If you have been following my blog this year, you know that I love engaging test prep review games. I think review is definitely necessary at the end of the year or a longer unit, but it doesn't have to be tedious or boring. I love using high interest games in the classroom to engage my students and get them excited about reviewing. Recently, we played Pie Face Game and ... Read More
Browse the archives below for even more great ideas
How to Plan and Use Test Prep Centers
One thing I heave learned over the years is that a variety of review is key for many students to be successful or feel successful on their end of year test. Some students thrive with engaging review and competition like games. Others need small group instruction to review or practice previously learned skills. Over the last 7 years, I have been using test prep centers ... Read More
Ways to Make Paper and Pencil Test Prep Review Engaging
I am a huge fan of engaging and exciting test prep activities that really encourage and motivate my students. However, I also see the value in some good old fashioned pencil and paper test prep. It definitely has its place and will definitely help prepare the students for the "boring" test. Also, it prepares them for middle school, high school and beyond where they will ... Read More
Bean Boozled in the Classroom (Jelly Belly Challenge): Engaging Test Prep
I will have to admit it that I was a bit on the fence when I first heard about teachers using Bean Boozled in the classroom. If you are not familiar with this "game", the players spin a spinner to determine which color jelly bean they will eat. The color could be one of two different flavors: a yummy flavor (peach or berry for example) or a disgusting flavor (barf or ... Read More
Speed Answering: Engaging Test Prep Reading Constructed Response
Unfortunately, most of the engaging test prep review activities involve multiple-choice or short answer review questions. A lot of these activities don't lend themselves to the rigor of the constructed response questions that are now on many state assessments. With this in mind, I wanted a test prep review activity that works well with constructed response questions or ... Read More
Playing Jenga: Engaging Test Prep
Testing season is almost here (or already here for some of you!). I always embed review throughout the year in using spiral review, but I also take 2-4 weeks (depending on pacing) to review before our high stakes assessments. I like to do a mixture of text prep activities ranging from paper and pencil review to games. I try to include a lot of engaging test prep in my ... Read More
7 Ways to Support Students with Constructed Response Reading Questions
Over the last three years, there has been a major shift in reading assessments. Students used to be assessed only on multiple choice questions. However, now they are required to write constructed response reading questions. Answering constructed response questions requires a different set of skills than those that are needed for multiple choice questions. I found that ... Read More
3 Ways to Use Flocabulary to Enhance Test Prep Review
A few months ago, I was introduced to Flocabulary, a web-based learning program for all grades and subjects. The program uses engaging educational hip-hop music videos to teach and review academic concepts. The videos are standards based and include activities and printables that align with and support the videos. After spending some time trying out this online resource, ... Read More
Engaging Ways to Review
One of my biggest struggles as a teacher has always been students helping students all the skills they are learning in all the subjects. I have to be very purposeful about spiraling skills consistently so the students don't forget what was learned at the beginning of the year. Read more details about how I use spiral review in all subjects (and not just morning work) ... Read More
Amazing Race { Fun Test Prep Review }
As demanding and time consuming as our curriculum is, I have found that I always need to pause my pacing and spend some of my time reviewing after a long break from school. Today, I want to share with you a fun test prep review or "after a long break" review that my students loved last year. Here is the basic rundown of this fun test prep activity review: Students ... Read More
Quizizz {A Self Paced Online Review Game}
Last week, a teacher friend told me about Quizizz and I knew I had to check it out. Quizizz is an online multi-player review game that is a great alternative to Kahoot. It is self paced and can be completed as a whole group review game or assigned as homework (or independent work - more about this later). This is great for classrooms that are 1:1 and great for classrooms ... Read More
Teaching Students How to Study
One thing that I have learned teaching upper elementary is that some students have to be taught how to study. Most don't come to us already knowing how to study. Sure, some students grasp the material quickly and retain it easily. However, the majority of my students needed me to explicitly teach them strong study methods they could do independently or with someone else. ... Read More
