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Want to help your child do better on the MCA-II test? Go to Perspective for Families by clicking here.

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Saint Paul Public Schools' students in grades 3 through 11 will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-II) between April 17 and May 4, 2007.  To help parents and students prepare for the assessments, which measure student performance in reading and math, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen offers the following proven tips:

 
• Encourage regular attendance: Successful students are always in school.
 
• Study regularly: Taking good notes and studying every day helps students succeed.
 
• Inquire about the student's day:
 
• Turn off distracting electronic devices: Good studying cannot be accomplished with the
      television, radio, computer or other audio or video devices on.
 
• Promote consistent reading: Students are encouraged to read a minimum of 20 minutes
      each night.
 
• Ensure students eat: Breakfast is perhaps the most important meal of the day.  On the
      day of their MCA-II testing, students who eat a protein-based breakfast will have
      increased attention spans.
 
• Ensure students are hydrated: Research tells us that the brain requires hydration to
      function well.  A general rule of thumb is students should drink one cup of water per hour.
 
• Ensure students get a good night's sleep: Adolescents need a minimum of eight hours of
      sleep per night...nine hours of sleep is even better.
 
• Help reduce student's stress: Tips include positive self-talk (“I know I can do this”),
      avoid being rushed and taking deep breaths (the brain needs oxygen to think clearly).
 
• Ensure students exercise: Encourage students to spend a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes a day in active physical exercise of some sort.
 
• Believing in your student's success: Parents can best support their student by talking and listening about the student's school day actively, and always providing encouragement and support.