Tips for Acing Standardized Tests

Test taking can be intimidating, even for the smartest students. There always seems to be too much time to anxiously anticipate the upcoming test and not enough time to study for it. If your child struggles with standardized tests, know that he’s not alone. Many students find these tests intimidating. Our Tampa private school has tips for acing the next standardized test:

Prepare Ahead of Time

Just like any test, standardized tests are easier if you study. Practice tests are available for most standardized tests, as well as guides to taking them. Check in advance if guessing will count for or against your overall score. The night before the test, make sure to get plenty of sleep. The morning of, eat a hearty breakfast, and pack your bag with extra pencils. To take stress out of the experience, arrive early, and take deep breaths beforehand to stay calm. Preparing for the test mentally and physically gives you an advantage.

Start with the Easiest Questions

When taking a long test, it seems obvious that you would answer the questions in order. However, starting with the easiest questions has several benefits. First, you will get through the test faster. When you waste time on difficult questions, you risk running out of time, and you lose momentum. Skipping around to questions you know the answer to helps boost your confidence, which will make it easier to go back and answer the more difficult questions in a timely manner.

Read Through the Answers Carefully

Before reading through the answers to a question, consider how you would answer. If you know the right answer before reading the options, you will be more confident when your theory is confirmed. Consider all the options carefully, keeping in mind that these tests are meant to be tricky. Eliminate any choices that are obviously wrong before answering the question. This way, you don’t waste time reconsidering or doubting yourself, and you narrow down your options. 

Pay Attention to Long Questions

When long questions come up on a test, it can be tempting to skim them and move on to the easier multiple choice questions. However, going through quickly and carelessly will end up taking more time, since you will likely have to re-read what you’ve skimmed. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you understand the context and know how to answer the question. Highlight key points to make it easier to answer the question fully. This can also save you time if you find yourself needing to reread the question.

Pace Yourself

If you’re being timed, it’s tempting to get through the task at hand as fast as possible. With a long-form test, this can lead to careless mistakes, like marking wrong answers or skipping questions. If you feel like you’re racing the clock, the process will become more stressful, which can be detrimental to your performance. Figure out a good pace by taking a timed practice test in advance. If you end up with leftover time, use it to review your answers. Even if you feel confident, there’s no harm in looking back and making sure you did not make any glaring mistakes. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.

Teacher Spotlight: Smyrna Jackson

Smyrna Jackson’s goal as a teacher is to make sure her students enjoy learning so they feel empowered to reach their full potential. Through project-based classes, she aspires to show all of her first graders, especially those who fall behind, that learning can be fun.

“Growing up, I always thought school was boring. Academics wasn’t something that came easy to me,” Ms. Jackson said. “I thank God that my wonderful parents kept me going.” 

Ms. Jackson grew up in many different places. She was born in New Jersey, then lived in Puerto Rico, Virginia, and Maryland. Eventually, her family moved back to her birthplace, but she wasn’t done moving around. Finding herself back in Maryland, she graduated from Washington Adventist University with a BS in counseling psychology. Later on, she moved to Florida, where she went back to school at St. Petersburg College to complete an alternative teaching program. 

As a child, Ms. Jackson wanted to be a paramedic, thinking it would be an exciting and fun job where she could help people. Since 1997, she’s worked with elementary school students in various roles— camp counselor, sabbath school teacher, mental health technician and teacher’s assistant. While working as an aftercare and summer camp director, she found her passion for teaching, which she has now been doing for 8 years.

“I realized how much I loved working with young kids, and I really wanted to make a difference in their lives,” Ms. Jackson said.

Outside of school, Ms. Jackson enjoys watching movies, traveling and going to the beach with her family, including her dog Rocky. When she has a chance, she would like to visit Ireland and see the Cliffs of Moher. During her alone time, she enjoys listening to music and reading. Her two favorite books are “Because I Love You” by Max Lucado and “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers. 

If Ms. Jackson could have dinner with anyone, she would choose Oprah Winfrey, Esther and Moses. She would talk to Oprah to find out how she got to the top and gain insight into what made her show so successful. With Esther, she would have a talk about courage. Given the chance to talk to Moses, she would ask about how he felt when he parted the Red Sea. While these figures inspire her, she also finds inspiration in her students. 

The most rewarding part of Ms. Jackson’s work as a teacher at NTCA is seeing how excited students get when they learn something new. The school encourages her to make changes when something isn’t working and supports her in meeting the needs of her students. She has found that her dramatic teaching style has been a great fit for her first graders, and she enjoys watching them get their hands dirty while engaging in project-based learning.

At the end of the day, Ms. Jackson hopes her students leave her classroom with a sense of responsibility and knowledge that they are part of something bigger than themselves— they are part of a community, and they are loved. 

“The number one thing I hope they take away from my classroom is that Jesus loves them no matter what,” Ms. Jackson said.

Get to Know Smyrna Jackson

• What’s your favorite TV show? Seinfeld.

