State Testing Coming Up? 5 Things for Educators to Remember

I genuinely hope your children do well on the state-mandated tests. It is a part of teaching that brings some nerves, and understandably so. Before we go into the ideas to keep in mind, I will share a tip that helped me with some of my students.

You have been in their shoes.

First, if you are in your twenties or thirties, you have been in their shoes. State tests have been happening for some time, and when I reminded students I had sat there, protested those tests (yes, my fourth-grade attempt, which failed), and took those tests, it relieved some nerves. If you have been teaching longer, you can still relate. You took the SATs, Praxis, etc. The students knowing you have been there, can relieve some pressure.

So many different things beyond your control

There are many articles and memes on social media about this. I won’t go through the whole list, but there is a list of things out of your control. Is there a medical or family emergency? Is there food insecurity in the home? Someone writing down a list of what you can and cannot control helps. There are many things beyond the student’s control as well. Can we solve the world’s problems overnight? Of course not. Remember, you cannot create the perfect testing environment. 

Different review games

Try different topics each time for a couple of weeks before. Try to format the review games differently or mix them between individuals and teams. Did the state jam-pack the pacing until the end of the year? Try a quick review as a warm-up or exit ticket. Here are three well-known review games to help:

Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

Quizizz | Where motivation meets mastery

Plickers (Great if your students do not have a computer)

Data to show work

Unfortunately, we live in a world of great supervisors and ones that do not want to help others grow. Yes, I said it. Let’s not sugar-coat it. In any career field, there are great supervisors and others who want to serve themselves. Education is no different. If the test data returns and you are not as pleased with the numbers, I will bring the data. What was the assignment completion of the students who did not do as well? What did the warm-up, exit ticket, and test data show? If there are particular students the administration wants to review, have the email and phone communication ready to showcase your hard work throughout the year trying to reach the particular student.

In addition, bring forth other areas to measure growth and any extensions students participated in. You worked and helped the students perform for the entire school year, which must be valued.

Association/Union

Every state is different what the association’s or union’s role when dealing with evaluations if test data impact that. However, being a member of one is helpful and a good resource. They can point you in the right direction or give resources if you have concerns regarding how test scores may impact you as a teacher. Reach out to the individual associations or unions and determine what the requirements and regulations are for your state.

You helped young minds grow and helped them be kind and successful. I hope the state testing goes well for your students.