It’s that time of year again, the CAASPP testing season. For many families, just hearing the word “test” can bring on anxiety. But here’s the thing, we have the tools and resources to help students navigate this stress! With the right mindset and a strong support system, students can walk into their exams feeling confident and ready to do their best.

Testing is important on many levels. It not only validates our schools as successful educational institutions, but it also gives students the chance to prove their abilities to themselves. The #ShowWhatYouKnow campaign allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and shine. It’s not about perfection. It’s about giving their best effort and taking pride in their learning. It’s an opportunity to show their progress, not just to others, but to themselves.

So, how can we, as a community (teachers, testing site leaders, parents, and learning coaches), help students approach the CAASPP with optimism? It all starts with encouragement, preparation, and creating a supportive environment.

One way is encouraging students to operate with a Growth Mindset, i.e. “The belief that abilities can improve through effort and learning.” By applying this concept to testing and everyday learning, we can turn these assessments into valuable learning tools.

Oftentimes, a student’s anxiety stems from the fear of disappointing others. Encouraging students to talk about what they struggled with on an exam in a positive light provides an opportunity to identify mistakes, increase understanding, and develop strategies for improvement. This turns the exam into a meaningful learning experience, rather than just a measure of performance.

Make sure to remind your student to try their best, understand that they can learn from mistakes, and assure them that tests do not determine how smart you are but are a tool to measure progress, not perfection. These simple reminders help build confidence and resilience.

While you can’t “study” for the CAASPP and CAST tests, there are lots of ways to get ready and feel confident:

• Take a deep breath and stretch: Stretch your fingers, arms, and legs to help your body feel relaxed.
• Read the directions carefully: Make sure you understand what each question is asking before you answer.
• Go at your own pace: Don’t rush! If you get stuck on a question, you can skip it and come back later.
• Check your answers: If you have extra time, go back and look over your answers. You might find a small mistake!
• Stay focused on you: Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. You’re doing your best!
• Believe in yourself: Think positive thoughts and remember that you’ve got this!

Whether your student is testing in person or virtually this year, our amazing team of HSTs and testing site leaders will be there to offer encouragement and remind students that tests are a way to show what they’ve learned and that what matters most is doing their best. They’ll help ensure the testing process runs smoothly by creating a calm environment with clear guidelines and expectations. They’ll minimize distractions, answer questions, offer reassurance, and support students throughout the entire testing process.

Encourage your student to reach out to their HST or testing site leader if they have questions, concerns, or need a moment of reassurance. It’s important they trust and rely on the support system around them, both from school staff and learning coaches. After each test, talk with your student about their experience and be a sounding board so they can process their feelings. Help them understand that tomorrow is a new day.