NHS Students Weather The Midterm Blues

By Andrew Rote

If you are an average student at Newtown High School, you spent last weekend hitting the books.

It’s that time of year again, as this week brought up the traditional midterm blues for students at Newtown High School.

“I don’t recommend them for anyone with high blood pressure,” Beth English, sophomore, commented about the tests.

Midterms seem to cause extra stress in students’ lives, which many find unnecessary.

“[Students] shouldn’t have to remember everything,” said Amanda Choun, junior. Many midterms require the recollection of details learned in the past rather than testing the students’ recall of general knowledge. The majority of students asked admitted to forgetting nearly everything they studied the day after the test.

Students declared they usually start studying for midterms about a week before the tests. Some find that to be the best method, while others are content with cramming the night before.

The best method of studying, suggested by students, is to work on review packets and look over notes. Aly Themel, a junior, also suggested flashcards for studying. Several students expressed the need for more sleep during the testing days.

“I try to go to bed a little earlier,” Bryan Kotwicki, a sophomore, explained. “Unfortunately, I get so stressed out that it’s tough to get to sleep.”

There is a question concerning how early teachers should start reviewing for midterms. Bryan added that he felt teachers did not start preparing students for the tests early enough. Some teachers even wait to review until the last day of class before the exam. Other students shared his feeling.

Students at NHS said they would rather work on a big project than take a test.

“I would rather have a project because it causes less stress,” expressed sophomore Laura Amadeo. What students agreed on most was the increased level of stress during the week.

One possible way to avoid cramming the night before is for teachers to keep topics fresh in students’ minds. Nicole Leone, math teacher, keeps her students updated on past subjects by putting a few old questions on each test. Techniques like this help students who prefer to review the information gradually.

On top of normal midterm blues, snow days seem to have raised the tension level. The snow days came with little warning and left less time to review in school. This could force students to enter the classroom on testing day with many questions.

Once students complete their midterms, half of the school year is over. This comforting thought can provide a measure of solace, until they realize that finals aren’t that far away.

 But look on the bright side, midterms end just in time for the Super Bowl.

(Andrew Rote is a sophomore journalism student at Newtown High School. He writes regularly about sports and technology for the school’s paper, The Hawkeye)