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
Browse the archives below for even more great ideas
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
Test Prep Dress Up – Engaging Test Prep
I have a love/hate relationship with test prep. I dislike it for all the obvious stressful reasons: the stress on the students and teachers, the time it takes away from instruction, and how monotonous it can get. But, this year my teammate and I have been very intentional about planning engaging test prep activities that the students (and teachers) love! Here is my new ... Read More
Test Prep Egg Hunt Activity
Test prep doesn't have to be boring and stressful for the teachers or the students. We try to keep some of our test prep activities super engaging and high-energy to keep students (and teachers) from getting stressed. This post shares details about one of my favorite engaging test prep activities that works perfectly during the spring, which is right at test prep season ... Read More
Preparing Students for Online Assessments {Online Test Prep}
A few weeks, my team and I were told that there was a possibility that our 5th graders would be taking the state test online this year. Yikes! I immediately knew that I needed to up my game when it came to getting my students on the computer for assessments. (Note: I do not have 1:1 devices. Instead, we have a handful of computers and tablets to use.) After asking a few ... Read More
Test Prep Centers {Rock the Test!}
Whew! State testing is officially over! Well, for now... Retakes for the students who didn't pass math and reading still have to happen once the scores are back. But for now, a huge sigh of relief! I have been meaning to write a post showing my test prep centers that I made this year. I used Rock and Roll graphics to create a Math Set for 4th and 5th Grade (9 centers ... Read More
