As teachers we all have opinions on standardized testing and final exams. Unfortunately no matter what those views are often these tests are not optional. Preparing our students for these exams is important to their success and mental health.
Helping your students feel prepared but not overwhelmed by exam season can undeniably be a difficult balance to achieve. Here are some practices I have incorporated into my teaching to help my students.
1. Practice, Practice, Practice
Many of our students may not have much experience with writing long exams which is why practice is crucial.
Practicing is not the same as studying. To help my students practice for exams I have them become familiar with elements of test taking. For example, we practice filling out multiple choice bubble sheets properly. I provide my students with sample questions to read and interpret. Lastly we practice expected behavior for before, during, and after the exam.
Our students spend great amounts of time in front of screens where they receive instant gratification and dopamine. As a result, students lack the ability to keep themselves entertained or cope with “being bored”. By practicing entertaining themselves quietly students are less likely to disrupt others after they are done come exam day.
2. Prepare your Supplies
Their is nothing worse than running around the morning of a big exam looking for pencils, erasers, calculators, or a Kleenex box. Avoid this, and make sure you and your students have everything needed prepared the day before and ready to go.
Some things you may want to have extra of include; paper, pencils, handheld pencil sharpeners (these will be quieter and less distracting then electric ones), large erasers, water bottles, quiet snacks, tissue paper, rulers, calculators, protractors, dictionaries, device charging cords (for exams completed digitally).
3. Magic Pencils
While we are talking about having your supplies prepared, one exam tradition I started in my classroom was magic pencils. Magic pencils are really just cheap, colorful mechanical pencils, but for many of my students who had never used mechanical pencils before it was exciting to try something new and made exam writing a little less scary.
I wrote each students initials on their pencil before handing them out, incase they got dropped on the floor or left at a friends desk. I also first made sure students understood that I only had one pencil for each of them. If students lost their pencil they would have to use a regular one for the exams.
I keep extra lead at my desk that students could come ask for at any time. This also meant students didn’t have to sharpen their pencils during an exam which can be loud and distracting.
You can find your own class set of magic pencils here
4. Early Finishers
Another thing to remember when preparing your supplies is to be sure students have a quiet activity that students can independently work on when they are done. For my students this was a book, supplies to draw or color, or an activity book to work through.
You can find a great activity book with lots of detailed coloring pages, mazes, and puzzles to complete here.
5. Talk about All Possible Outcomes
Of course we want all of our students to do well on exams, but it is important to prepare our students for the reality that they might not get the score they were hoping for.
Remind students that an exam is just a “snapshot” of what they know at any given time. Teachers only use exams as one small piece of information to determine what they know. Exam performance can be influenced by several factors. How a student is feeling that day, if they had breakfast, if they got into an argument with a friend or parent, if they had a good sleep the night before, and more effect student performance, so if students didn’t get the score they were hoping for this may partially explain why.
These conversations would be a great opportunity to have a community circle. I also like to share my own personal experience of doing poorly on an exam and how you overcame that.
Don’t know where to start when talking about failure with your students? Check out this book, that would make a great read-a-loud to break the ice.
6. Have a Plan For After
Exams are a part of life and something our students will encounter again many more times. Having an exciting treat for students to enjoy after they complete a challenging exam might just help the next one seem less scary.
Post exam treats don’t have to be elaborate. I like to bring doughnuts, freezes, or popsicles to share with my students. After treats, we spend lots of extra free time outside after writing an exam to reset and burn off some anxious energy.
No one likes writing exams. Often they can be scary bringing up a lot of stress and anxiety for our students. Hopefully some of these tips help your students feel more prepared for the next big test coming up in their lives.
