Tests show teachers how well their students are learning. Through the test-taking process, children develop important study skills, they learn from past mistakes and adapt to the unknown (handling a pop quiz). With regular practice and preparation, students feel confident and equipped to handle test material. To help kids make a smooth transition from learning to test preparation, try using the following memorization/recall strategies.

• 1. Use all the senses.
  Some content is retained better the more sense you use to retain the information. When movement is involved in preparing for kids testing, they are more likely to recall the facts. This type of test preparation is a lot more effective than sitting at a desk pouring over notes or a book. It also helps to shape dough into letters to practice vocabulary words or reinforce the alphabet, or to create songs to memorize multiplication tables.
• 2. Create a colorful flashcard test for kids.
  Flash cards are helpful tools for reviewing spelling words, math sets, social studies facts, and much more. Be creative, make unique sets for different subjects. Make the test preparation fun for kids, take turns and let them manage the cards and test you.
• 3. Practice kids testing.
  Conduct a practice test for kids one or two nights before the quiz. This will provide a valuable opportunity to gauge what content your child still needs to grasp. Have your child spell out words or answer a multiple-choice worksheet on the given subject. Discuss the incorrect answers and work on those errors. Writing helps cement information in your child’s brain.

Enforce the Basics

Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before a test. This will improve the chance of optimal performance. Children 6-8 years old generally require 11 hours of quality sleep, 9-10-year-old kids function better with 10 hours. A good indication that your kids are getting enough sleep is if they wake up on their own.

In addition, don’t let them leave home without a good, healthy breakfast to energize the body and fuel the brain. Be sure to provide a meal that includes a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Studies show that children who start their day with a well-rounded breakfast score higher on tests.