• What’s your favorite Bible verse? “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:13 

• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Garden salad.

• If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do? Take a cruise around the world.

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be? It would be so cool to fly.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.

Crafting Traditions in the New Year

During the holiday season, you and your child most likely spent a lot of time behind screens. Shopping online for gifts, watching your favorite Christmas movies, and checking for social media updates are typical holiday hobbies. In the New Year, consider limiting screen time to spend more quality time as a family. Find a cereal box, grab some glitter, and get ready to get crafty.

Cereal Box Aquarium 

Growing up in Florida, your child most likely has a shell collection, possibly even a rock collection. From their numerous school arts and crafts projects, you may also be able to find construction paper, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes around the house. A cereal box aquarium can be made using just these objects, maybe adding a few more like paint and kinetic sand for dimension. Your child can get creative by using their favorite colors, types of fish, layouts and more. You just need to hold the hot glue gun and help with cutting out shapes. For step-by-step instructions, go here. 

Galaxy or Nebula Jar

Maybe your child is more enticed by stars in the sky than life under the sea. With a nebula jar, your child can hold the whole galaxy in the palm of their hands. In case your child asks, a nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen and other particles. This beautiful to observe project requires simple materials you may already have: a jar, water, glitter, paint and cotton balls. Once this jar is made, it doubles as a nice decoration and a calm down jar, which your child can lightly shake and watch to relax. For step-by-step instructions, go here.

Glitter Slime

Wondering what to do with all that extra glitter and confetti from past crafting projects? Try making it into glitter slime. Just add a few common ingredients: 4 oz. clear school glue, 1 tbsp contact solution and 0.5 tbsp of baking soda. Mix these ingredients first, then add the glitter, and add the confetti as a finishing touch. While this particular recipe calls for shamrock confetti, any confetti will do. This slime is easy enough to make, and it will provide hours of screen-free entertainment for your child. For step-by-step instructions, go here. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, we strongly believe hands-on learning is essential to a well-rounded education. Educational projects are an important part of our teaching philosophy. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.

NTCA Teacher Spotlight: Jacqui Walker

Jacqui Walker, who started teaching at North Tampa Christian Academy last year, is in everyone’s corner — her students’, her family’s, and her own.

As a child, Ms. Walker dreamed of becoming a professional chef or singer. Her hobbies in adult life still include baking, cooking and karaoke. Her favorite movie is School of Rock, which combines her loves of music and teaching. She also enjoys reading, her favorite book being one that inspired her as she was growing up.

When Ms. Walker read “What Are You” by Pearl Fuyo Gaskins, she saw her first example of mixed-race children represented in media. She struggled with her identity as a mixed-race child, so this compilation of young, mixed-race voices opened up a new world. Through this book, she found herself and God’s calling for her.

A few years after reading this book, she took her first education class at Union College for her Elementary Education degree. From that moment on, Ms. Walker knew she wanted to be a teacher. When it was time to find a teaching job, North Tampa was a natural fit. Applying information to real-life situations helps her keep students engaged. Rather than focusing on test taking skills, she challenges her students to become all-star critical thinkers.

“Our STEAM projects consist of drafts, prototypes and failed practices because everything can be improved upon,“ Ms. Walker said. “We are constantly using real-life scenarios with humanities and making sure we stay up to date on current news and events.”

This teaching style allows students to work together and build each other up. Ms. Walker finds collaboration among students and teachers to be the most rewarding part of working at this Tampa private school. While academic learning is important, Ms. Walker also hopes to foster a strong foundation of faith in her students. 

“I hope students know that God never fails, and His love is unconditional. If they are steadfast in that knowledge, life will be so much easier because they always have God to lean on,” Ms. Walker said. “I also hope that students know that even if they feel like no one is in their corner, I am, and that they are extremely capable of doing whatever they set their mind to.”

While Ms. Walker works to inspire her students, she draws inspiration from powerful women. She would like to learn from Michelle Obama, who she considers graceful and accomplished. Mama Fe, her late grandmother, is another woman she would like to talk to, picking her brain and hearing her stories. Given the opportunity to have dinner with any three people, she would choose these two women and her sister, whose company she always enjoys. 

Having grown up in Colorado, Ms. Walker enjoys exploring Florida and traveling around the world. Her favorite place she has visited is the beautiful town of Alcoy in Cebu, Philippines. One of her goals is to travel to as many places as possible. She wants to enjoy the life God gave her to the fullest, and teaching at North Tampa is helping her do just that.

Get to Know Jacqui Walker:

1. What's your favorite TV show?

   Parks and Recreation

2. What is your favorite Bible verse or passage?

   My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.” This verse never ceases to remind me that even in the midst of chaos, good or bad, I can always find peace and restoration in God.

3. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

   I’ve struggled with this question for so long, but I would have to choose salad. It’s vague enough to be very versatile. 

4. If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do?

   After getting over the initial shock, I’d call my family and share the love. 

5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

   I would love to teleport. I’d never be late ever! 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.