Test Anxiety In Elementary Students

1
Test Anxiety In Elementary Students

• Causes
• And
• Solutions

2
ACEI Conference March 18-21, 2009

• Presentation by Karen Sovesky

3
Test Anxiety

• What is it?
• Unpleasant emotion
• that reflects distress
• or apprehension of
• some type

• Can be caused by
• Having too much
• information that
• one cannot process
• fully
• Not having enough
• information that makes
• one feel helpless

4
Types of Test Anxiety

• Trait
• Students preconceived idea of the test

• State
• Anxiety experienced during the test

5
Trait Test Anxiety

• The student that enters the test situation with
  trait anxiety may have the greatest fear of the
  test before they take it.
• These students feel threatened by the test even
  before they begin to experience it.

6
State Test Anxiety

• The student that exhibits the state test
  anxiety usually just experiences this degree of
  anxiety during the assessment period itself.
• It has been suggested that this type of anxiety
  may be a case of stage fright.

7
Possible Causes of Anxiety

• Family Issues

• Divorce
• Illness of a family
• member
• Financial difficulties
• Abusive Relationship
• Poor physical living environment
• Death of family member

8
Other Stressors

• School Environment

• Poor relationship with the teacher
• Lack of a support group of friends
• Embarrassed about the clothing they wear
• Poor study habits
• Lack of coping strategies

9
Physical Issues

• Lack of sleep
• Eating improperly
• Physical ailments
• Headaches
• Stomachaches

10
Testing Environment

• Too hot or cold in the
• testing environment
• Distractions
• Too noisy
• Weather conditions
• Lunchtime is approaching
• Time factor
• Lack of proper writing implements

11
Where Does Fear Resonate in the Body?

• In the
• AMYGDALA

12
Amygdala Emotional Memories of Fear
13
Amygdala Routes
14
Amygdala Bypass System

• Sensory data fed to thalamus
• Data sent to amygdala
• Data also sent to cortex
• Amygdala does quick threat assessment
• Amygdala blocks slow thinking
• Unthinking response

15
Two Pathways of Fear

• External stimulus
• reaches the amygdala in
• two different ways.
• By a short, fast,
• imprecise route from
• the thalamus
• By a long, slow,
• precise route from the
• cortex

16
Explanation

• Thalamus Route
• Prepares us for danger immediately
• Could mean the difference between life
• and death
• Cortex
• Adjusts the information to make sense of
  any
• reactions

17
Central Nucleus of the Amygdala

• Triggers physical aspects of anxiety
• Physiological responses
• Faster heart
  rate
• Faster
  breathing
• Dilated
  pupils
• Release of
  adrenaline

18
Possible Solutions to Test Anxiety
19
Mindset for Success

• This is the positive perception the student may
  hold as he enters the test situation.
• Practice a positive attitude toward
  the
• test
• Do not verbalize or internalize
• negative self-statements

20
Coping Strategies for the Student
21
Teacher Assistance

• Discover the qualities
• that makes the
• student unique
• Study the students
• stress triggers and
• try to help him
• adjust to the stressors

22
Alter Assessment Procedure

• Incorporate a variety
• of assessment methods
• (Group Projects)
• Enable the students to
• write a cheat sheet
• for the test to help organize their thoughts

23
Classroom Environment Checked by Teacher

• Check
• Room temperature
• Lighting
• Distractions
• Pencils
• Any questions from
• students

24
Getting into the Testing Zone

• Relaxation Exercises

• Aromatherapy

• Listen to music

• Sit in a calming area

25
Quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Let me assert my firm belief
• that the only thing we have to fear
• is FEAR itself.

26
If the test looks so frightening,
27
Tame your fears, and triumph over the BEAST!
28
Congratulations! You have won the race!
29
References

• Agatston, A. (2008). Turn down the heat!
  Prevention, 60(4), 35-36.
• Amatea, E., Smith-Adcock, S., Villares, E.
  (2006). From family deficit to
• family resilience perspective. Professional
  School Counseling, 9(3),
• 177-189.
• Bruce, M. (2008). Stress busters. Nursing
  Standard, 22(24), 72.
• Buhs, E.,Ladd, G., Herald, S. (2006). Peer
  exclusion and victimization
• Processes that mediate the relation between
  peer group rejection and
• childrens classroom engagement and
  achievement. Journal of Educational
• Psychology, 98(1), 1-13.

