SAT's

[tridlette]

Michael is 13, 8th grade. He has been off ADHD meds since October when he was getting migraines as a result of Straterra. Stims were the cause of the incredible hulk temperment.

Last week I got a note from the Independent Unit (the board that oversees all school districts in the county) inviting Michael to take the SAT's next month. Apparently, he is so far advanced in the math curriculum that our district doesn't know what else to teach him, so they are going to start offering Advanced Placement courses to students who score above 580 on the SAT's while in 8th grade!

I am thrilled for him to have this experience, but I am scared of what might be his reaction if he doesn't "shine" on the test. I know that no college will take serious an 8th graders poor score on the SAT's, but he will know what he got. I am going to have him take the Verbal portion of the test as well.

I think that this is an incredible opportunity for him to get a peek at the SAT's while it is not intimidating!

But, as we have him studying for the test, following the test prep book for "SAT's for procrastinators" I found out that the entire SAT process will change in 2005! They are adding a third score, with WRITTEN essay testing! I would panic if I had to take that test~ and I scored over 600 on both parts when I tested 20 yrs. ago! The new test will add another potential 800 points to the final score, so the total can be as high as 2400. I thought every one would be interested in the knowledge!

So, I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with parenting a child in the weeks leading up to the SAT's, what to tell him, how to handle it... etc. I would love to see him excel at the test, I know he is capable of doing well on this exam. But, he is his own worst enemy in academics. Let me know what you think I should say to him, how to treat him, anything that might ease the process!

Thanks everyone!

Laurie

[Honeysmom]

Laurie,

That is awesome!! I have never taken the SAT's myself. By the time I got around to college I was so old I didn't need them!!

I hope he does good, let us know when you find out.

Becky

[vickilyn32]

I think I would just tell him it is a test and not make it seem too big a deal to him. If he sees it as a huge part of his future, he may do badly on the test because of the stress. Here the teacher tell us to make sure that the child eats well and sleeps well for several days before the test. Lots of "brain" food. It may help to teach him a few calming tricks such as breathing, and relaxation excersizes.

[JulieinSC]

Many states now offer gifted kids the chance to take the SAT or ACT in 7th grade as part of the Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). Both of my sons took the SAT in 7th grade with some of their classmates. Frankly, the first time thru it freaked me out more than my son (here are a bunch of little 7th graders surrounded by high school junior and seniors).

I tried not to make too big of a deal out of it. Here in SC these poor kids have to take numerous standardized tests (PACT, Terra Nova, etc.) so I told them that it was just one more test for them to take. It was just a good experience to see what the test is like, etc. The boys just looked thru the booklet for advice (don't guess, etc) but didn't do any special studying for the test.

One of my sons (the non ADHDer) did very well on the test. My younger son (ADHD-inattentive) did okay.

[Allanque]

I did the Duke TIP thing. Our school district actually organized a thing to go over some of the easier math that would be on it and the weird literary stuff we hadn't had yet.

Mom says I scored high enough to get into college if I were a football player. That's not saying much.

[adhdtimes4]

We did the 7th grade SAT with our oldest. I briefly went over the format with him, then just let him take it. He didn't do too well, but most of the test is Algebra and Geometry, neither of which he has had. I don't think a percentile for 7th graders taking the SAT's even exists, which for us was terrific - he had nothing to compare his score to.

And high school is HARD. Joe took Algebra in the 8th grade, and we had him repeat Algebra in 9th grade even though he scored very high on the end of course test. The reason: so he wouldn't have so much to learn his freshman year. The adjustments, the mulitple classes and teachers, the variety of peers, and all the new experiences of freshman year is an education in itself. I feel like Joe and I are drowning this freshman year.

I said all that to say, if Michael doesn't do well enough to place high in math, don't sweat it. He's got plenty of years to catch up on the advanced stuff. (Our school actually let one of ours do two maths in one year. If you're on a block schedule, it's really easy to do this.)

[mctavish23]

Hi,

Practicing a short deep breathing excercise can help with anxiety. Also, Brain Gym is often helpful for ADHD kids in terms of their learning styles.Everyone doesn't learn sitting down. Moving around can stimulate dopamine levels( for about 30 mins).

Good luck.

mctavish23(Robert)