To: Parents and Teachers
From: Alan Coverstone, Academic Dean
RE: Examination Preparation

Winter break is almost upon us, and with it comes the anticipation of friends, families, and exams....

Part of our curriculum at MBA involves training in the fine art of preparing for and taking serious semester examinations. We want our students to learn how to prepare for the kinds of exams they will encounter after they leave MBA, and we offer a graduated curriculum in examination preparation that suits this goal well. We make several conscious decisions regarding examinations:

1. We want our exams to reflect cumulative knowledge of the course. Exams that assess the long-term retention of material from the course encourage stronger study habits during the class itself. They also help to ensure that students who pass courses at MBA will more likely retain a solid foundational knowledge of the material that will benefit them in future courses through MBA and into college.
2. We want our students to develop solid review habits. Developing and practicing such habits requires time, direction, support, and reinforcement. Taking exams after the break offers time to step back from the hectic pace of school in December seriously to study, review, and learn the material in a focused way. Such breaks between the end of class and the start of exams are common in college, and students who review effectively with their time at MBA will enter college with study habits that will serve them well during their college reading weeks. Our teachers offer clear direction and support for study and review through their review sheets (distributed to all students yesterday), through their suggestions in and out of class, by answering student questions about review, and by offering dedicated exam review sessions during exam week in January. As with the development of any habits, reinforcement and accountability at home also play a vital role, and we appreciate your efforts to work in partnership with us.
3. We want our junior school students to learn the process using shorter exams. The 7th and 8th grade classes (except for some advanced Math courses) take 2 hour exams compared to the 3 hour exams in the high school. Yet, these students still receive the same dedicated and practical support from their teachers.
4. We want students to be refreshed before taking their exams. We all know that the fall semester takes a toll on everyone: students, teachers, and parents. Just as the weather turns cold and we begin to feel like hibernating for the winter, the December schedule always seems to accelerate. December often offers the greatest challenges for everyone, and the break we now eagerly anticipate offers a chance for real refreshment. That refreshment will make us all more effective. Teachers will more effectively communicate the steps to strong study and review, students will more likely try those steps in place of shortcuts, and parents will feel more like following up to be sure that their sons are growing and developing proper study skills.

Thank you for being such important participants in the developmental lives of the boys at MBA. Please help the students to remember that while we are teaching them important content, we are also teaching them important skills. Our unique exam period offers an incredible opportunity to develop and practice study habits and review skills that will be essential to success in high school, college, and beyond. I know that everyone involved will work together to ensure that these lessons are learned well and practiced often.

As you do, please do not lose sight of the incredible blessings you all are to each other and to our boys. May your family gatherings be joyous, you relaxation refreshing, and your rejuvenation complete.

Happy Holidays!

Alan Coverstone
Academic Dean
Montgomery Bell Academy
(615) 298-5514 x255
(615) 415-3072
coversa@montgomerybell.com