test-taking

Show School Spirit

2010-09-28T09:53:00.004-07:00

Promote school pride during test taking. Ask students and staff to wear your school’s colors throughout the week. Each day, have an adult volunteer wear the official mascot outfit and pass out “Rock The Test!” 2-Sided Silicone Bracelets With Mascot Cards and other gifts, such as “Score Your Best On The Test” Water Bottles, to students who dressed up.

Life’s A Beach

2010-09-28T09:53:00.003-07:00

Alter the atmosphere in your school by creating a calming scene, such as a beach, in areas where students are taking tests. Decorate the walls with cut outs of palm trees, sea shells, and the sun. Add to the sense of relaxation by playing a CD of waves hitting the beach while students work on their tests. Keep the theme going by giving students “Rested, Relaxed, Ready For The Test” Heat Sensitive Pencils or “Don't Sweat The Test…Just Do Your Best” Heat Sensitive Pencils.

Help Them Sparkle

2010-09-28T09:53:00.001-07:00

Give students a chance to shine, even before test taking begins. Several days in advance, ask students to create a “STAR” acronym with a test-taking theme. Provide an example, such as “School Testing is Always Rewarding,” to get them started. Make sure that each classroom has yellow construction paper for students to make star cutouts. Then have each student write his or her text on a star. Once completed, hang the stars throughout the school. Give teachers Laminated Star-Shaped Backpack Tags With Chains and “Star Tester” Pencil Top Erasers to pass out to students when the task is complete.

Presidential Power

2010-09-28T09:52:00.004-07:00

Show students what test success could lead to—the Oval Office! Select several teachers to dress up as past presidents each day of test taking. Ask them to write a short speech explaining who they are, what their achievements were, and how trying their best on tests helped them accomplish what they did. Have the “presidents” speak to students in the gymnasium each morning before testing begins. Decorate the gym with Pennants and Balloons from the “Expect Success On The Test” Celebration Pack. Pass out the Lollipops, Pencils, and Stickers to students.

Creative Energy

2010-09-28T09:52:00.003-07:00

Challenge classrooms to come up with motivational posters the week before testing starts. Give them some ideas by putting up a “Do Your Best On The Test” Vinyl Banner in a common area of the school. When their posters are finished, have teachers hang them up on their classroom doors or on the wall right outside their rooms. Bring in your custodians, lunchroom workers, and bus drivers to be judges, letting them vote for their top three favorites. Give students who helped design the winning posters Smarties© Test Prep Treat Packs.

Bed-“rock” The Test

2010-09-28T09:52:00.001-07:00

Put a new spin on “rocking the test,” and dress up as a caveman or cavewoman the first day of test taking. Greet students as they walk into school, and play the instrumental version of The Flintstones theme music over the PA system. If possible, get a blow-up doll of “Dino,” the Flintstone’s dog, or have a staff member dress up as a dinosaur and help you welcome students. Hand out “Rock The Test!” Bookmarks or “Rock The Test!” Buttons as students enter school. Hold an assembly later that morning and sing a test-taking-themed song to The Flintstones tune.

Magical Motivation

2010-09-28T09:51:00.005-07:00

Ask parent volunteers to be “testing fairies” and leave gifts on student and teacher desks each morning of test taking. Stock up on Treat-A-Day Value Packs for the students. Request donations of vouchers from local businesses for the teachers, for free cups of coffee or a percent off on meals. The week before testing begins, have the “fairies” come in and write little notes that can be attached to the gifts. For students they can write motivational phrases, such as “Take your time. Do your best!” For teachers they could write messages of appreciation, such as “Thanks for all you do!” When test-taking week comes around, let the “fairies” into the school daily to work their magic before teachers and students arrive.

“Tune”-d In For Testing

2010-09-28T09:51:00.003-07:00

Generate enthusiasm with a “Testing Idol” competition in the days leading up to testing. Have student volunteers sign up to sing a song in front of the entire school. Add to the challenge by having them write their own test-themed lyrics to go along with a familiar tune, such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” Hold an assembly for the competition and hand out “Rock The Test!” Temporary Tattoos to students as they show up for the event. Give all contestants “Rock The Test!” Shaped Rubber Wristbands. With a show of hands, let students vote on their favorite tunes. Each day of testing, let the top three singers sing their tunes on the morning announcements.

