Testing...Ready or not...It's HERE!
If you teach a testing grade, you are probably feeling the pain that my fellow teachers and I are feeling. We are stressed, and we can't get enough chocolate! We all know that we have done everything we can, but we have been reviewing everything...again and again.
We even came up with a Testing Boot Camp. We decided last year when we were reviewing for the big test that we need to do a little bit more. We decided that we would all choose a topic from our state department testing blueprint and review it again. We chose from the section that had the most weight on the test. We rotated in thirty minutes increments. This year, since we had such success with it last year, we decided to do it again. Of course, we stepped it up a notch. We have been dressing in camo every Tuesday.
It really does wonders what students will retain when they hear it from another teacher (even when you say it every single day). I had a student say, "Mrs. Edwards, we totally learned a new strategy!" I was so excited that I couldn't wait for him to explain what he'd learned. When he did explain, I had to pick up my jaw. I had taught him that strategy, and I had reminded him daily for the past two weeks, but when it came that day from this other teacher, it was a new strategy that he was excited about. Who knew?!? I know this hasn't ever happened to any other teachers, right? :) I am just excited to explain how well it can work.
I hope that everyone remembers to take a deep breath, and remember one of the most important things to do for your students during this time is to motivate them. I don't know how many times that I have said "Rockstar" this past month, but my students feel like they are amazing. Confidence is such a big factor when it comes to test taking. They have to trust their first instincts. They have to remember that they learned it. They have to remember their strategies. They need to know that we believe in them, so that they truly believe in themselves.
Have a great week! Remember, you're a ROCKSTAR!!!
We even came up with a Testing Boot Camp. We decided last year when we were reviewing for the big test that we need to do a little bit more. We decided that we would all choose a topic from our state department testing blueprint and review it again. We chose from the section that had the most weight on the test. We rotated in thirty minutes increments. This year, since we had such success with it last year, we decided to do it again. Of course, we stepped it up a notch. We have been dressing in camo every Tuesday.
It really does wonders what students will retain when they hear it from another teacher (even when you say it every single day). I had a student say, "Mrs. Edwards, we totally learned a new strategy!" I was so excited that I couldn't wait for him to explain what he'd learned. When he did explain, I had to pick up my jaw. I had taught him that strategy, and I had reminded him daily for the past two weeks, but when it came that day from this other teacher, it was a new strategy that he was excited about. Who knew?!? I know this hasn't ever happened to any other teachers, right? :) I am just excited to explain how well it can work.
I hope that everyone remembers to take a deep breath, and remember one of the most important things to do for your students during this time is to motivate them. I don't know how many times that I have said "Rockstar" this past month, but my students feel like they are amazing. Confidence is such a big factor when it comes to test taking. They have to trust their first instincts. They have to remember that they learned it. They have to remember their strategies. They need to know that we believe in them, so that they truly believe in themselves.
Have a great week! Remember, you're a ROCKSTAR!!!
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