Disability Discussions

Are you or your child a "poor test taker"?

Well, you are not alone.  Nearly 40% of American population identifies themselves as poor test takers, and feel like their true skills or intelligence does not come through in testing situations.  What's interesting, is that there is a scientific explanation.

There is a little spiral shaped part of our brain called the Limbic System.  This region of the brain is responsible for, among other things, emotional regulation (in the Amygdala) and memory (in the Hippocampus).  What is most interesting is that these two parts of the brain are very much connected by design.  The Amygdala, which is sort of the emotional police and protector of the brain, is always on the lookout for stress and danger.  When that stress response is triggered, our brains are designed in a way that we can (and do) deactivate the Hippocampus, and our ability to recall information.  We do this as a way for our brains, in moments of extreme stress, to act on instinct and emotion, not experience and memory.  It's a survival mechanism that can make testing environments very difficult for many of us.

Take this a step further, and think about learning in an environment that is anxiety producing.  There is a wealth of brain science out there that says that anxious brains cannot take in or retrieve information to their fullest effects.  So, the bottom line is that our work as teachers needs to be on creating comfortable, safe, respectful learning environments, and our work as learners needs to be on developing some relaxation techniques, and working to develop a positive self-concept as learners.

Jon Sessions
Special Educator - Oak Grove School