I apologize for the long delay in posting and hope you are all well and ready for spring!
As most of you upper elementary teachers are probably ensconced in preparation for the state tests right now, I thought I would blog some thoughts and ideas about effective test prep. I apologize to the primary teachers, but remember that you play a large role in preparing students for these tests as well!
Based on my experience preparing students for the state exams as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, and private tutor- here is the greatest piece of advice I can offer: build your students confidence by presenting all test prep tasks, questions, etc. as review of things they ALREADY KNOW how do to as readers and writers. For example, rather than reading a short response question about character traits or theme and teaching students how to attack it as if they are starting from scratch, begin by pulling out the charts you used during your character unit of study after reading the short response question with students. Point to these charts and say, "This question is a piece of cake for you! You are already experts on inferring character traits and themes in stories! All you have to do is remind yourself what you already know to help you answer this question!" Particularly for our 3rd graders who are new to taking the state tests, connecting to and using what they already know is essential for their success on these tests.
My second biggest tip would be to make test prep somewhat fun in ANY WAY possible! Whether that means: creating or finding games to review test vocab, structuring your test prep block with a whole class mini-lesson followed by rotating through test prep centers in which small groups or partners work together on various tasks and activities, playing test prep Jeopardy (available in the Treasure Chest section of the TCRWP website), or even tying student hard work and success to small incentives that help to motivate your students...do WHATEVER IT TAKES to make it less miserable for yourself and for the students!
Below is a method that I created this year, which has been very helpful for teaching 3rd graders to compose strong short responses. In order to make it a little more fun (and to help the students memorize the steps), we turned these steps into a very simple cheer. Each time I work with the class on short response, I begin by selecting a student to lead the rest of the class in the call and response style cheer. We also end each short response session in this way. It is such a small thing, but it has helped tremendously to keep the students energized and focused.
Leader: Ready For!
Students: A Short Response!
Leader: R is for...
Students: Read!
Leader: F is for...
Students: Flip!
[Continue with each steps]
Leader: Ready For!
Students: A Short Response!
Share your test prep tricks and tips by commenting below!
