First and foremost, I cannot personally stress how important being a good English student is when it comes to standardized testing. I was an English minor in college. I was also a Psychology major, and ALL of the tests in my Psychology classes were standardized. I've become such a gifted reader and writer that when I read a question, its key words pop out at me, and the answer becomes obvious right away. My gift of information recall is pretty impeccable, and I think that's because I place such a heavy meaning on words and associations. So my number one tip for parents is to help their children in English. It might not seem like the most important subject, but believe me, strong writing, reading and communicating abilities will take anyone very far in life. I haven't read one job posting that didn't boldly state that "strong writing and communicating skills is a must." So, English skills are important far beyond the classroom.
There are some things to teach your child early on to help them tackle the infamous standardized test, where creativity is thrown out the window and memory recall is held most highly in regard. Can't stand the rigidity, more of a creative person myself. So, here you go:
Homework: Make sure your child keeps up-to-date with all of his/her homework, jotting notes on key messages of each assignment (which may be discussed next day in class). Standardized tests usually cover what is handed out as homework during a semester's lesson plan.
Testing Accommodations: Some students with learning disabilities are eligible for testing accommodations. If your child is eligible, they might be able to take their tests differently than other students, eliminating the barriers that might exacerbate their test-taking difficulties. For example, a teacher may read out questions to such student. The student can then verbalize their response which the teacher will write down. Or, a child with learning disabilities may be placed elsewhere when it comes time to take a test.
Sample Tests: Find out if there are sample tests for whatever upcoming standardized test your student may be facing next. Sample tests prepare students for the format of the test, and often cover key topics in different means, helping the child conceptualize subject matter in a distinct light. This will also ease some of the anxiety your child may have about taking the test, anxiety which might deter them from doing their best.
Practice: Homework is a great chance for young students to practice their standardized test taking abilities. Have them practice deductive reasoning. Teach them to skip over questions that stump them, to move on to other questions and have faith that the answer will eventually come to them. Just make sure they keep organized and always check over their work. Time them during their homework. Take a look at the assignment, come up with a reasonable amount of time it should take your child to finish the assignment to his/her best ability. This will prepare them for the time limits that are used during standardized testing.
R&R: Yes I said it, rest and relaxation. Make sure your child is well-rested and especially well-fed before test taking time. You wouldn't believe how important this is for a child's attention span. A hearty breakfast and a good night sleep (especially after studying) will give them brain juice and optimize their memory recall.
Ask Questions: Not you, your child. Prepare them to listen to all directions an instructor might give before a test. If your child has difficulty hearing and processing information the first time they hear it, this tips for you. Make sure they're okay with asking the instructor to rephrase their directions, and not just repeat them. If your child didn't understand the first time, chances are the instructor simply reiterating the details won't help.
All of these simple steps can truly help your child when it comes time for those huge and even small standardized tests. They'll be taking them into their twenties, so it's best they learn better techniques now.
Resources
Kjesbo,, Rynette, M.S. CCC-SLP "Standardized Test Preparation" Handy Handouts (2009): http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/292_StandardizedTestPrep.pdf
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