BROOKLYN, NY, November 21, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- "Americans are taking as many as 600 million standardized tests each year in schools, colleges, universities, and the workplace," according to author Peter Sacks. Standardized testing continues to be a hot-button, ubiquitous, and timely, issue. Since 2002, the Federal No Child Left Behind Act has made schools engage in standardized testing starting in third grade, and some educational experts are recommending optional testing starting in kindergarten.
Even though arguments for and against standardized testing continue, the fact remains that students in classrooms all over America continue to use number two pencils to take tests that will determine their futures. And those students and their teachers need to manage the stress that accompanies high-stakes testing. Even well-prepared students have to overcome and manage their nervousness.
In New York City, a consulting team led by two former teachers is combating test stress and rejuvenating classrooms combining two innovative methods: improv and cutting-edge brain research. The program, TeamPlay for Test Stress is designed for school students and staffs to learn to better handle test anxiety and stress.
According to Gwen Lowenheim, "We were originally offering stress management workshops for staff and the principal said, 'can you also help our students? They are having anxiety attacks during the practice tests that lead up to the final tests. Teachers were reporting that the children's level of nervousness was interfering with their performance.'"
TeamPlay combines theatrical improvisation (that's right, improv) with cutting-edge therapeutic, stress reduction strategies, and brain research to provide workshops and support that help students and staff create more engaging and less stressful learning environments. So, how does that work? TeamPlay provides fun, challenging improvisational workshops that support staffs and students to go beyond themselves.
A NYC Elementary School Principal said of the program in 2006, "TeamPlay increased the self-regulatory abilities of our fourth grade students with tools and strategies that allowed them to manage test and performance-related stress. This was certainly an important contributing factor to the phenomenal math score increase (a 19-point rise from 72% to 91% on grade level) obtained by our fourth grade students."
TeamPlay for Test Stress is facilitated by a group of New York City educators, therapists, performers and mediators. The founders are Gwen Lowenheim and Stuart Sears. Gwen is on the faculty of the East Side Institute of NYC, a former junior high school teacher, who has trained educators throughout the country in cutting-edge Vygotskian-based learning theories and the use of performance and improvisation for community and team building. Stuart is a member of a select group trained by Daniel Goleman's Hay Group (of emotional intelligence fame). He is also the former Director of the Dispute Resolution Program at New York City's Midtown Community Court.
If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Gwen Lowenheim, Stuart Sears, or the Principals, students, or teachers benefiting from TeamPlay for Test Stress, please call Gwen Lowenheim at 917.496.1026 or email: gwen@teamplayforteststress.com.
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