Re: How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry for the length!)?

[Guest guest]

I have severe anxiety to timed tests as well, partially because of the fact that I have a difficult time with reading comprehension. It sounds like she has an IEP, I would have it written in to her IEP to 1. allow tests in a quiet environment with minimal distractions. 2. Allow for extra time during these tests (mine stated unlimited time). It made all the difference in the world and I was able to excel in my classes instead of failing! Good Luck,

Carolyn

From: jonikkag <jonikkag@...> Sent: Fri, March 4, 2011 9:02:05 AMSubject: ( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry for the length!)?

My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever heard the words "Aspergers Syndrome" mentioned in connection with her. Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her. Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out before they can move on to the next level. We study

like mad at home & she has all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so afraid she won't finish in time. I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize again for the length of the post!

[Guest guest]

My son has the same issue and the accomocations he has on his IEP that help him

are:

flexible schedule of subtests

flexible setting- small group

Marking in text booklet- student highlights/marks/works problems in test

booklet)

Extented time

Calculator/Mathematics tables

These might or might not help your daughter but it's worth a try. Good luck!

ne

> From: jonikkag <jonikkag@...>

> Subject: ( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry

for the length!)?

>

> Date: Friday, March 4, 2011, 10:02 AM

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> My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last

> month. For the most part,her school (she's in the 3rd

> grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets the

> help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first

> place I ever heard the words " Aspergers Syndrome "

> mentioned in connection with her.

>

>

>

> Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular

> ed class, and about 45 minutes per day in the special ed

> class. While her special ed teacher is wonderful, this means

> that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the

> regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests,

> particularly those that are timed, and I'm at a loss as

> to how to help her.

>

>

>

> Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D

> this grading period, mostly because they have started doing

> timed multiplication tests each week. They must complete the

> entire test correctly and before time runs out before they

> can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home

> & she has all the answers forwards and backwards. Then

> she goes in the next day to take her test, and freaks out

> because she knows she's being timed. If the answer

> doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down

> anything, because she's so afraid she won't finish

> in time.

>

>

>

> I know that she knows the material, but her grade is

> suffering because of this and I don't know what else to

> do to try to get her to relax before the test. We've

> practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but

> still freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid

> she's going to start failing because of her anxiety

> about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what

> I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test?

> Thanks in advance and I apologize again for the length of

> the post!

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi,Does your daughter have an IEP, my 8 yrs old son (3rd grade also) goes to a room by himself and does the multiplication test and it has to be untamed, he gets too anxious if it is timed, and he gets distracted if there is noise, so he goes by himself. Ask the teacher to do this or implement it in the IEP, otherwise she will start feeling bad about herself, and you don't want that. My son knows the subject but he is slow processing may be because he is also dyslexic, I don't know. The end result is the same. Talk to the teacher, she might help you. From: jonikkag <jonikkag@...> Sent: Fri, March 4, 2011 10:02:05 AMSubject: ( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry for the length!)?

My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever heard the words "Aspergers Syndrome" mentioned in connection with her.

Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so afraid she won't finish in time.

I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize again for the length of the post!

[Guest guest]

She needs to be graded only on what she completes, without any pressure to do

all of the problems. My daughter has a deficit

in working memory and a slow processing speed and severe anxiety

even on medication she can't do a timed test. Her state exams

are all untimed too.

This needs to be an accomodation in the IEP. And a fairly

common one for kids with AS.

My daughter never did well on remembering math fact tables.

In 7th grade she is on Carnegie Math an online program the

school has and she has been getting A's. They allow her to

use a calculator too.

These type of accomadations will help!!

Pam

>

> My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her

school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets

the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever

heard the words " Aspergers Syndrome " mentioned in connection with her.

>

> Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about

45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is

wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the

regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that

are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

>

> Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading

period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each

week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out

before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has

all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take

her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer

doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so

afraid she won't finish in time.

>

> I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this

and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test.

We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out

at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her

anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to

try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize

again for the length of the post!

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so much for the replies! It seems that the concensus (sp?) is that

I need to try to have this worked into her IEP that her tests are not to be

timed...and I think that's a fabulous idea! She absolutely has an IEP and I

definitely will be trying to have this accomodation made. Part of the issue as

far as why it's not already there may be because we are still waiting on the

written report from the autism center where she was diagnosed; technically she's

still classified as 'developmentally delayed' in the IEP.

Pam, I will also take your advice about seeing if they could grade her only on

the portion that is completed. Don't know how well that will go over, but I

think it would make a huge difference for her. Right now she feels compelled to

put down some answer, any answer, even if it's wrong.

> >

> > My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her

school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets

the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever

heard the words " Aspergers Syndrome " mentioned in connection with her.

> >

> > Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and

about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher

is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in

the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those

that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

> >

> > Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading

period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each

week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out

before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has

all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take

her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer

doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so

afraid she won't finish in time.

> >

> > I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of

this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the

test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still

freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing

because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for

what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance

and I apologize again for the length of the post!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Ew, I hated that. Adam can't use timers like that either. We made it a game. Race the clock, or see how long it really does take. Once she's confident at home that she can do it, let her rip it up at school.FawnFrom: jonikkag <jonikkag@...> Sent: Fri, March 4, 2011

9:02:05 AMSubject: ( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry for the length!)?

My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever heard the words "Aspergers Syndrome" mentioned in connection with her.

Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so afraid she won't finish in time.

I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize again for the length of the post!

[Guest guest]

Yes put your requests in writing. Keep up the pressure (with respect) but keep

it up. Otherwise her anxiety will increase.

Pam

> > >

> > > My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her

school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets

the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever

heard the words " Aspergers Syndrome " mentioned in connection with her.

> > >

> > > Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and

about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher

is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in

the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those

that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

> > >

> > > Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading

period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each

week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out

before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has

all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take

her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer

doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so

afraid she won't finish in time.

> > >

> > > I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of

this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the

test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still

freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing

because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for

what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance

and I apologize again for the length of the post!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You are not allowed to apologize for posting!

That's a good question. I hate those timed tests. My ds has dyslexia and he could never recall numbers fast enough, let alone remember how to write each number and figure out the number...I think this is what put him "over the edge" in school.

There are other ways of testing her knowledge besides this timed test. Have a team meeting and ask them for other options. They may have ideas you haven't thought of yet. Some ideas I can think up off the top of my head - have her take the test alone, but timed; Time her against herself (i.e. she times how long she takes to do it, then next times, works to improve her time against herself and not some arbitrary number.) Lots of rewards as she tracks her scores and tries to beat her best time; She could take this particular test with the sped teacher and if there is not enough time, have them increase her time with the sped teacher. I know it works out for everyone how it is right now - except it's not working out so well for the child! So see about changing to increase her sped time as an option so that she can take more tests with sped teacher; Have someone give her the test orally and see if that helps.

Just a few ideas you could ask to try. The thing about anxiety that I learned from my own ds's is that success breeds success. So the more successful she can be, the more confidence she will gain, the better she will be able to cope with testing in the future. But some kids need supports in place and then have them slowly removed as they meet with success. They need a "ramp" to get to that place while the other kids just jump up.

Roxanna

“Our lives begin to end the day we

become silent about things that matter.†- Luther King, Jr.

( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry for the length!)?

My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever heard the words "Aspergers Syndrome" mentioned in connection with her.

Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about 45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so afraid she won't finish in time.

I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test. We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize again for the length of the post!

[Guest guest]

I have noticed that, even though she may be capable of doing something, her fear

that she thinks she can't do it gives her so much anxiety. She is so proud when

she accomplishes something that she previously thought she couldn't do! Thanks

everyone for the great ideas; I'm making a list so that I can schedule a meeting

with her teachers and try to figure out what would be the best way to go to

remove some of this pressure from her so that she can do well.

>

> You are not allowed to apologize for posting!

>

> That's a good question. I hate those timed tests. My ds has dyslexia and he

could never recall numbers fast enough, let alone remember how to write each

number and figure out the number...I think this is what put him " over the edge "

in school.

>

> There are other ways of testing her knowledge besides this timed test. Have a

team meeting and ask them for other options. They may have ideas you haven't

thought of yet. Some ideas I can think up off the top of my head - have her

take the test alone, but timed; Time her against herself (i.e. she times how

long she takes to do it, then next times, works to improve her time against

herself and not some arbitrary number.) Lots of rewards as she tracks her

scores and tries to beat her best time; She could take this particular test with

the sped teacher and if there is not enough time, have them increase her time

with the sped teacher. I know it works out for everyone how it is right now -

except it's not working out so well for the child! So see about changing to

increase her sped time as an option so that she can take more tests with sped

teacher; Have someone give her the test orally and see if that helps.

>

> Just a few ideas you could ask to try. The thing about anxiety that I learned

from my own ds's is that success breeds success. So the more successful she can

be, the more confidence she will gain, the better she will be able to cope with

testing in the future. But some kids need supports in place and then have them

slowly removed as they meet with success. They need a " ramp " to get to that

place while the other kids just jump up.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Roxanna

> “Our lives begin to end the day webecome silent about things that matter.â€

- Luther King, Jr.

>

>

>

>

>

> ( ) How do I help my daughter prepare for tests (sorry

for the length!)?

>

>

>

>

>

> My 8 year old was just diagnosed with AS last month. For the most part,her

school (she's in the 3rd grade) has been phenomenal about making sure she gets

the help/attention she needs; in fact, the school is the first place I ever

heard the words " Aspergers Syndrome " mentioned in connection with her.

>

> Right now she spends the majority of her day in a regular ed class, and about

45 minutes per day in the special ed class. While her special ed teacher is

wonderful, this means that all (or at least most) of her testing is done in the

regular ed class. She has a very hard time taking tests, particularly those that

are timed, and I'm at a loss as to how to help her.

>

> Her math grade has gone from a B last grading period to a D this grading

period, mostly because they have started doing timed multiplication tests each

week. They must complete the entire test correctly and before time runs out

before they can move on to the next level. We study like mad at home & she has

all the answers forwards and backwards. Then she goes in the next day to take

her test, and freaks out because she knows she's being timed. If the answer

doesn't come to her immediately, she just writes down anything, because she's so

afraid she won't finish in time.

>

> I know that she knows the material, but her grade is suffering because of this

and I don't know what else to do to try to get her to relax before the test.

We've practiced her being timed at home, and she does fine, but still freaks out

at school. At this point, I'm afraid she's going to start failing because of her

anxiety about being timed! Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to

try to ease her anxiety prior to the test? Thanks in advance and I apologize

again for the length of the post!

>