Tips on Getting Your Child Ready For the EQAO Test
If you’re a parent with a child enrolled in the Ontario public school system, you may already be familiar with EQAO testing. If you aren’t, the EQAO, also known as the Education Quality and Accountability Office, is the body responsible for administering educational assessments. These assessments look at the core tenets of learning: reading, writing, and mathematical skills.
These assessments are performed regularly throughout a student’s middle and high school years, and as a parent, you may already be worried about a student’s readiness for a standardized testing. How can you enable your kids to not only be better test takers, but also be able to retain and understand the content they are being tested on?
PinDon’t fret. Here are some tips you can do as a parent to support your child in preparation of the EQAO.
Take the time to read together
Shakespeare — or even a trendy young adult book snuck on your child’s reading list — can be intimidating. Mostly because your child will have to recall their understanding later for most tests. The simplest way to assist with this is to read with your children and have discussions about what the two of you read. Build this activity into your weekly routine by starting a “book club” at home, where you read the same book they’re reading in class.
This way, in the car ride, the breakfast table, or at dinner, you can talk about how they feel about certain elements of the story. Or, have them explain how they came to their conclusions. This ability to think critically about what they read and describe certain aspects of the prose will serve them well when it comes time to answer questions on their EQAO assessment.
Stay proactive on homework assignments
The last thing you want your child to do is view homework as a daily chore. Enthusiasm towards the importance of completing homework assignments can diminish if placed on the backburner or pushed aside.
As a parent, you’ll want to take at least 30 minutes every day to go over your child’s homework and ask them if they had trouble understanding any concepts or module taught in class. While attentiveness to homework can be hard, seeing these early grades can provide insight into where a child needs assistance, so when a semester test comes along — or the EQAO — your child can be ready with the concepts, theories and understanding to ace the exam. If — like many busy parents — you need a little help, considering getting help from education professionals; perhaps even looking to tutoring services to help.
PinThink diet, sleep, or exercise as aids to brain function
Make no mistake, this is true whether you’re helping prep your child for EQAO assessments or not. Proven time and again, eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly reflects academic outcomes for the better. While homework assignments, test questions and class is important, make time chat with your child about their day and their stress levels.
Some teenagers might be a little mum on the subject of how they’re feeling or how they’re sleeping and eating, but an effort to try to find out more is key. Collaborate with your child to come up with a well-thought-out schedule that balances academic review with activities that will help their minds and bodies thrive.
PinEQAO tests can be a stressful time for any family because every parent wants their child to do well on the test; as well as excel at all at aspects of academia. Being a kid or young teen can be stressful, so it isn’t unreasonable that they may need a helping hand to do their very best on the EQAO assessments. Fortunately, there are no shortages of resources to help you guide your child to perform at the best of their ability.
This sort of tip is very helpful for parents to help their children succeed.