Do talk with your child about what they're doing in class and ask what he or she is reading. Studies show that kids who talked with their families on a weekly basis about school and what they were reading scored higher on the national standardized reading test than kids who talked about these things with their families less often. Do limit your child's TV time. Studies show that kids who watched fewer than three hours of television a day scored higher on the national reading test than those who watched more. Do express a positive attitude about the test and confidence in your child's ability to do well on it.
Research shows that parents' and teachers' attitudes influence children's attitudes.
So if you're upbeat and encouraging about the test, your child is likely to feel good about it. Test makers draw on a wide variety of formats when choosing items to evaluate reading comprehension skills. Do realize that putting too much emphasis on the test and the results can increase your child's anxiety about the test. Too much anxiety can prevent your child from doing his or her best. Do reassure your child that test scores are only one measure of his or her abilities, not the whole picture.