For the youngest test-takers, anxiety about the unknown can be overwhelming. In fact, test anxiety can start as early as Kindergarten! Thankfully, some Really Good Teachers are filled with ideas to ease the minds of the youngest students.

by Nichole Rozakos, Teacher and Guest Author If you are anything like me, come March, you start to feel a pull… a pull towards doing the one thing that you said you’d never do when you became a teacher- teach to the test.  Sure, throughout the year you’ve talked about “the big test” with your
continue reading

Stop the nail biting, hair twirling, and general anxiety that arises as soon as those standardized tests appear. The teachers at #TeachChat on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 shared some great tips, tricks, and strategies for making this the most stress-free testing season ever. Check out their ideas in the transcript below by scrolling down and
continue reading

by Steve Reifman, Monthly Columnist As standardized testing season begins each spring, we can perform a major service for our students by sharing the following four keys to success. Taken together, these tips comprise an effective mental approach to test-taking that values strong focus, thoroughness, and carefulness. Children need to understand that how they go
continue reading

by Elizabeth Supan, Monthly Columnist Standardized testing is inevitable. Even if we as teachers don’t like them, in most states they are commonplace. I have come to the conclusion that if I do not prepare my students on how to take a test, then I am leading my students down a slippery slope without anything
continue reading

by Erin Klein, Monthly Columnist The topic of how to prepare students for an assessment can often be an area fought with difficult decisions.  It is sometimes turned into a topic focused more on the teaching institution than on students and how the results of a standardized state test can affect the revenue for a
continue reading

Testing time is quickly sneaking up on teachers and students across the country.  This week we are excited to make testing day a little bit easier by giving away a set of Testing Privacy Shields.  Encouraging messages cover the outside, while the inside of each privacy shield is blank to help make focusing easier. Enter
continue reading

By Cheryl Saoud, Monthly Columnist Test anxiety often interferes with learning and lowers test performance.  Signs of anxiety include headaches, stomach aches, sweating, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat.  Students can feel gloomy and fearful with thoughts of inadequacy and frustration.  There are many obstacles that stand in the way of test anxiety.  With state
continue reading

It does not matter how much review you do, if your students are not invested in the testing they are about to do, they will not perform well.  Motivating your students is just as important as that last minute division review or vocabulary discussion.  In fact, nurturing a student’s motivation may be more important than
continue reading

While you may not be able to predict exactly which vocabulary words will be on the tests your students will have to take, you can expand their vocabulary to help better their chances.  Take the words that you have been studying all year and use them in the following activities.  The vocabulary review games below
continue reading