What's Up, Doc? Tips on Supporting Students in Testing

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Parenting is arguably the most difficult job in the world. There is no way to emotionally prepare for becoming a parent. What we know, we learn through on-the-job training. We muddle through it, doing the best we can. By the time we have any idea what we’re doing, we have a new title – grandparent.

Our childrens’ education is extremely important to us as parents. Receiving a quality education will determine what success our children will earn as adults. We don’t want to make any mistakes.

A hot-button topic in education today are the Common Core State Standards. This column is not intended to make any political statement about CCSS. The purpose of this column is to present a few relevant facts about the new standards and what will benefit our students.

The decision to participate in the CCSS was made at the state level. Local school districts are required to participate in Common Core because the state legislature and the governor decided that it was a good idea to do so. School districts may not "opt out" of CCSS.

All students in California public schools are learning the curriculum based upon the CCSS. There are no exceptions. It is the law.

New assessments based upon the Common Core State Standards are being implemented. We are in a state of transition from one annual assessment to a new one. It takes time for students to adjust to any new test. The politicians and educators recognize this fact and plan accordingly. Scores on a brand new test are not indicative of a child's ability. It will, however, establish a baseline and provide valuable information on a child's strengths and weaknesses.

The annual assessments our children take are but one measure of academic progress. It is considered to be a very important measure of that progress. It is not the only measure. Your child’s report card is the other major measure of progress.

The time for the annual assessments is coming very soon. Schools have been preparing the children to do the best that they can do on this important assessment. Everyone wants an accurate report on how each child is performing academically. Teachers will incorporate this information into their teaching, working to strengthen strengths and improving upon weaknesses. Students and teachers alike greatly benefit from the assessment results.

It is important that your child do their best on these assessments. To prepare for the assessments, school remind families to have their children do the following: 1) take care of your health; 2) get proper rest; 3) eat properly; 4) don’t create unnecessary stress over the assessments.

We all want what is best for our children. Properly preparing for and participating in the annual assessments is one more tool for accomplishing this critical goal. The suggestions listed above are equally important for parents to abide by. A stressed-out parent is not going to help a child perform well in school. All anybody can do, adult and child, is their best effort.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.