The “Mean Tutor” Strategy

For many students, the biggest challenge when taking a test isn’t the actual content, it’s dealing with the type of anxiety that can wreak havoc on focus. These students often don’t know where to begin when trying to deal with that mindset, but the key to overcoming test anxiety is deceptively simple: rather than approach anxiety as an abstract idea, treat it as a concrete one.

Students can work on overcoming test anxiety in the same way they work on improving their math or reading skills. It’s not enough to tell students, “Stop thinking negative thoughts.” We have to help them practice the positive thoughts that lead to success. We do this in a variety of ways, from teaching them to free-write their worries to something we call the “mean tutor” strategy.

In order to implement the mean tutor strategy, we begin by talking to students about the “cognitive triangle.” This is the idea that our feelings are affected by thoughts, which in turn affect our behaviors. We then generate a list of negative thoughts that get in the way while the student is taking a test, such as these:

• “I’m not fast enough.”
• “I’m not good at tests.”
• “I’m stupid.”
• “I stink at math.”

Once we have a list of mental messages that pop up while the student is trying to concentrate on a test, we generate a list of replacement messages:

• “One foot in front of the other.”
• “I’m going to use my strategies.”
• “I’m prepared for this test.”
• “I can do this.”

This is just the beginning. To help a student to truly absorb these positive messages, we use the mean tutor strategy.

The student is assigned a set of problems to practice. While she is working, the tutor will say out loud, “You know you’re not good at tests.” The student will then reply with one of her new positive statements, such as, “I’m prepared for this test.” As the student goes back to work, the tutor will continue: “You’re not fast enough.” The student will then reply, “One foot in front of the other. I can do this.” The two of them continue this dialogue until the student has finished her set of practice problems.

Though we call this the mean tutor strategy, the tutor isn’t actually being mean. He is simply reciting the student’s thoughts aloud, giving her the opportunity to counter each negative statement with a new positive statement. In this way, the student is practicing overcoming anxiety the way she would practice any other skill, rather than accepting her negative thoughts as the truth. With enough practice, the negative thoughts that create test anxiety are replaced by positive and productive thoughts.