
- Relax during the test!