Online testing can be super frustrating for teachers and students. I can remember the first year we found out we were taking our state assessment online. We literally found out in January of that school year. Needless to say, I was more than a bit panicked! I had spent all year teaching my students to authentically close read a text and annotate all over the text. ... Read More
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Playing Spoons in the Classroom {Highly Engaging Review Game}
A few years ago, I was introduced to a highly motivating, fast-paced academic version of the games Spoons. After playing a few rounds and having a lot of fun, I knew this was something I wanted to incorporate as much as possible into my classroom. The academic version of Spoons is a great way to motivate your students to review almost any concept! (If you are not ... Read More
What To Do When Your Students Fail a Test
One of the biggest questions I had to tackle as a new teacher was "My students failed this test. What am I going to do about it?" Instead of binging on junk food (or in addition to), I learned to look at it reflectively and use these situations to grow myself as a teacher and to grow my students as learners and test-takers. Read on to learn some constructive next steps ... Read More
Minute to Win It Games in the Classroom
My students and I love minute to win it games and challenges, and I love incorporating them in the classroom in different ways. In this post, I want to share the three ways that I use minute to win it games in the classroom and some resources to find some games to use in your classroom. 1. Use minute to win it games in the classroom as brain breaks. Minute ... Read More
Playing Pie Face Game in the Classroom {Engaging Test Prep}
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
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
Ways to Support Students with Constructed Response Reading Questions
Over the last decade, 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 and can be a ... 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