30

• Calechman, S. (2008). Strip away stress. Mens
  Health, 23(2), 148-153.
• Chestnutt, J. (2008). The truth about stress.
  Womans Day, 71(7), 4.
• Davidson, S. (2007). Calming area soothes the
  nerves of anxious students.
• Community College Week, 19(17), 15.
• Dweck, C. (2008). Brainology transforming
  students motivation to learn.
• Independent School, 67(2), 110-119.
• Edwards, D., Gfroerer, K., Flowers, C.,
  Whitaker, Y. (2004). The relationship
• between social interest and coping resources
  in children. Professional
• School Counseling, 7(3), 187-194.
• Erbe, B. (2007). Reducing test anxiety while
  increasing learning The cheat
• sheet. College Teaching, 55(3), 96-98.

31

• Esler, M., Eikelis, N., Schlaich, M., Lambert,
  G., Alvarenga, M. Daweed, T.,
• Kaye, D., Barton, D., Pier, C., Guo, L.,
  Brenchley, C., Jennings, G.,
• Lambert, E. (2008). Chronic mental stress is a
  cause of essential hypertension
• Presence of biological markers of stress.
  Clinical Experimental
• Pharmacology Physiology, 35(4), 498-502.
• Flannery, M. (2008). Breathebreatherelease.
  NEA Today, 26(5), 42-43.
• Frewan, P., Lanius, R., Dozois, D., Nerfeld, R.,
  Pain, C., Hopper, J., Densmore, M.,
• Stevens, T. (2008). Clinical and neural
  correlates of alexithymia in
• Posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of
  Abnormal Psychology, 117(1),
• 171-181.
• Gureasko-Moore, S., DuPaul, G., White, G.
  (2007). Self-management of
• Classroom preparedness and homework effects
  on school functioning of
• Adolescents with attention deficit
  hyperactivity disorder. School Psychology
• Review, 36(4), 647-664.

32

• Izard, C. (2002). Translating emotion theory and
  research into preventive
• interventions. Psychological Bulletin, 128(5),
  796-824.
• Kofman, O., Meiran, N., Greenberg, E., Balas,
  M., Cohen, H. (2006).
• Enhanced performance on executive functions
  associated with examination
• stress Evidence from task-switching and Stroop
  paradigms. Cognition
• Emotion, 20(5), 577-595.
• Marlowe, M. Disney, G. (2006). Torey Haydens
  teacher lore Classroom
• management of children with emotional and
  behavioral disorders.
• Teachers Teaching, 12(3), 289-304.
• McEachern, A., Aluede, O., Kenny, M. (2008).
  Emotional abuse in the
• classroom Implications and interventions for
  counselors. Journal of
• Counseling Development, 86(1), 3-10.

33

• McLean, J., Strongman, K., Neha, T. (2007).
  Psychological distress, causal
• attributions, and coping. New Zealand Journal
  of Psychology, 36(2), 85-92.
• Meijer, J. Oostdam, R. (2007). Test anxiety and
  intelligence testing A closer
• examination of the stage-fright hypothesis
  and the influence of stressful
• instruction. Anxiety, Stress Coping, 20(2),
  77-91.
• Miesner, M. Maki, R. (2007). The role of test
  anxiety in absolute and relative
• metacomprehension accuracy. European Journal
  of Cognitive Psychology,
• 19(4/5), 650-670.
• Moneta, G., Spada, M. Rost, F. (2007).
  Approaches to studying when preparing
• for final exams as a function of coping
  strategies. Personality and Individual
• Differences, 43(1), 191-292.

34

• Paul, G., Elam, B. Verhulst, S. (2007). A
  longitudinal study of students
• Perceptions of using deep breathing meditation
  to reduce testing stresses.
• Teaching learning in medicine, 19(3),
  287-292.
• Putwain, D. (2008). Do examinations stakes
  moderate the test anxiety-
• Examination performance relationship?
  Educational psychology, 28(2),
• 109-118.
• Rachal, K., Daigle, S. Rachal, W. (2007).
  Learning problems reported by
• College students are they using learning
  strategies? Journal of
• Instructional psychology, 34(4), 191-199.
• Robinson, S., Sunram-Lea, S., Leach, J.
  Owen-Lynch, P. (2008). The effects
• of exposure to an acute naturalistic stressor
  on working memory, state
• anxiety and salivary cortisol concentrations.
  Stress The International
• Journal on the Biology of Stress, 11(2),
  115-124.

35

• Rodger, S., Murray, H. Cummings, A. (2007).
  Effects of teacher clarity and
• student anxiety on student outcomes. Teaching
  in Higher Education, 12(1),
• 91-104.
• Schachter, R. (2007). Enhancing performance on
  the scholastic aptitude test for
• test-anxious high school students.
  Biofeedback, 35(3), 105-109.
• Skybo, T. Buck, J. (2007). Stress and coping
  responses to proficiency testing
• in school-age children. Pediatric Nursing,
  33(5), 410-418.
• Thomas, C. Gadbois, S. (2007). Academic
  self-handicapping The role of self-
• concept clarity and students learning
  strategies. British Journal of
• Educational Psychology, 77(1), 101-119.
• Tomlinson, C. (2008). Learning to love
  assessment. Educational Leadership,
• 65(4), 8-13.

