Wisdom of Mothers

I have found an answer (at best) or an animated discussion (at least) for almost anything related to J's education I've ever had to look for online . The problem at hand is a timed math test that her brand new second grade teacher is giving the kids. It appears that her brain shuts down under the twin pressures of time and competition. J is not a tough kid by any stretch of imagination and this timed test business is really pushing it.

My well-meaning neighbor recommended that I intervene so the teacher does something to ease her troubles but I figured, this might be an opportunity for her to toughen up a little. After all, the real world has plenty of aggressive, pushy people with really big voices and she'll need to survive and make herself heard above the din.

Even as I made that decision, I was troubled by it. What if J needed more help coping with this than I thought she did ? Was I making the right choice by throwing her into the melee and having her learn to swim on her own ? Were there other kids in her shoes ? In short, what was the wisdom of the crowds on this issue - namely, how do you help your child come to grips with the demands of a timed test and what did it mean when they were having trouble . I did not have to look very far to find out. As always, a vibrant support group was only two clicks away and I counted my blessings.