CRCT testing begins Wednesday and continues for four additional days this week and next.

CRCTs, which stands for Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, are designed to measure students’ skills and knowledge, and have been given in grades first through eighth since 2000. The CRCT measures how well a student acquires the skills and knowledge described in the Georgia curriculum. The test gives educational leaders information on achievement at the student, class, school, system and state-wide levels.

While the tests can potentially be stressful for both the teachers and others that supervise testing, as well as the students who answer test questions for most of the school day, the goal is for testing to go as smoothly as possible.

Testing days are this Wednesday and Thursday and then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The tests are only given in the mornings.

First and second-graders are tested in Reading, Language Arts and Math, and will only be taking tests on some of those days.

Third through fifth-grade students are tested in Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.

Jennifer Wilkinson, principal of Elcan-King Elementary School, said she offers parents and guardians the following tips to make sure their children are ready to take the tests: get them to bed on time, make sure they get plenty of rest and make sure they eat a good breakfast at home or at school.

Other tips include: make sure the child’s “morning routine” is as non-stressful as possible, and remind children to listen carefully to instructions from the teacher and read the directions and each question carefully. Parents may want to praise their children for their hard work after each testing day and remind them to do their best.

“Just encourage the children to take their time on the tests,” Wilkinson said.