Top 10 Testing Tips

| By: Committee for Children

The testing era is upon us whether we like it or not. It is our job as teachers to make this experience as less stressful as possible. Here are a few tips.

     1)      Encourage a good night’s rest. Although we cannot guarantee this occurs, we can definitely communicate the importance of sleep, especially during testing week to our family community.

     2)      Encourage a good breakfast. Although, we cannot once again guarantee a two egg breakfast full of protein, we can help make sure our children get what they need. For when our tummy’s our full and our basic needs are met, our mind is able to work much better. If you aren’t sure some of your students are getting enough and you lack a breakfast program at your school, bringing in protein bars during this week to help with this nourishment is a great idea. The last thing a child should be scored upon is their empty tummy. Along these same lines, encourage parents to send a water bottle and a healthy snack to school with their child this week.

     3)      Purchase peppermint candy. Brain research shows that certain smells activate different parts of our brains. Peppermint is one of those. I know I have used this in years past to “wake” up my children’s brains before a test. Kids love it and it adds a little “testing” treat that can make it a more positive experience for some who may be dreading taking the test.

     4)      Breathing. Help your students take deep slow long breaths. Do it as a class as a whole before. Even make it part of your classroom routine and then when testing time comes it is not so odd. Breathing can truly help decrease any anxiety in children. Share with them that at any point in the test they feel they get nervous or need a break, a great strategy is to stop and take a few deep breaths to refocus.

     5)      Teach and encourage “Self-Talk”. “Self- talk” we know is a powerful tool, especially during test taking. Help your children learn phrases to say to themselves before, during, and after the test. For instance, some good phrases to teach before may be: “You can do this!” “Show them what you know!” “Just do your best- that is what matters!” During phrases like: “Great job, you did this part, only one more to go!”, or “That was hard but you did it!” “I can do this!” After you may teach them to say, “Wow, I did it!” or “Nice work, it wasn’t so bad.” Talking about these same phrases and allowing them to practice these during different classroom activities in weeks leading up to testing time will also help.

     6)      Fresh air. Taking a break in between tests even to step out and get some fresh air helps to put oxygen back into our student’s little lungs and the light also signals their little brains as well.

     7)      Exercise. Whatever you can do! I usually always do a bit a moving before my students plan to sit for a long time whether it is testing or for another reason. Maybe create a little exercise testing routine, or better yet, have the kids create one! This would be a great little way to get some movement in before sitting and signal to the brain that it is about to get focused.

     8)      Music. I would leave this up to the students. For some adding classical music or relaxation to a testing situation could help relax them a bit during it. For others, silence may be best. Ask your students what they prefer.

     9)      Special journal, book, and buddy. Have your students bring a special stuffed animal from home (if age appropriate) to join them in taking the test. Also, having them pick a special book or journal to have close so they can read it or write when they are done is always a good idea, since they must stay quiet to let their peers finish. Some educators I know also make a special “fun” packet for kids to do full of mazes, word search, doodling spaces, and math problems that students can do when they finish.

     10)    Create a class goal or a reward. In my class, my marble jar was a great way to keep kids motivated and working toward a “class party” that they had voted on and would benefit everyone when the jar was full. This is a great time to really throw in the marbles and positively reinforce everyone’s commitment to hard work.

Although we educators don’t always agree with how frequently and how long these tests may take, one thing is for sure… these tips are social and emotional skills that can help in any stressful situation. Let’s do our best to create this testing period as low key, less stressful, and even full of joy by remembering that children test best, but more importantly, learn best when we meet their social and emotional needs!