My Boarding School Blog

Standardized tests are examinations in which all students answer the same set of questions usually in a multiple choice format with only one correct answer per question. There are many debates arguing whether standardized tests can truly measure a student’s academic performance. Some argues that answering a series of questions by choosing the correct answer among the options does not cultivate creative thinking or create anything.

The reliability of standardized tests can be 100% reliable if the results are the same when taken twice. But for all tests there is what we call a measurement error. A measurement error is the variation of an individual’s score due to different testing conditions or the taker’s mental or overall state at the time the test was taken. Because of measurement error two individuals with different scores on a test today might get the same scores on the test given the following day.

Standardized tests cannot really measure difference between two individuals as they rarely cover different factors of an individual’s intellect furthermore a student’s overall academic excellence is not brought by just excellence in cognitive ability rather it is a combination of cognitive, analytical, creativity and skills. Students learn when they can actively extract meaning out of their actions then connecting this knowledge to something that they are trying to learn. Most standardized tests only concentrate on narrow skills and memorization on facts.

Listed below are the most common standardized achievement tests administered to students today.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

A standardized test for college applicants published by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States is one of the most common tests high school students are preparing for.

American College Testing (ACT)

Is a standardized test for college admissions to screen applicants for higher education in the US produced by the ACT Inc. It is a multiple choice examinations covering subject areas in English, Math, Reading Comprehension and Science.

Standardized testing is faced with a lot of loop holes in fairly evaluating our student’s academic performance. A much better way to evaluate student achievement should be done by integrating teacher observation, student work and performance assessment. In these factors a student’s overall hard work is evaluated fairly. This is a good reference for companies that offer standardized tests so they can progress from the ancient testing method that we use today.

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Students are one of the busiest people in the world. When the school week starts it signals a long process of extended hours of studying at night, after school research and countless group meetings. To accomplish everything that needs to be done one must have control over his time. Success in school doesn’t just rely on high grades but how well you can cope and manage your time to juggle everything that needs to be done in time. Academic excellence reflected by scores on tests and exams is just one component of school work. Group activities, research and other extra curricular activities are also part of a school’s curriculum in promoting development of well rounded students that will later on become successful individuals in their chosen fields.

Here are some useful tips in organizing your time.

1. Accomplish a to-do list everyday. Listing your tasks for the day will help avoid forgetting some things. Be sure to prioritize based on importance and urgency.
2. Use time wisely. When you have spare time like when you are commuting your way to school, try to catch up on some reading. By doing this not only have you reviewed for the upcoming tests you will also manage to make use of your spare time wisely.
3. Exercise your right to say no. High school and college are known for the pressures of belonging in the hip crowd or having a group of friends you can hang out with and go to places with. But you can’t always go out with them especially when exams are due the next week or a term paper is on the way. By practicing saying no to going out and instead stay at home to finish the necessary school work will make your schedule of things to do back on track and you are likely to finish these tasks on time. By then you can go out with your friends and you’ll feel much better without the burden of worrying for unfinished tasks.
4. Set deadlines. It would be best to have a realistic time line wherein tasks are viable to be accomplished. Have a calendar handy as you think of a realistic goal for a deadline for different tasks. The need to adjust these deadlines might happen so keep in mind that you’ll need to be flexible in the event that the project might take longer than usual.
5. Prioritization is a must. When you list your tasks to do you might end up overwhelmed with the amount of work that you need to do and might even panic because time is not enough to accomplish all these tasks. This is where prioritization comes in. Prioritizing the most important tasks first will help you accomplish more. Breaking down tasks in smaller amounts each day will also go a long way into finishing it on time.
6. Get plenty of rest and sleep. Most of the time it is tempting to stay up late to finish a long list of school work but by doing so you’re taking your body for granted and this may lead to sickness and fatigue which will further deter you from finishing the tasks you have lined up for the week because you will be to weak to work on them.

In college there are support groups that can help you cope with the amount of stress and school work. In Carleton College, they have a wellness center where staff psychologists help students cope with college work and other stresses of school life.

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All parents know how importance education is in our lives. Your child, however, is reluctant to hear your thoughts and ideas about it. Disinterested students will most likely skip college lectures and perform poorly in assessments tests.

In the worst cases, these kids may opt to stop attending school or college, losing that sense of a career, education and life.

In order to motivate the students back to the correct path of education and career life, parents should first identify the root causes. Here are some of the causes:

Low Self-Esteem

Students with low self-worth usually avoid challenges and search for the path where there is the least resistance. There are instances, however, where you can see these students perform and finish assigned tasks. But due to the various negative thinking patterns of these individuals, the flow of confidence in their own personalities are usually blocked and clouded.

Lack of Love at Home

Home is where the child usually receives the required support and love from the parents. The home environment is the one that shapes a child’s attitude. If the home is a place where curiosity and education are of importance, the environment will definitely help the child get motivated and welcome the idea of academic challenges. It’s critical that the parents are physically there for their children. Parents can either be the students’ biggest motivators, and demotivators.

Adolescence

Early adolescence is a stage between elementary and high school. This stage is where the heightened awareness about the students’ studies and responsibilities take place. Moreover, this is the stage where behavioral changes and formation of new relationships with parents, friends and teachers can be observed. Students in these stages are highly sensitive. This is a time where new ideas about how they value their individualism and identity happen. If the student is neglected and becomes demotivated in this stage of his or her life, they may dangerously fall into the trap of negativity. This may be hard to reverse and may continue for the coming years of life.

