Taking Their SATs

The first stressful step for a teenager who is planning on going to college is the SAT. There is nothing like a five hour test that will determine what schools 'accept' them. Keep this in mind when the mood swings begin to happen as your teen is preparing.

Try not to push, as much as support. Allow them to choose whether or not they want to take a test taking course. In my humble opinion, these courses tend to freak my teens out more than help. The teachers lend to the stress by letting them know there is no true way of studying for the test, that it is a test on things they already know, etc... and my teens come home ready to give up.

What has worked best for us are their peers. Nothing like using peer pressure to our advantage. Here is how I set it up. My teen, two of his 'going to college' friends, on a week night get together. The are armed with the TV, VCR, a video on SAT taking, books, word games, popcorn, and soda. Voila! Instant college type study group.

Are they going to get a lot done the first night? Heck NO! They need to get over the 'this is sooo lame' feeling they have about having to take a test of this sort. Make this a weekly event for two to three months before the test, and I believe your going to be amazed, I was.

What is our part in the study group? Well, except that we provide for it, basically nothing. The keyword here is independence. They have to take this test alone, this is their thing, allow them to own it. Now there are a few pushes I do here and there. Like asking, "Did you see the part in the book about how to guess on the test?" When my teen says, "No, I didn't", I say, "That really helped me when I took it." That conversation is called a seed and when planted with care, (don't stomp on their ground by saying, "Why haven't you looked at it!? It's important!!!"), the seed will grow. The next study session will contain that information, because your teen is going to be wondering about it.

For some parents, this is a real jolt, it is an example of the independence our teens will soon have. Take a deep breath and remember that independence is a big part of our goal for our children. Let me know how your doing on our Bulletin Board.