Stop Standardized Test Stress!

Does the thought of standardized testing make you cringe? Stop the standardized test stress with these three easy, engaging classroom activities.

1.Testing Worry Pockets: Read Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes and make text connections to  Wemberly and her worries.  Discuss students’ test-taking worries and brainstorm ways to alleviate them. Make Testing Worry Pockets with a Wemberly template, library pocket and index card. Students will color the template, glue on the library pocket and tuck testing worry inside.

2. Standardized Stress Snowballs: Students write their testing worries on paper snowballs and gather in a large circle at the carpet area. Throw snowballs into the center, ridding the class of those testing troubles.

Stress snowballs paper

 

Stress snowballs

 

Stress snowballs at carpet

 

Throwing stress snowballs

3. Testing Trail Mix: Read and make Testing Trail Mix together. Put in cups for students to eat while reading a testing story such as Testing Miss Malarkey by Judy Finchler or The Big Test by Julie Danneberg.

Test Prep Trail Mix Recipe

 

Test prep trail mix

Download our FREE Standardized Test Prep unit for additional activities and testing tips.

Jessica-Blog-Signature

 

5 Secrets to Successful Test Prep

Just the mention of standardized testing causes major anxiety for both students and teachers.  These 5 secrets of successful test prep, along with our complete Standardized Test Prep Unit, will alleviate angst, strengthen skills, promote self-awareness and build confidence.

Create an engaging test prep theme. After spring break, my class is transformed into Test Prep Troops. I decorate the classroom with camouflage flair including a special sign on door and camouflage test prep bulletin board that displays learned test taking strategies.  We learn a Test Prep Chant (to the tune of traditional military cadence) that we perform before each practice session. Students also use special camo pencils and wear personalized dog tags during testing. These inexpensive camouflage items can be found at your local party store.

Test Prep Troops

Test prep door

 

Test prep camo

Dog tags

Teach specific test taking strategies. Before I start test prep, I select the strategies I want to teach and the order in which to teach them.  Since my second grade students are new test takers, I start with Bubbling Basics and have them practice making neat, bubbled answers on a bubble sheet.  Listen and Learn is the second strategy I introduce because students have to listen carefully as most of the Stanford 10 standardized test is read-aloud. We play Simon Says and other games that focus on following directions to practice this skill.  The rest of the strategies are taught while completing specific test prep practice. Be a Determined Detective and The Key is in the Question are perfect strategies to teach during reading comprehension practice passages. Show Your Solutions and Significant Signs are ideal for math computation practice. I post the strategies in a prominent place in the classroom and refer to them during test prep time.  Download our complete Standardized Test Prep Unit here.

Test Taking Tips

Encourage reluctant test takers.  Testing can cause major anxiety for students; relieve this pressure with Tina Turtle, Troubled Test Taker.  Introduce Tina with her rhyming poem; discuss her anxious feelings and help the class make connections to their own testing experiences.  Explain that students have one important job— to teach Tina the test-taking strategies and tools needed for success.  Each student gets a copy of Tina with blank scales; they are blank because she is lacking testing strategies. Students will teach Tina new strategies and record them on her scales; by the time Tina takes the test, her scales will be covered with strategies. Together Tina and the class will become confident, prepared test takers.

Tina

Store test prep in an important place. Create special test prep folders to house strategies and practice tests. Simply use 2 pocket folders with prongs; label one pocket “Reading” and one pocket “Math”.  Put Tina and her poem in a plastic sleeve inside the folder; students can refer to her poem and fill out her scales during each practice session. Glue the Test Prep Chant and Test Taking Tips on the front and back of each folder.

Inside folder

Inside folder 2

Include motivational rewards.  Since my class is the Test Prep Troops, I give a special ration at the end of each session. This can be a Smartie (for smart students), pencils, stickers, etc. Pick a reward that your students will enjoy; parents can help donate these items as well.

Rations

Test Prep Center

Motivate students to prepare for upcoming standardized tests with the creation of a fun, engaging test prep center. I created “The Standardized Testing Swamp” in my classroom. Both Tina Turtle, Troubled Test Taker and Frankie, Fumbling Fox, are posted at the center, along with test-taking tips and strategies. Test prep centers, games and activities are also housed in this special center. For even more ideas, check out Astute Hoot’s comprehensive motivational test prep unit at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/search?keyword=astute+hoot+test+prep&subjectarea=0&startsearch=1

Standardized Testing Good Luck Hands (Khamsas)

Looking for a fun art project to motivate and encourage students for standardized testing? Make khamsas, or good luck hands. Khamsas have been used in northern Africa for centuries–most are made out of silver or gold and embellished with gemstones or elaborate scroll work.

Students can make this colorful art project with aluminum foil, glitter, sequins and Sharpies. Students simply trace their hands on aluminum foil, then cut out and decorate with given supplies. Foil khamsas can be glued on brightly colored cardstock for extra durability. Hang together for a beautiful, easy bulletin board.

Check out other motivating test prep activities and lessons created by Astute Hoot: Games That Teach at

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standardized-Test-Prep-Unit

Standardized Test Prep

Standardized testing is now a major component of education. Yet, just the mention of a standardized test causes major anxiety for students, teachers and parents. Astute Hoot has the answer for this anxiety! Unlike other test prep units that focus on laborious drill and kill, our comprehensive test prep unit was specifically designed to alleviate angst, strengthen skills, promote self-awareness and build confidence.

In this unit, students meet Tina Turtle, Troubled Test Taker and Frankie, Fumbling Fox, both of whom struggle with major test taking anxiety. Each week, the students teach Tina and Frankie an important test taking skill or strategy; students help Tina and Frankie practice the strategy at a test prep center. Students can easily relate to the animals’ struggles and they feel empowered as they help these two troubled test takers.

This unit includes:
•Tina, Test Taking Turtle and accompanying poem
•Frankie, Fumbling Fox and accompanying poem
•Detailed instructions on creating Test Prep centers and folders
•10 test taking tips (on both individual pages and on one whole page)
•10 lesson plans to teach test taking tips
•5 test prep activities (with literature connections) to boost self-esteem and motivation
•Customizable parent letters
•Test prep award
•Several color pictures show test prep in action!

Check it out at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standardized-Test-Prep-Unit

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