Disinterested Teachers

A symptom of this is when the teachers fail to convey their expectations to the students and thus, results to communication gaps. In many scenarios, teachers have the tendency of dominating the thought process of their students; instead of encouraging them to be curious and be free to express their thoughts and feelings. Such behaviors from teachers can cause lack of motivation in students. This also prohibits creativity to freely come out.

Motivation Tips for Students

Symptoms of depression other similar problems must not be ignored. This must be discussed by the parents with the student with full care and love. If the student feels secure about sharing their views with people, especially elders, then the problem can easily be resolved. Schools, on the other hand, usually organize motivation activities for students, such as games, sports and various competitions, which are necessary for the holistic development of the student’s personality.

Some students who don’t perform in the classroom may perform really well in some sports. In this case, allow the students to explore their hidden talents. The teachers can also put motivation quotes on notice boards and school magazines for the students to ponder on. They can also give the students a project in which they are to collect different motivational quotes. Motivational words are believed to have a powerful influence on people. These can transform a student and make them eager to learn.
There are some other motivation techniques like involving them in various activities such as, dancing and music, where they can express their true personalities and thus, makes them more confident.

Stop ignoring your child and begin to understand their need to be heard. A lot of times, giving monetary support for your child’s education is not enough. Lack of motivation and negativity of thoughts can completely be eliminated if both the parents and the teachers work hand in hand in understanding and supporting their students.

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College Roommates: Building Friendships that lasts after College

Going away for college brings a lot of anxiety to a freshman student. Aside from being apart with your family and friends the pressure of academic performance in a college institution is really overwhelming. Adding to the change of environment is the tight financial budget you have to adapt to since enrollment in a university is really expensive, one must think of ways on how to get by financially. Having a roommate will cut down room expenses and hopefully be a way of having a friend or confidant as you go through the stress of college life.

Roommate relationships are not always as positive as one wishes it to be. If you are assigned to a roommate randomly you might not end up with a person you can easily like or adapt to. Roommate problems may arise such as differences in personality, study habits and attitude towards each other. Arguments on cleanliness, sleeping time and other territorial matters may affect your relationship with a roommate. Worrying so much about how to get along with a roommate in college may leave you preoccupied and prevent you from enjoying your stay in college. Generally roommates will help you build friendships that will last long after college. Roommates will serve to be your family in your stay in college, they can turn into your most valued friends that can help you on those sleepless nights and accompany you to the most memorable events in your college life. So stop worrying, here are some tips you can do to help build a long lasting friendship with your roommate.

• Set boundaries and expectations. After a little introduction with your roommate it’s best to lay out the expectations so that there will be no misunderstandings along the way. Name your space and boundaries. Since a room is shared, it doesn’t mean that everything in it is. Be particular on things you want to share and those things that you would want to keep private. People gain respect the minute they learn to do the same for others.
• Consider putting it in paper. Agreements between two parties can be best put into action if it is documented. Both of you should discuss important matters concerning security, safety, guests, and privacy as these affect both of you in your present living condition.
• Implement an open communication with your roommate and be honest. You will be spending most of your time with that person so it’s useless to spend so much energy in pretending to be someone you are not.
• Sharing items with your roommate is commonly practiced but learn to ask permission as there are some instances that your roommate may not want to share some items and you need to be able to respect that.
• Build friendship through doing activities together. Go to parties, meet new friends and eat out together. Bonding with your roommate will help in building trust and friendship.
• Be open-minded. You have to keep in mind that your roommate may be entirely different from people you know back home. Both of you came from different places with different cultures and norms so try to be more understanding if some of your roommate’s attitudes and beliefs does not coincide with yours. Acceptance is the key to a fruitful relationship with your roommate.

The New York Times has published an article entitled, “Roommates who click” which talks about how roommates are matched on a website called URoomSurf.com. Participants fill up a questionnaire about their study habits, cleanliness, politics, religion, beliefs and other personality questions then the website matches these traits to other participant’s answers to determine which roommate is best for you. Not all universities enable their students to choose their roommates. Some universities think that the randomness of roommate assignment adds up to the whole experience of college life. Nancy Thompson, Dean of Hamilton College in New York stated that they would want students to adapt and learn from the experience into which they can negotiate their differences.

But for some who wants to ensure that they get along with their roommate in their first year in a new environment they avail of the services offered by URoomSurf.com. When they have found their likely match they begin interacting and start getting to know them before the school year starts. Some even chat over the Internet or meet up to have a personal conversation.

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It wasn’t so long ago when cheating was something you’d at least lower your voice while discussing. There was a taboo, a sense of shame associated with it. Not so today. With cheating splashed all over YouTube, there’s definitely a “C’mon, everybody’s doing it” attitude to it and students are responding to the call with great enthusiasm and skill.

Using innocent looking gadgets such as cellphones, ipods and even soda bottles, students are finding more clever ways to deceive their teachers and cheat on their exams. Using a cell phone to text answers to friends has become popular, even in schools that don’t allow phones. Many teens have learned how to conceal the fact that they’re texting in class. An iPod provides another handy way to cheat. The teacher would find it hard to know that the students are listening to their own self-recorded audio file about the topic of test they are taking.

Schools have banned the use of of these gadgets in classrooms but it doesn’t seem to deter students from doing so.

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