JMCSS offers tips to help prepare students ahead of state testing

JACKSON, Tenn. — We reached out to Jackson Madison County School System leaders to provide parents with tips and advice for the upcoming weeks.

Students in the Jackson Madison County School System have been preparing all school year for the statewide Tennessee Ready TCAP test.

“At the end of the day it is just one assessment, it is not a full measure of what their child is capable of doing. And it is not a score that assigns them to any particular thing,” said Chief Academic Officer for JMCSS, Dr. Tiffany Spight.

Students began testing today, April 16, and for first-time testing parents, this can raise concerns.

Here are some tips on how to prepare your student each testing night.

“Also, I think parents have to make sure their children go to bed at a decent hour, maybe 9 o’clock, 9:30, but also make sure they have a good nutritious breakfast,” said Dr. Spight.

Brain food is very important for students.

Such as tree nuts, different fruits, and no sugar.

Overall having a well balanced lunch and dinner can help during testing.

“No cookies, no red dye drinks– those things can kind of hype up our students so we don’t want them to be too hyper. We want them to just be at a very mellow stage where they are able to focus,” said Dr. Spight.

Encouraging children the night before testing and even the day of is also important.

“‘I believe in you, you got this. Take your time. Rock it’, you know those kind of things. Those notes that they can put in their book bags is always helpful to the child, it’s very helpful to the child, to just remind them of what their mom would say to encourage them,” said Dr. Spight.

Another reminder that students no matter the age can experience a burnout and anxiety after taking the test and then studying.

“After the TNReady Assessment, allow them to have a moment that they are able to take a break from the work. And then after so long they can pick back up and start studying,” said Dr. Spight.

Different schools have had friendly competitions and pep rallies leading up to this week and next week testing to relax students nervousness.

For more local news, click here.