Boosting Middle Schoolers Test Taking Confidence
>> Monday, January 17, 2011
What is it about 6th grade math that makes it so tough on first year middle school students? The jump from an elementary school to middle school can be very stressful to a ten or an eleven year old. Upon entering a new environment, these 6th grade students have many things on their mind:Where are my classes? What level of math class are my friends taking? How will I ever going to remember my locker combination... Despite having these thoughts, 6th graders are exposed to a broad world of mathematics. A great way to tackle 6thgrade math is to learn to be confident about doing it.
Download Junior High School Exam Drill for Mathematics
Tips to increase a student's confidence before a math exam
Chat with your classmates
Simply talking about that newly learned basic fraction concept or that right triangle question with another 6th grade math student would help your understanding.
Ask other students when you feel confused. When you are confused about a simple algebra equation or an inequality with absolute value, asking other math students can help you understand. Learning from your classmates is the best way, since adult explanations are often complex and, sometimes, superfluous.
Asking questions is active participation. In developing an understanding of fundamental concepts, 6th grade math students should always ask questions about confusing math concepts that they do not understand.
Actively asking your questions can greatly reduce your inner anxiety. Simply knowing that other 6th grade math students around you care about your learning helps to motivate you and boosts your math confidence. No longer should you think that math is a dry and lonesome subject.
Start a habit of completing all homework assignments and checking them
Middle school math follows the same concept. 6th grade math students should allot time at home to practice homework problems.
Early on in elementary school, there might not be math homework for majority of the week. But, middle school math covers a broader scope of knowledge so that middle school math teachers assign more homework problems.
6th grade math students should start a habit of setting aside a certain amount of time everyday to complete math homework. At first, the increasing number of math homework problems may seem daunting.
I remember how much I had protested for playtime during my early middle school years... My mom and dad would listen to me but explain just how important completing my math homework is.
Missing a day or two might not be a big deal, but it hurts in the long run. If you do not develop a proper doing-math-homework time, then, most likely than not, you will never be able to catch up on or understand new math materials.
Seeing other 6th grade math students succeed while you fall behind depletes your math confidence.
Through continuous practice of those math homework problems, you will solve similar math problems more quickly. Speed matters most on getting a high score on your math test. Prepare early for math tests. Study small chunks of math materials/notes each day.
Studying requires the proper distribution of work. Cramming is an ineffective study technique. Middle school math students who cram for a math test cannot commit the essential algebra equations or the geometry formulas into their memory.
Ineffective memorization comes back to haunt the students later on. They will have trouble recalling what they have learned on cumulative math exams or in higher-level math courses. Persistent cramming can increase the math students' stress and anxiety. Not willing to change their studying techniques, these middle school math students feel more pressured in studying and less confident to do well.
0 comments:
Post a Comment