TAKS season kicks off in full gear on Wednesday, when students in elementary, middle, and high school will take the reading, writing, and language arts portions of Texas' standardized test.

Testing in all subjects - including math, social studies, and science - will continue until April 30. Field tests and retests will continue through July.

Parents are encouraged to mark down test days on their own calendars, so that they can help their child prepare for the tests. The table below lists 2010 TAKS test dates, by date, grade, and subject area (ELA=English/Language Arts, M=Math, R=Reading, S=Science, SS=Social Studies, and W=Writing).

Northside's Testing & Evaluation Department also provides a complete schedule of TAKS testing dates and retest dates for the 2009-10 school year.

Here are some test prep tips for parents from the American School Counselor Association:

• If your child is nervous at test time, ask her teacher for tips on helping her relax.
• Make sure that your child is in school during the testing sessions. Do not plan any doctor or dental appointments on test dates.
• Make sure that you are aware of your child's performance and that you can help interpret the results when they become available.
• Remember to keep well-informed about your child's tests. Know how test results are used, and how they will affect your child's placement in school.
• If there are major differences between standardized test scores and school grades, find out why.
• Encourage your child to study over a period of time rather than "cram" the night before.
• Encourage your child to listen carefully to all test-taking directions given by the teacher and to ask questions about any directions that are unclear.
• See that your child gets his/her regular amount of sleep before the tests and is well-rested.
• Make sure that your child eats his/her usual breakfast on the day of the test. Hunger can detract from a good test performance.
• Encourage your child to do his/her best.