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Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment
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Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment
Strategies for Classrooms and Schools



July 2005 | 192 pages | Corwin

"This fascinating, well-researched book makes a wonderful contribution to the field. It provides helpful information on what test anxiety is and what we can do about it. This topic is as important today than ever due to education reform initiatives across the country."
-James Kelleher, Assistant Superintendent
Scituate Public Schools, MA

"The book offers answers to the most important question of all: If test anxiety can hinder our ability to make accurate inferences and good decisions for kids, what can we do to ease students' fears? As it turns out, researchers have answers, and the authors present helpful ideas for all of us-parents, educators, and students themselves."
-Linda Wacyk, Trustee
Grand Ledge Board of Education, MT

What can we do about test anxiety that will help our students?

Testing is expanding at every level of education and into every corner of social and vocational enterprise, and test anxiety can have devastating effects on students' test scores, confidence, and motivation to learn. Testing has become more extensive and more consequential at every level. The higher the stakes on tests, the greater the concern about the presence and effects of test anxiety.

Addressing Test Anxiety in a High-Stakes Environment provides straightforward explanations, practical suggestions, and reasonable recommendations for addressing test anxiety. This practical resource offers:

  • An overview of the concept of test anxiety
  • A glossary of assessment and measurement terms
  • Current research findings on test anxiety and which students it is most likely to affect
  • Information on the prevalence, correlations, and effects of test anxiety
  • Situations in which test anxiety can be helpful
  • Suggestions for preventing and reducing the effects of test anxiety

 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
1. Testing in a High-Stakes Environment
 
2. What Test Anxiety Is...And Isn't
 
3. The Effects of Test Anxiety on Students and Teachers
 
4. The Causes of Test Anxiety
 
5. Measuring Test Anxiety
 
6. Tips and Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety
 
7. Conclusions and Next Steps
 
Resource A: Glossary
 
Resource B: General Resources
 
Resource C: Resources for Measuring Test Anxiety
 
References
 
Subject Index
 
Author Index

"This fascinating, well-researched book makes a wonderful contribution to the field. It provides helpful information on what test anxiety is and what we can do about it. This topic is as important today than ever due to education reform initiatives across the country."

James Kelleher, Assistant Superintendent
Scituate Public Schools, MA

"The book offers answers to the most important question of all: If test anxiety can hinder our ability to make accurate inferences and good decisions for kids, what can we do to ease students' fears? As it turns out, researchers have answers, and the authors present helpful ideas for all of us-parents, educators, and students themselves."

Linda Wacyk, Trustee
Grand Ledge Board of Education, MT

"This book provides a thorough, yet easy-to-read, nontechnical description of test anxiety. Most important, it provides specific actions that can be taken by teachers, parents, and students themselves to reduce test anxiety. In this era of high-stakes testing, this book is a must-read for all concerned parents and educators."

William J. Brosnan, Superintendent
Northport-East Northport Schools, NY

"Cizek and Burg explore the construct of test anxiety . . . (with a) balance between the scholarly research base and the practical suggestions offered. These include strategies of how teachers can head off test anxiety, and how students can reduce test anxiety levels. This book should be required reading for all teachers, counselors, school psychologists, school principcals, district administrators and policy makers."

Mary E. Yakimowski-Srebnick, Director of Assessments
Council of Chief State School Officers

"Educators can use many of the techniques in their classrooms, including assessment and relaxation techniques before testing, preparation of the setting, study skills, and student preparation for testing day."

Childhood Education Magazine, Summer 2006