First SAT of the 2020-21 School Year… How Did It Go?
“We all had to stand in line for about 20 minutes because we had to agree to statements regarding our health and COVID, which stunk. Then we were all divided into rooms with no more than 9 kids at a time. Nothing too crazy but it was definitely different!” “The testing center was very disorganized, and we had to wait for over an hour to even go to the testing room. They made us wear masks throughout the exam which was a little annoying.” These actual statements from actual students who took the actual SAT on August 29 should be taken as both precautionary warnings and signs of hope. What is the warning? The test makers and site supervisors are committed to enforcing health and safety measures for SAT and ACT administrations. Expect the following on test day: — All students and staff must wear masks or protective face coverings…
First Aid Kit for Testing During a Pandemic
Test preparation means being prepared for test day, come what may. While most preparation occurs in the months, weeks, and last desperate days before an exam, every test taker should endeavor to be ready for whatever might happen on the day when it all counts. And unexpected, surprising, and sometimes even alarming things can happen during tests. The process of testing can take as much of a toll on a body as it does on a brain. The atmosphere of intense concentration and anxious silence tends to open up nasal passages and magnify the nuisance factor of every little itch, pain, and sniffle. Toss in the fear that the students testing next to you might be carrying COVID-19 (even though they almost certainly are not) and you can understand why your Test Day Checklist must include a well-stocked first aid kit: MASK Don’t expect to get into your test center…
Four Important Considerations for Student Health
Fall is here–so are big exams and college applications. Whether you are looking to go away for school or stay local, the countdown to college begins with many things to think about, including issues related to good health. Luckily, Julie Dickens—who knows all about these issues as a parent of high school and college students, healthcare professional, and founder of Cold FAid™—shared four powerful tips with us to help you stay healthy while in school. 1. Get Organized The first thing that you should do to ready your health portfolio for college is to organize who to call if you need to see a health care provider. Enter into your mobile phone your contacts for the following: primary care provider, dentist, ophthalmologist, pharmacy, and health care insurance carrier. Make sure to obtain a copy of your health insurance card to carry in your wallet. 2. Think Prevention Be sure to…
First Aid Kit for Test Day
Test preparation typically describes the extensive coaching, studying, and practice that supports peak performance during high stakes testing. Sometimes, though, the term literally means being prepared for whatever might happen on test day. The standard array of #2 pencils, the right snacks, and comfy clothes are usually all that is needed to get through even the toughest exams. But, every so often, a problem arises that a big, pink eraser can’t fix. Testing can take as much of a toll on your body as it does on your brain. The atmosphere of intense concentration and anxious silence tends to open up nasal passages and magnify the nuisance factor of every little itch, pain, and sniffle. Unless something very wrong occurs, you won’t need band aids, antiseptic, or a defibrillator, but a small, well-stocked first aid kit could save your test day: PAIN RELIEVER Like the fabled thorn in the lion’s…
Exercise Leads to Better Learning
Our ability to learn and recall essential information depends on so many factors beyond just a good teacher (though that certainly helps!) How much sleep we get matters. What we eat matters. Believe it or not, just focusing on a single task matters. With factors as disparate as doodling and laughing impacting performance when it counts, who would be surprised to learn that a little exercise goes a long way towards improving learning? A strong framework supporting the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognition has already been established. In 2013, researchers nailed down a possible reason why that exercise is good for the brain, declaring that a molecule produced during exercise boosts brain health. Combine magical learning molecules with the other ample mental benefits of physical exercise, and you can understand why sports hold such a special place in school environments. The question any self=respecting study hackers should ask,…