How to prepare for state standardized tests
Every year when teachers come back from winter break, we know that it is time to start gearing up for the state tests that begin in April. There are many ways we prepare behind the scenes.
Sometimes it can feel like students get tested-out, but our schools are very strategic with how many assessments we give and when. Three times a year, Triad teachers give benchmark assessments in order to gather high quality student data. These assessments are designed to test students on all of the standards in a subject area that they are expected to master by the end of the year. We give them in the fall, winter, and spring to track their progress through the year.
The fall benchmark helps teachers establish a baseline for what their current students already know and what areas they need to grow in. They use this data to plan out their year and adjust how they will use their curriculum. Right now, teacher teams are meeting to look at the data from winter benchmarks to make projections for how students may perform on the state tests. They are using this data to make instructional decisions that will best help students grow and prepare. For the teachers who do not have a state test in their subject, the spring benchmarks assessments are the biggest way they evaluate whether their instructional strategies are working to increase student achievement.
If your student is nervous about state testing, here are some tips you can use to help them feel prepared:
■ Ask your child’s teachers for activities you can do at home to practice important skills.
■ When your child is doing their homework, work with them to practice reading questions slowly and thoroughly. A lot of times students score low just because they rush through the questions!
■ The night before the test, go to bed early and get a lot of sleep.
■ Don’t forget to eat breakfast that morning! Triad makes sure that every student gets breakfast the morning of tests so their body is energized and ready to focus.
■ Encourage your child to reframe how they view the tests - they are an opportunity to show what you know! They are not a judgment of how good of a student you are.
While tests and assessments are valuable for us as educators to collect data on the success of our instruction, we know that they are not the only measure of a good student. We consider them one data point among many to decide what each student needs to be successful. Teacher teams also collaborate to discuss student performance on classroom assignments, social-emotional needs, participation in activities, input from parents, and many many other pieces of information to paint a picture of the whole child.