Test Taking Strategies That Work!
Please: Do not disturb! Testing in Progress.
This week is the start of the state test window here in Texas. If you are an educator supporting a testing grade, bless your heart! It is a buckwild time of year!
As I monitored the hallway earlier this week, I couldn’t help but think about the best test taking strategies for kids in elementary school (or any age for that matter).
The elementary kids who are taking these standardized tests this year were five, six, and seven year olds when the world turned upside down in 2020. The students we teach have more resilience and grit than we can imagine.
And yet, it’s more important than ever to nurture their inner selves so that they feel the least amount of stress and anxiety as they take the test. We are asking real tiny humans to sit for hours and take these high stakes tests.
When I think back to my own lived experience as a kid taking a standardized test, I remember the stress on my teacher’s face and the pit in my stomach before we started. I want the students and teachers who I support to remember feeling confident and calm on testing day instead.
Below are three quick mindfulness strategies to teach your students before the capital T test.
These techniques can be taught at any time of the year and can be used as quick brain breaks. Start off by modeling to the whole class then inviting students to try it with you. Eventually, students can make decisions on when and where they use these techniques along with which techniques work best for them. Ensure you can model and practice these many times in low stakes settings before the test.
Breathing Techniques
🔲 Boxed Breathing for focus:
Draw a small box on your scratch paper. Put your finger on the bottom left corner.
Inhale as you slide your finger slowly up the left side of the box.
Hold your breath as you slide your finger across the top of the box.
Exhale as you slide your finger down the right side of the box.
Hold your breath as you slide your finger across the bottom of the box.
Repeat this boxed breathing 3-5 times. When you finish, notice your brain is ready to focus back on your test again.
♾ Magic 8 Breathing for calming:
Draw a small magic 8 lying on its side (infinity symbol) on your scratch paper.
Slowly trace your finger over the 8.
As you trace, inhale on one circle. Exhale on the other side.
Repeat 3-5 times. When you finish, notice how your body is calm and ready to get back to the test.
Body Awareness Scan
Pause what you are doing for a moment.
Place your feet on the floor and close your eyes if that feels okay.
Starting with your feet, bring your attention to each body part and notice how it feels. Notice your legs, hips, back, shoulders, arms, neck, and face. Relax each body part as you bring your attention to it.
After you have scanned your body, notice if your body needs anything else before restarting your task/test. Do you need to get up and take a walking break? Use the bathroom? Eat a snack? Take a few deep breaths? Or are you ready to get back to work?
Positive Self-Talk
Students can choose a positive self-talk statement, depending on their needs before, during, and after the test.
Before the test:
I am going to do my best!
I am prepared to take this test.
I am hard working and intelligent.
I am going to take it one question at a time.
During the test:
I’ve got this!
Drawing a blank is okay/normal. I’m going to skip it and come back to it.
I can take deep breaths to stay calm and focused.
It’s okay if someone finished before me.
After the test:
I finished and I am proud of that!
I did what I could for the test.
I am smart and powerful.
Protip: You can use any or all of these strategies as an educator on testing day as well. 😉
Join the conversation! Let us know how it goes if you give any of these strategies a try. And if you have other strategies that work for your students, please share.
