Are you looking for the best test prep plan out there? Look no further than this post where I lay out 5 easy steps to your best test prep yet! Grab a pen and let’s make a plan together.
Block Out Your Calendar
Look at your school calendar. I want you to count the days from when you finish your curriculum until the big test. How many do you have?
Next, take a look at the standards you need to review. You likely won’t have time to review every single thing, so think strategically here.
Now you are ready to block out your calendar and choose how long to spend on each standard. I would recommend also leaving two days to review all standards together.
Plan for the Best Test Prep
How does your learning block usually look? I want you to stick to this routine as much as possible.
Do you start with a bell ringer or warm-up? Keep it up! You get the idea.
My test prep plan looked a little like this:
-Start with a warm-up (I used Test Smash)
-Review the warm-up together and have a mini-lesson on the day’s standard
-Time for stations or a whole class review game
-An exit ticket to check for understanding
You don’t need to do exactly this, but make a plan and stick with it. The routine will be important for both you and your students.
Choose the Best Test Prep Strategies
Not all review strategies are created equal. It is important that you choose the best test prep strategies for your students. This means that it might be necessary to change it up every year. It broke my heart one year when my absolute favorite review strategy just didn’t work for those students, but it happens.
Check out a post with some of my favorites here.
Turn Test Prep into a Celebration
More than anything, I want my students to think of test prep as a celebration of everything they have learned throughout the year. By creating an environment of celebration and achieving goals your students will become more confident and ready to take on the test.
Don’t Stress It
It is easy to get caught up in all the things others are doing, like room transformations and elaborate games. It really is. My biggest recommendation is to not stress it, and definitely don’t make more work for yourself.
Use the questions you already have from your curriculum workbooks and released tests and embrace simple strategies that are high on engagement and low on prep.
The Best Test Prep
In the end, the best test prep is the kind that leaves you and your students feeling confident and prepared for the big test. It doesn’t need to be flashy and over the top. It just needs to get the job done.
