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scoop
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 10:54 am |
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I am finding that my lovely D is a procrastinator and a bit lazy when it comes to things other than schoolwork. Things like SAT prep among others. She is taking a review course at school but due to Feb break and snow days, they have only had two classes. Her test date is May 3. If I sat her down and put a practice test in front of her, she would do it. On her own...not so much. She admits that she needs that push but I don't want to micromanage her time. According to all the experts who have come before me, this is "her process". Is the duct tape analogy so literal that I am supposed to sit back let her deal with the consequences..not getting the best test score she is capable of? I'm sure the exciting experience of a first boyfriend is distracting her It's not just SAT stuff but I have let the college research issues slide because I know that she still has time to look for schools.. despite the pile of books that are gathering dust on my shelf.
All advice welcomed. Thanks!
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RMmom
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 01:58 pm |
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Scoop, your D sounds a lot like mine (and a lot of other teens I know). What I find works is the occasional suggestion and breaking things down into smaller chunks. My D tends to find large tasks such as test preparation overwhelming, so she puts off doing it. Instead I suggest she do a little bit each day (some days 15 minutes is all she can handle).
The other thing I have found works is using the computer. This generation is so connected to their computers that they find it challenges to do anything on paper. I'm sure there is an interactive SAT prep program out there that can be done on the computer (D is only a sophomore so I haven't looked into it yet).
Finally, don't stress about it. She will be fine and you will love her no matter how she does on the SAT.
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 02:05 pm |
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| She did quite well on the PSAT with no prep, I think that is coloring her mindset about how much work to do. She admits she needs me to put it in front of her but part of me resists that. She is a junior so we do have a bit of time. It's not just the SAT so I think I am a bit peeved though the rational part of me knows it is somewhat normal teenage behavior. It's not just the SAT. Thanks for the note.
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Chedva
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 03:17 pm |
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I knew my d wouldn't study on her own (and she did, too). We went the tutor route so that she'd get just want she needed and would do the homework. If we hadn't, I would have put the tests in front of her and told her to do them. She's just like every other teen (and most adults I know) - even though you know a task is good for you, if you don't want to do it, you won't unless there's some external pressure introduced. Think about it like going to the gym - you're much more likely to go if someone is going with you. But it's too easy to say, "Oh, I'll go tomorrow" if it's only up to you!
However, this should be agreed upon by you and your d. "Do you want me to help you study by enforcing a testing or study strategy? Do you want to set aside a specific time each week or should we do it on a week to week basis? Do you believe you can get the score you need for X college by yourself? If you don't get that score, and are not competitive for X College, is that OK with you?" If she says no, I'll take care of it myself, then the duct tape goes back on. Once she knows the options and the alternatives, the mistakes are hers to make.
The good thing is that she has next fall to take the test again; if she doesn't do as well as she would like, she can study over the summer. Sometimes an unpleasant score is all it takes to motivate a student! (And she may surprise you and do well anyway!)
Last edited on Fri Mar 7th, 2008 03:18 pm by Chedva
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mominva
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 04:24 pm |
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I suggest that the SAT Question of the Day on the CB site can be very helpful in the reluctant child, especially to refresh the type of math questions the student does not see in their current math course.
We would discuss it at dinner.
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 06:59 pm |
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| Mominva..yes, she does do that question most days. I bought the calendar last year but that just sat there! She is willing to have me set something up and I should be happy that she acknowledges the need to do this. When I read so much about backing off and letting them learn from their mistakes, I started to feel like I was too involved. The other part of me feels that this is a teachable moment. I will update soon. I can understand the gym reference. My treadmill will attest to that!
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mominva
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 08:40 pm |
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Hey scoop, if that old calendar is still around you can do 2 Qs of the Day 
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 08:52 pm |
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| Ha ha, it is here on my shelf. I would pull off the last pile of dates when I needed to see what the REAL date was. I have offered to do a practice test along with my daughter and we will score each others. She thinks it is a hysterical idea. I'll do fine in the verbal but she will feel good about her math skills after she sees mine
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bumpyroad
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Posted: Fri Mar 7th, 2008 09:48 pm |
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| If your D did well on the PSAT I suggest keeping the temperature down - she'll be fine. The problem as an adult is that we see all of this in a rational way - given the possible consequences, how could you not study? Remember that all of the other kids are as immature as yours. She's not competing in the workforce, she's competing with her peers.
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scoop
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Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 02:18 am |
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| Wise words, thank you!
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WestrnMom
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Posted: Sat Mar 8th, 2008 04:56 pm |
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I had this very discussion with a high school college counselor. She said the admissions process should belong to the student, financial aid to the parent. However, she also said, if it's important to you that your child go to college, make it very easy for her to get everything done on time.
