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The end of the year is near. We can feel it and so can our students. However, it is not over yet. Testing season is about begin. You know, those pesky end-of-year assessments for the school and the state. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that there is too much testing that happens during a typical school year, but that is a topic for another time.
Since testing is inevitable and you want your students to give their best effort, I want to share some ideas for motivating your students during this strenuous time.
First of all, make sure your students know how proud you are of them for what they have accomplished this year. Talk about their successes. This can be done whole class or by having short individual conferences with each student. You don’t have to stick to academics only with this either. It can be about making lasting friendships, making advances in learning the English language, becoming more responsible by turning in their homework every day, or anything else that is worth celebrating. Letting your students know that the results of these tests are not everything is important. This will help relieve anxiety for any of your students that may experience it during testing.
Next, any time you can give your students a break, do it. I know testing schedules are tight and you are still usually required to fit in some regular learning on those days, but do the best you can. Even a few extra minutes at regular intervals throughout the day will help. This could be through extra brain breaks, a walk outside, time to read a favorite book, or just a chance to get some water and stretch.
Finally, there are many ways to make testing a more positive experience. At one of the schools I worked at, we had testing buddies. I thought it was a great idea! An upper grade class was partnered with a lower grade class and on testing days the classes would do something to help pump each other up for completing the test. If this isn’t possible at your school, you can be the one to give your students a mood boost. Here are some ideas I have seen done and/or used myself:
1. Make a banner from bulletin board paper with encouranging words and hang it outside the classroom door. Some popular sayings are: Do your best on the test! You got this! Don’t stress, do your best! Or be creative and come up with your own.
2. Make a short motivational video for the students to watch before they begin. I have seen a kindergarten class record a cheer for an upper grade class. They loved watching those little ones cheer for them! Or you could do a mash-up of some humorous clips to get students laughing.
3. Give them a small treat before starting. There are many ideas online for notes you could put with a treat, like giving a cookie with a note that says, “You’re one smart cookie.” Another is “Blow the top off this test,” with a blow pop.
4. Give students a piece of mint gum to chew. Usually gum chewing is not allowable at school, so making an exception for testing days is usually well received by students. Moreover, chewing gum has been proven to increase brain power. In fact, Science Daily did a study on gum chewing and found that, “…chewing gum can help you stay focused for longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring” (2013).
5. Do a group calming activity. Your class can do a stress-relieving activity before beginning the test. Take deep breaths together, do some yoga poses, or use Mind Yeti for some mindfulness videos. I recently found out that Mind Yeti is now a part of the Second Step digital program, but they do have some videos available on YouTube here.
6. Have a celebration after testing is over. Decide with your students a fun way to celebrate after all the testing is over and remind them what they are working for each day. It could be a dance party, extra recess, free time on technology, social time, a field trip, etc.
After using some or all of these ideas, your students will be able to take on the test with less tension and maybe even a small smile on their face! Please feel free to comment which ideas you tried, how they worked, or any new ideas you have for motivating your students during testing that have worked for you!
