The Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing Students for High-Stakes Testing, by Amy Dunlap, Pre-AP 8 English Teacher, Mt. Juliet Middle School

Whew! We 3^rd -  8^th grade teachers have helped our students through the first round of TN Ready Testing… a new test, an unexpected printed format, continuously-changing testing date ranges, yikes! The students deserve a pat on the back for their effort, and we teachers deserve medals for our flexibility! Standardized testing in all its forms is a reality in our world, and there are ways to support students through the process while reducing the pressure “nightmares.”

            Larry Ferlazzo, a high-school teacher and author of Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation, suggests that teachers must “do no harm to our students, while at the same time assisting them to bring their best efforts to the task—and, perhaps, learn a few strategies that might help them successfully prepare for other challenging situations in their lives.” Giving students a healthy perspective about the tests seems to be the key.  Each high-stakes assessment is a chance to show their knowledge and skills, but their score does not define who they are. 

Mr. Ferlazzo suggests three ideas to motivate students in an ethical way. The first is to invoke a success mindset prior to testing.  He asks his students to write about a success one of their ancestors had in life and share this with a partner.  Research has shown that thinking about problems someone we are genetically connected to has overcome reminds us that we have similar qualities. Second, he divides the class into pairs and has them discuss a social issue for 10 minutes before testing.  This builds social capital through conversation and increases mental processing speed and working memory. A third idea Mr. Ferlazzo shares in his book is to provide his students with peppermints to enjoy before testing. He states, “It is thought that they both provide glucose for the brain that can enhance memory and that their odor somehow increases student attention. “

            I have found that one of the biggest factors in decreasing student test-taking anxiety is to prepare them well.  Throughout the year we focus on the English skills they need for testing and beyond. I also expose students to the format of the test to be sure they are comfortable with what they are being asked to do.  One mistake I have learned not to do is create testing tune-out from doing too much format practice. We practice in in small spurts throughout the year so they can recognize patterns and analyze questions.  I also suggest to students that the voice in their heads as they test should be a positive cheerleader instead of a negative nitpicker. 

            Finally, reminding my adolescents of all the things they are able control can help their confidence in any stressful situation they encounter.  A list like the following, found in “Combating Test Anxiety” by Dawn Marie Barhyte, can be helpful for students:

Test prep do’s and don’ts

•    Do expect some anxiety. It’s normal, and sometimes an elevated stress level can drive you to do better!

•    Don’t spend too much time on one question. If it’s confusing or time consuming, move on and return to it later if you can.

•    Do read the directions carefully and read the entire question before answering.

•    Don’t leave answers blank or guess randomly. Eliminate choices you know are incorrect to make an educated guess.

•    Do pace yourself.

•    Don’t change an answer unless you’re certain that you have misread or misinterpreted the question—your first answer is usually right!

•    Do review your answers if you finish early, and make sure you have answered all the questions.

•    Don’t panic if your classmates finish before you. Stay focused, concentrate on your test, and keep working.

•    Do remember to do the simple things: get a good night’s sleep, eat breakfast, and pack the things you need for the test (like a calculator and extra pencils) the night before.

    High-stakes testing  is a stressful part of each school year, but it is my job as a teacher to prepare my kids with knowledge and strategies to help them succeed. It is also my job to be sure my students know they are not just a test score but are amazing human beings with many different types of strengths. We can succeed on TN Ready, or the ACTs, or any other big test, together. Whew…the next round of testing is not too far away!