Alpharetta, Milton Students Begin CRCT Testing In Fulton County Schools

Today is the first day of CRCT testing in Fulton County schools. The state requires that students pass this test to go on to the next grade in third, fifth and eighth grades, making them important as they reflect on the overall achievement of the children. Because of this, it is important for parents to do their best making sure that their own children are prepared for the testing days at schools.

Here are some examples of what some of the moms in the Alpharetta-Milton Moms Council do to help prepare their own children during this time. 

"During the week of the CRCT, we make sure our children eat a healthy breakfast with protein. They get to bed at least a half hour earlier on those school nights. We do not make a huge deal about it at home other than this because we know they get a lot of attention at school in preparation for the CRCT. My children are 10 and 12. I'm not sure how it goes in middle and high school yet in regards to preparation," said Patti Silva, mom of two children.

"I really try and make sure their breakfast is higher in protein–great use for those leftover Easter Eggs. I give them milk and they love nuts–almonds and pistachios are great. The other thing I do is try and cut out the media–no TV, check in the I-touches and phones. It seems to make their minds easier to turn off and get some good sleep," said Teri Harrison, mother of one child.

"I simply encourage the kids to do their best and to not stress over it. If they do not know an answer, make their best guess and move on without getting frustrated. I make sure they have plenty of sleep and proper breakfast choices. After school, I encourage outdoor play since so much of their time is spent quietly in chairs all day," said Tammy Bester, mom of three.

"After school, they study for about two hours, CRCT practice test for the subject they will be testing on the next day. Then I send them out to play for about two hours. I let them have dinner around 6:30 p.m. and then they have 30 minutes TV time before I send them to sleep by 8 p.m. They wake up happy and ready for school. I send them to school with fruits for a snack," said Nike Lawal, mom of three children.

"Apart from making sure my kids have a good bedtime and breakfast, I really don't get involved with their test taking whatsoever. I figure if there is anything to be concerned about, I would already know about it, and wouldn't expect any surprises from the tests (unless they're good surprises!)," said Audrey Greenwood, mom of three

Here are the suggestions offered by Fulton County to ensure that children are successful during this week of testing. 

• Give your child encouragement. Praise him/her for the things done well throughout the year. A child who is afraid of failing is more likely to make a mistake.
• Ensure that your child has a well-rounded diet. A healthy body leads to a healthy, active mind. Make sure your child has a good breakfast on testing days and every day.
•  Keep the lines of communication open between home and school. Parents and teachers should work together to benefit the child.
•  Make sure your child is well rested on school days. Tired children are less likely to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of classwork and tests.
•  Try not to be overly anxious about test scores. Too much emphasis on test scores can be upsetting to children.
•  Don’t judge a child on the basis of a single test score. Test scores are not perfect measures of what a child can do. There are many other things that might influence a test score. For example, a child can be affected by the way he/she feels that day, physically and/or mentally.
•  Follow normal routines. Interruptions of normal routines may affect your child’s performance.
•  Don’t forget eyeglasses or hearing aids. If your child wears an assistive device, such as glasses or hearing aids, be sure he/she remembers to bring it and wear it during all testing sessions.
•  Plan ahead for medical appointments. Avoid scheduling doctor’s or dentist’s appointments during testing times.