Resources. MNPS2010 - home. Internet Catalogue. NETS Student Standards 2007. Gum Chewing Improves Test Performance, Study Suggests | Chewing Gum, Test Taking & Brain Enhancements. Want a brain boost? Grab a stick of gum and get chewing, new research suggests. Though you may want to ditch that wad before trying any mental gymnastics, as gum only helps improve test scores if chewed before, not during, testing. The chewing motion gets blood flowing to the head, the researchers suggest, where it improves memory, according to how quickly a test-taker can recall information in the lab.
The effect only lasted a few minutes, but researchers think chewing gum before a test could give students an advantage in some ways. "I do not know how things would work when you're testing something learned days or weeks ago, but given the study's findings, I can speculate that if both working memory, episodic memory and general speed of information-processing benefit from gum-chewing, so would many testing situations, which presumably rely extensively on those mental capacities," study researcher Serge Onyper, of St. Lawrence University, in Canton, N.Y., told LiveScience. Gum in the lab. FL1312Sample. Ready, Set, Test. In 3rd grade, regular classroom tests become more frequent and more challenging. During the year, your child's teacher will introduce test-taking strategies in class, including how to read directions and follow them carefully. He must also learn to express his ideas clearly and manage his time.
At home, study and read together to help him master the necessary skills. Why This Year? The main reason for increased testing may be that your child can now use higher level thinking skills — the ability to describe, explain, and make educated guesses based on what she reads. By 3rd grade, your child should have a basic knowledge of core subjects and the ability to read at grade level. Top Testing Troubles For many students, failure to carefully read and follow directions is the number-one test blunder. Reinforce Study Skills at Home While your child may be able to do homework on her own now, it is unlikely that he will be able to take on the task of studying alone.
TCAP Practice Internet Sites. NETS Standards. Discovery Education. Homepage.