36

• Tyler, S., Allison, K. Winsler, A. (2006).
  Child neglect developmental
• Consequences intervention, and policy
  implications. Child youth care
• Forum., 35(1), 1-20.
• Wilde, J. (2008). Rational-emotive behavioral
  interventions for children with
• Anxiety problems. Journal of cognitive
  behavioral psychotherapies, 8(1),
• 133-141.
• Websites
• http//changingminds.org/explanations/brain/amy
  gdala_bypass.htm
• http//www.cns.nyu.edu/home/ledoux/overview.h
  tm
• http//thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_04/i_04_p
  /i_04_p_peu/i_04_p_peu.html
• http//thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_04/i__04_
  cr/i_04_cr_peu/i_04_cr_peu.html
• http//thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_04/i_04_c
  l/i_04_cl_peu/i_04_cl_peu.html
• http//thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_04/a_04_p
  /a_04_p_peu/a_04_p_peu.html
• http//www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/f
  ranklin_d_roosevelt.html

37
References for Images

• (Screaming Man) retrieved on November 29, 2008
  from http//images.drguerry.com/local/708/Emotions
  1.jpg
• (Design) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.linochette.de/emotions.htm
• (Young Man Frustrated )retrieved on November 29,
  2008 from
• http//www.righthealth.com/Health/pictures_Of_Anx
  iety/-od-images-3-s
• (Two-faced Woman) retrieved on November 29, 2008
  from
• http//www.journeyofthemaiden.com/emotions.html
• ( Dice) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.katrinabos.ca/Personal_Growth.html
• (Drama Masks) retrieved on November 29,2008 from
• http//www.artscountry.com/Boris/Emotions.jpg

38

• (Family) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.fotosearch.com/UNY861/u10085342/
• (Pictures from the School Environment) retrieved
  on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.school-clipart.com/
• (Girl Sleeping with Clock) retrieved on November
  29, 2008 from
• http//www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/sleep.htm
  l
• (Food Pyramid) retrieved on November 29, 2008
  from
• http//www.prohealth.com/weightloss/library/showa
  rticle.cfm?id986thealthb1W
• (Woman with Headache) retrieved on November 29,
  2008 from
• http//newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/
  news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3502545.stm
• (Thermometer) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/thermomet
  ers.html
• (Lightning) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//search.live.com/images/results.aspx?qWeat
  herformMXCA00kwid0e3015cdb58c3265bba7fa8d321cf
  bbf

39

• (Lunch Tray) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//search.live.com/images/results.aspx?qScho
  olformMXCA00kwid586a994713a8046822630f7994b34c
  82
• (Hourglass,CD,Guy, and Friends) retrieved on
  November 29, 2008 from
• http//search.live.com/images/results.aspx?qEmot
  ionsformMXCA00kwid1e784f66f7fd840a6104b9d1ff7b
  152d
• (Amygdala) retrieved on November 29,2008 from
• http//www.ibiblio.org/rcip/images/Amygdala500_50
  0.jpg
• (Head) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//waa.uwalumni.com/onwisconsin/fall01/emotio
  nal1.html
• (Happy Face) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• Http//www.nrc.nl/W2/Lab/Housekunst/inhoud.html
• (Teacher Student and Group Project) retrieved
  on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.ask.com/web?qpicturesofteachersand
  studentssearchqsrc0o01dir
• (Pen) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//classroomclipart.com/egi-bin/kids/imageFol
  io.cgi?actionviewlinkIconsimagepen.jpgimgt
  t

40

• (Empty classroom) retrieved on November 29, 2008
  from
• http//images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv
  _propimageni20vaschoolclassroomsfryfp-t-81
  4xargs0pstart1b61
• (Exercise) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//search.live.com/images/results.aspx?qExer
  ciseformMXCA00kwidb58eaa3e9effb3edafe8167f9647
  993a
• (Baby and Flower) retrieved on November 29, 2008
  from
• http//www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/nose.html
  
• (Music) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//photobucket.com/images/images/music/
• (Children in Calming Area) retrieved on November
  29, 2008 from
• http//www.ask.com/web?qpicturesofschoolclass
  roomqsrc0o01dir
• (Cat and Dog) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.pusscats.com/Kitten_Pictures.htm
• (Trophy) retrieved on November 29, 2008 from
• http//www.ask.com/web?qpicturesoftrophiesqsr
  c0o01dir