Assisting students through exams

Posted by Hlengiwe Zwane on 15 November 2022, 11:00 SAST

Author: Darren Sayer

Stress brought on by exams can become a barrier to helping students reach their full potential here are some tips on managing that stress.

Firstly teach your students time management. Time management and how to apply it effectively is something students struggle with, which is unsurprising, given the number of demands on their time and the schedule they are expected to follow. The simple device of a revision calendar and how to put one together was a popular suggestion from our students, as was getting the chance to organise work and resources regularly.

Secondly, Encouragement and support should be facilitated by keeping communication between teachers and students open. This will help students feel they can ask questions about schoolwork-related stress without being shot down.

Thirdly, teach students how to handle disappointment. Attention should be placed on teaching students how to deal with disappointment, so their focus is on learning from their mistakes and how to avoid making them again. This will help shift the emphasis on what to develop rather than what has happened in the past.

Lastly, remember that a happy teacher can create an environment for calm, confident students. Teachers today are facing busy workloads and an ever-growing list of competing priorities causing their own mental health and well-being to suffer as a result. Stressed teachers can lead to stressed students. It’s, therefore, essential teachers are supported to manage their health and well-being to foster a purposeful and relaxed atmosphere, helping to yield better outcomes.

Source: 2022