NAPLAN ‘hints and tips for students and parents’

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will take place in Week 4 and 5 of this term for Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students nationwide.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child's participation in NAPLAN please don't hesitate to contact our assistant principals Matt Perry matthew.perry@education.tas.gov.au or Geoff Davis geoffrey.davis@education.tas.gov.au

As a parent, it helps your child if you take a positive view of the NAPLAN assessments. It’s better to see them as a learning and resilience building opportunity just like any other learning experience across your child’s time at school. While many children may be comfortable approaching NAPLAN, some students may be feeling anxious or nervous. Regardless  here are some tips to help prepare your child for the NAPLAN assessments:

1. Take your cues from your child: If your child doesn’t worry about it then neither should you. Be careful not to create a problem that doesn’t exist by regularly talking about, or worse, worrying about the test.  Contact the school if you are concerned.
2. Focus on them doing their best & trying hard: Choose your words carefully when you speak with your kids. As with all their learning activities, place your focus squarely on effort rather than results. 
3. Listen to any concerns they have: If your child tells you they have some nerves then validate their feelings, rather than shut them down with a ‘get over it’ response. “Yes, sometimes tests can be a little scary, but they get easier every time you take them.” "Sometime we have to do things that can be hard or challenging and that helps us develop new skills" Use this as an opportunity to develop greater resilience.
4. Give them some relaxation ideas: Anxious or nervous kids will benefit from some simple relaxation strategies. Taking some deep breaths, changing their thinking and exercising the morning of the test are some simple ways to help kids get some feeling of control.
5. Importantly, help them retain their perspective: NAPLAN doesn’t test everything and we only do it once a year. We know that so many of us are amazing at so many things that NAPLAN doesn’t test.  Keeping perspective is a life skill that we all need to practise.

A positive, caring parent attitude is one of the best gifts you can give a child when they are uneasy or nervous about approaching any different situation whether it’s going on school camp, joining a new club or sitting a test like NAPLAN.