It's that time of year again - the time when all good teachers begin to think about what still needs to be done in order to help their students be as prepared as possible for the big state tests.
The #2ndaryELA nation came together on Twitter to discuss this topic and folks shared their best tips for motivation, preparation and more! Scroll down for all things test prep!
Q1: How do you help your students prepare for standardized tests? #2ndaryELA
A1: I have not had to "prepare" students for years. I'm fortunate, I know. When I did, I would ask them to set goals. This helped them focus and not get overwhelmed. #2ndaryELA
A1: I’m not a fan of standardized tests HOWEVER they do keep me accountable. To prepare, we do a 2 week blitz to go over strategies and examples - but throughout the year, we do an article of the week every week with an example MC ? and a constructed response ? #2ndaryELA
A1: I like to come up with motivational things like competitions: https://mrsspanglerinthemiddle.blogspot.com/2018/03/essay-champs-and-mud-pies.html … #2ndaryELA
A1: I teach academic vocabulary words like claim, relevant evidence, justify, etc. This helps students understand what each question is asking them. #2ndaryELA
A1: We use sites like #IXL #NoRedInk that mimic what they see on standardized tests. Familiar features help them to be more confident. #2ndaryela #EDET543
A1: First, I try to use best practices in my teaching, and I set high expectations for my students. We read and write daily in my classes. I also give students routine test prep but avoid “teaching to the test.” #2ndaryELA
A1: All year long we're preparing... baby steps. Last year, we started inviting tier 2 students to an after school remediation club (fun learning) to hopefully push them over the edge into passing. It worked really well! #2ndaryELA
A1: I also have been part of a "boot camp" that was pretty successful: https://mrsspanglerinthemiddle.blogspot.com/2017/03/test-prep-reading-boot-camp.html … #2ndaryELA
A1: the only real standardized prep I do is addressing the format of it. We have some built in (writescore tests) the meet this criteria, but American Lit has narratives that Ss are not familiar with usually. I tell them it has real-world benefits in noticing details #2ndaryela
Q2: Share your best test prep resources, activities and ideas. #2ndaryELA
A2: Some of my best reading test prep activities include a mini-book with a PP: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Test-Prep-Mini-book-PowerPoint-FSA-PARCC-4385556 … #2ndaryELA
A2: Resources and activities are too big to attach, but contact me via insta for pics! As for ideas, repetition, repetition, repetition! #2ndaryELA
A2: I often use resources from College Board for SAT Prep and the AP Lit exam. #2ndaryELA
A2: Here is an interview I did with the lovely @secondarysara https://languageartsclassroom.com/2018/03/teaching-test-prep.html … #2ndaryELA
A2: And a reading passages and questions set based on 7 anchor standards where I create a little group competition: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Test-Prep-Passages-Questions-Set-Standards-based-FSA-PARCC-4386052 … #2ndaryELA
We played hand-on games (like matching definitions with words), Quizlet live, read fun figurative language rich texts #2ndaryELA
Q3: Do you continue with normal lessons during standardized testing? Why/Why not? #2ndaryELA
A3: We cannot, as our site uses block scheduling for testing. #2ndaryELA
A3: I do not because I tell my Ss that this is the "final workout" before the "big game" so we stay focused. I do refer back to previous lessons though! #2ndaryELA
A3: Absolutely! We do the prep, then it’s game time, but that doesn’t mean learning stops! During testing is a great time for Independent novels. #2ndaryELA
Q4: What do you to keep students on task during testing sessions? #2ndaryELA
A4: My Ss have been doing guided meditation daily (5 min. sessions) and I'm going to lead each testing day with that, and other mindfulness activities during breaks. #2ndaryela #EDET543
A4: I like to do arts and crafts - coloring always seems to soothe the soul. :) #2ndaryELA
I love the idea of arts and crafts. I could make that happen for those testing days. #2ndaryELA #EDET543
A4: We expect students to plan their essays on scrap paper and collect the planning for a grade. #2ndaryELA
A4: #2ndaryELA all of this! Plus, sticky note tic-tac-toe for students done with their tests
Q5: Describe any special activities that you reserve for standardized testing time. #2ndaryELA
A5: I reserve most of my competitions for test prep and most of my arts and crafts for during testing days. #2ndaryELA
What kinds of competitions do you have? #2ndaryela
I do things where groups compete against each other as we review the standards. I've been known to make leader boards, race tracks and the like to get Ss into it! #2ndaryELA
These ideas are great. My students love friendly competition and we often play Trashketball to review for tests #2ndaryela
A5: On the days that students are taking their standardized tests, certain movies or videos are reserved for after testing sessions. ELA teacher may save the video/movie version of the books they’re studying for this period of time. #2ndaryELA
A5: At the end of standardized testing (which lasts two weeks in Am Lit and 3 hours in AP Lit) we usually have a food celebration! Breakfast for morning classes and pizza for afternoon classes. #2ndaryELA
Be sure to join the #2ndaryELA nation every Tuesday at 8pm on Twitter. We talk about all kinds of important ELA topics with the goal of helping teachers connect and find new ways to teach and reach their students.
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Thanks for stopping by!