By Heather Pfrunder, Doctoral Candidate, SDC Teacher, and Education Specialist
February 28, 2022
Assessment ready or standard’s ready? Are we making students ready for life by maximizing instructional minutes? Often the answer is yes. During testing season it seems like the answer is… well… testing. However, if we address metacognition skills with test preparation, our students are becoming equipped with learning to perform under pressure. Let’s look at how.
Spiral Review and the Standards.
While the first objective seems pretty obvious, it really piggy-backs onto my previous article about maximizing spring growth. In a year with so much change, transition, and re-learning educators have had to rethink lessons into spiral review formats. Assessment prep is simply one more tool to refine this practice. Taking time to review objectives and test formats informs instructional minutes, especially during intervention periods. Looking over the practice test questions and formats are not only for students, but a great tool for educators in knowing how to prep students.
In the caaspp website teachers can review tests
and set students up with practice test opportunities.
Mindfulness and Testing
Slowing students down to breathe and focus on clarity of thought is the first step to effective test-taking skills. It also replicates needed life skills. From driver’s tests to college exams to employment tests, much of what we do in life is dependent on effective test-taking skills. Practice breathing and focusing on the question or the topic. Practice will assist students with more effective management of their emotions. Controlled breathing is a good base of ensuring heart-rate and oxygen to the brain. As a daily specific practice before practice testing, we are setting students up with a natural association of calming and test-taking strategies. Practice videos are available in our SEL toolkit, or simply click this link here.
What is the question asking?
Really? Yes, really. So often in their anxiety or eagerness to quickly complete the test students forget to go slowly and really look at all the keywords of the test. Just as we expect our students to circle, box, or highlight answers, it is equally important to circle, box, or highlight key words and compare answers to the questions. While several words are bolded and underlined by caaspp, students can practice using the mousepad to highlight additional question details. An additional effective test-taking strategy is to look at the questions before reading the passages, when allowed.
Have students practice using their mouse or keypads to
highlight key words in questions and in the text.
What tools do I use?
Chances are if your students aren’t using tools, they really are not answering to the best of their abilities. Simple things like thinking maps on paper or using an allowed 100’s or multiplication table can make the difference between making senseless errors and demonstrating true abilities. Do not assume that months of “Read, Draw, Write” or “STAR” note-taking means they will automatically use these tools in a testing environment. When you practice pre-testing observe: do your students use the tools, or do they know how to make their own? If pencil and paper are allowed for scratch paper do they know that they can draw a simple number line to add and subtract? Having students practicing these skills prior to assessment not only means that they have strategies for test-taking, but they are able to practice problem solving skills for daily assignments. Sometimes a little explicit instruction is just the boost your student needs.
If digital tools are not available, have students practice creating their own.
Practice using pre-writing strategies they have been practicing.
Until next time, wishing you the best and may your students’ testing odds ever be in their favor…
Like what you read? Join me in upcoming blog posts where I continue to put these strategies into place and share resources!
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