You have worked all year with your students and the moment for them to show off what they have learned has arrived. That moment is State Testing. Sigh.
State testing can be a stressful time for some students. You have your students who really care about doing well and others who could care less.
So how do you find a balanced approach to lowering test anxiety and also motivating your students to do well? Here are a few tips.
Ideas for State Testing Motivation
#1 Color Signs with Motivational Quotes
Coloring signs before state testing is a fun activity that lowers stress levels and provides motivation for students. If you are required to cover up educational posters in your classroom, post these signs on top, so your classroom doesn’t look so bare. If you are able to print them on poster size, even better.
Some students have some anxiety over the test so it’s important to create a positive atmosphere.
Students can take the coloring pages home if they aren’t finished in the classroom for an extra credit assignment. Ask students who enjoy coloring if they want to take it outside and finish after lunchtime.
#2 Give Motivational Candy Notes
Surprise your students with a candy treat and a motivational note on their desks the morning of the test. I like to attach some notes to Starbursts, mints, or Smarties.
There are three versions.
- Use Smarties candy for the note: You have the smarts to do great on the test
- Use Starburst candy for the note: You’re a Star bursting with Knowledge
- Use mints for the note: Good Luck. You’re mint to succeed on the test
You can find candy notes HERE.
#3 Teach Test Taking Strategies
To lower any sort of anxiety about the state test, review test-taking strategies the week before. Some of the most important ones are:
- Reread parts of the text to find the answer
- Use Process of elimination
- Don’t spend too much time on one problem
- Focus on problems you know
- Read ALL answer choices before selecting an answer
- In math, show your work and label your problems
#4 Practice Taking the Test on State Testing Online Platforms
Today state testing is all done on the computer. Make sure to take a practice test so that students know how to use features. For example, students can change the page view of reading passages.
There is a strike-out feature that lets students strike out answers when they are using process of elimination, and they can flag problems to go back to later. All these features need to be explicitly taught and practiced.
#5 Dedicate the State Test to Someone Special
Encourage your students to dedicate the test to someone special who has supported them in their education. State testing is a huge endeavor and dedicating the test to someone helps students realize how important the test is. Also, I think it helps students take the test more seriously.
#6 Watch Growth Mindset Video
Give your students the opportunity to hear from another student about how important it is to use the growth mindset. I like to show this Ted Talk Youth video, The Mindset of a Champion to students the day before testing. The video is inspiring and reinforces all the growth mindset lessons we have done.
#7 Look at Past State Test Scores
Students oftentimes won’t remember how they scored on the last state test. Pull up their scores from their previous grade, and share them privately. Ask your students to write down their scores and to create a goal for the next test.
When students see their scores from last year, they tend to take the test more seriously and put greater effort into it.
#8 Give a Mini- Motivational Speech
Give a mini-speech on the day of the test. Let your students know:
- How proud you are of them
- How hard they have worked
- To give it all you got
Maintain your cool by being prepared to give the test. Make sure you have your username and password for the online testing interface and your examiner manual ready to go.
Your students will feed off your energy. So the more calm and collected you seem, the better for them.
You got this! Giselle
Check out my State Testing resource by clicking HERE.