I took the path of least resistence with both my children. My first one wanted only a test prep book, which I bought and that was that. Her scores were good, but could have been higher. One of her scores was a 760, so I know she could have improved all of them if she had the interest. My other child needed test prep, so we got that, however he didn't want to practice a lot at home and only took the test once. He could have easily improved his score by taking a dozen practice tests and by retaking the test, but he was happy with his score and it was enough for all the schools he applied to.
My feeling is that they get into the schools that are right for them and for which they want to take the time to prepare. If she really wants to get into a school that requires a higher score then she needs the motivation to do the work herself. Otherwise she's going to end up in a school with highly motivated high achievers, when maybe she isn't quite that highly motivated.
I want to note that before I started writing out this answer, I was going to say, Do whatever you have to, to make sure she preps a lot for the test. But when I started remembering the processes mine went through, I changed my mind.
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scoop
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 03:35 pm |
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| I've always said that if taking one class/getting a few more points was the make or break for a particular school, then that was not the school for her. She will probably be fine for all the art/design schools she wants to apply to. I am still hoping she gets a couple of LACs on her list..just because. Thanks Westrnmom.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 09:03 pm |
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| Scoop, I think that is the best approach right now. Remember: she still has PLENTY of time and shots at the SAT in the fall if she should suddenly show an interest in other colleges that place greater emphasis on the SAT. Since she did well on the PSAT, it is likely she'll also do well on the SAT. If not, she can try again in the fall if she needs to. So, put on the duct tape, take a break from the college hunt, and enjoy the next month with your daughter.
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HImom
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 03:03 am |
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Our kids are all different. My S had me buy a book & he studied & practiced it on his own & did great. My D wanted & took a prep course for the SAT & did OK, but not as well as her highly motivated brother. For her GED, she was more motivated because she would be mortified if she didn't do well on it, so she studied & got 100% on it, so it's really up to the kiddo. We're not going to college with them, so it's how much they want it & put into it that will determine their choices.
My S was good about a few of his apps, while others he dribbled in the parts & had to be coaxed by the Us to turn in the missing portions. Not surprisingly, he was not admitted to the schools that had to coax him to turn in missing portions (uber-competitve Us). Other than paying app fees & paying to have test scores sent, I stayed out of the testing & college app/transfer process so it's really the kids who decide what they are doing.
Starion
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Mrs. Aardvark
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 12:03 pm |
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We were not willing to pay for a tutor for our current junior daughter.
She took a free practice test in August and the PSAT in October. Her scores on the two tests were similar.
Then, I bought the prep books and created a list of study sessions for her (read pages XX in Y book, take sample test Q, review scores). The first study sessions on the list were the ones for areas where she needed the most improvement.
Using the list, my daughter probably studied for 8 - 10 hours prior to taking the SAT in January. She is using the same approach to prepare for the ACT.
This is the ONE THING I have done where my daughter has told me it was helpful and not too pushy!
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Deja
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 01:38 pm |
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From sophomore year's PSAT score (up 14 points from freshman year's score), I knew he had the potential to score very well on the SATs.
Math was an issue, though, since his score hadn't improved since he took the actual SAT in Jan 2005 (last administration of the old SAT).
We paid for the Kaplan classroom course. While I don't know that it really made a difference in the CR and W, I think it definitely made a difference in his math score (which went up 100 points from his 8th grade math SAT and the equivalent scores on the freshman and sophomore PSAT tests).
Edited to add: Regarding the Writing section of the SAT, the Kaplan course did go over the formula for writing the essay. My son is taking AP English Language and Composition, so perhaps those two factors did have something to do with his Writing score being 790 in January. He's always been able to write, anyway. But the clearest correlation between SAT prep class and a higher score was definitely in the Math score.
My son told me he would prefer a classroom course, so that is what we did. A very helpful part of the course was the four practice tests which he took under actual testing conditions. Kaplan also sent us extra materials, so I now have two versions of Kaplan coursebooks and a book of 8 practice tests, of which he only took one which may very well sit unneeded.
I sure wish he had obtained that 790 (79) score on the PSAT...then he would have definitely been a NMS semifinalist in every single state! For some reason, he actually scored three points lower on the W section of the PSAT than he did as a sophomore. (Because we have a high-index state, it is uncertain whether or not he will be one in our state...the index would have to drop one point from last year for him to make the cutoff.)
Last edited on Tue Mar 11th, 2008 10:23 am by Deja
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outwest
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 09:14 pm |
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| Our high school offers both a summer school prep class (free) and an after school subsidized Princeton Review (offered Fall, Winter and Spring) that varied in cost yearly depending on the grant amount received ($100-$350) and is free for low income students. All my kids took the Princeton Review course. It was very helpful because they administer several real SAT's. It was a lot of work, though. I doubt my kids would have practiced that much totally on their own. I agree with Deja, it is very hard to raise a CR or W score with any prep class. You can't make up for a lifetime of reading and writing in a few weeks, but you can get comfortable with the testing format in that time. The math, on the other hand, was very helpful.
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