One more thing-Visualization

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Archive : 2007 : February : 18

One more thing-Visualization
By Risa

I take my students on a 'guided visualization' where they first go through the breathing exercises to get into a calm mood. Then I ask them to close their eyes and continue being aware of their breathing. (I don't have a
pre-made script since I change it as needed, but I guide them through with word similar to the following...)

"You and a couple of friends are at a movie theater. You are sitting, talking and waiting for the movie to start. Soon, the lights are dimmed and everyone is quietly looking at the movie screen.

"You notice that the opening scene is of a classroom. Children are walking

in, talking calmly but eager for the day to start. It seems they are getting ready for a test. The teacher hands out the test booklets and reads the directions to the class as they follow along. The camera shows some of the students' faces. You see that they are confident and focused on what they need to do. As they begin the test, you notice they are going through some of the routines you've learned about good test taking skills.

"As you watch this movie you suddenly realize that this is your classroom. You see yourself among the students taking this test. You can see that you are calm and relaxed. You have a look in your eyes that says you are ready and prepared for this test.

"You are reading the directions carefully. On this reading test, you quickly skim the test questions first. You go back to the reading passage and begin to concentrate on what you read. You pause when you come to a word you don't know and then go back to re-read the sentence so that the context clues will help you. You go to the questions, and eliminate the more obvious wrong answers. Then you remember that you can go back and skim the passage to find support for the answer you've chosen. You confidently mark your answer choice and move on the the next question.

"You find yourself feeling proud that you are using good test taking skills in this movie, knowing you will do the same whenever you take a test in your real classroom. You continue watching this movie, noticing that all of the students are confident, focused and alert the entire time they need to complete this test. As the movie fades out and the lights in the movie theater become brighter, you actually do feel that same confidence and eagerness that you saw in this movie.

"Keep this good feeling in mind as you continue your breathing... inhale.... exhale.... inhale.... exhale.... and when you are ready... open your eyes."

(Hope this made sense!)
I googled the terms 'visualization test-anxiety' and found, among many others, this page that has a similar suggestion for college level "test-anxiety reduction"
http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/acapro/test_anxiety.shtml