Armed With Knowledge

2010-09-28T09:51:00.001-07:00

Give your students some “basic training” in preparation for test taking. Present each classroom with a “20 Terms Every Test Taker Should Know” Poster so students recognize key words to look for on their tests. Then provide teachers with “Do Your Best On Your Test!” Camouflage Dog Tags to give to students after they’ve studied the poster.

Animal Instincts

2010-09-28T09:50:00.002-07:00

Seek help from the animal kingdom to get students excited about test taking. Assign each classroom an animal mascot. Choose only animals that have paws—no horses, cows, goats or other animals with hooves! Request that each class come up with a test-taking slogan that goes with its animal. For example, the slogan for the “dog classroom” could be “Doggone it! Try your best on your test!” During test-taking week, have teachers pick students to read the slogans aloud on the morning announcements. Then send those students back to their classrooms with
“PAWS-itive Test Taker” Stickers-On-A-Roll and “PAWS-itive Test Taker” Lollipops.

Peer Pressure

2010-09-28T09:50:00.001-07:00

Get students to encourage each other in the days leading up to test taking. Have teachers in each grade assign testing pen pals, not pairing any two children in the same class. Students should write to each other about various test-related topics, such as what they do to prepare for tests, what makes them nervous about testing, and why they think test taking is important. Give students “Believe, Achieve, And Succeed At Test Time!” Sparkle Foil Pencils to write their letters and “Believe, Achieve, And Succeed At Test Time!” Pencil Grippers as well.

2009-2010 Test-Taking Activities Contest Winners

2010-09-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Grand Prize
Del City Elementary School
Del City, OK

2nd Prize
Earl County High School
Blakely, Georgia

3rd Prize
Wanatah Public School
Wanatah, Indiana

Driving Towards Achievement

2008-11-14T08:01:00.001-08:00

Involve your bus drivers in generating positive energy. Put the items from the Attitude Is Everything At Test Time Value Packs into the goody bags that are included, along with notes for parents. Ask the bus drivers to hand the bags to students as they get off the bus at the end of a school day. Also, supply your drivers with Attitude Is Everything At Test Time Temporary Tattoos to give out the Friday before testing week. Over the weekend, hang signs on the buses that read “On The Road To Test Success.” Remind your drivers to wish students good luck on testing.

Keeping Track

2008-11-14T08:00:00.001-08:00

Design a calendar that lets everyone know how many days are left until testing begins. Decide how far in advance you want your “countdown” to start. Your calendar will contain as many pages as there are days. Print a number per sheet of paper. For example, if you pick 60 days, print the numbers 60 down to one. Make a set for each class. Explain to teachers that they should remove a sheet a day. Before the calendars are revealed to students, let them guess the number of days. Reward students who are the closest with Learn It, Know It, Show It Water Bottles. When your countdown time is over, pass out a Ready To Give The Test My Best Pencil to every test taker.

Aiding The Educators

2008-11-14T07:59:00.001-08:00

Since your teachers are responsible for so much, help out and make it easier for them to pick up testing materials. Have the materials well organized and clearly labeled. If any documents need to be filled out, do this as well. In addition, sharpen pencils. For encouragement,slip a Thank You For Helping Our Students Succeed At Test Time Greeting Card & Bookmark Set into each classroom’s materials. And place Don’t Stress The Test! Hair Top Stress Balls in teachers’ mailboxes.

Dancing Away Jitters

2008-11-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Assist students in shaking off test anxiety. During the week before testing, bring students and staff into the hallways. Play fun music over the PA system and lead everyone in dancing. Hand out Rock The Test! 2-sided Silicone Bracelets With Cards. Each day of testing, give students some time for dancing in the classrooms. At the end of the week, ask teachers to award Rock The Test! Blinkie Dog Tags to the “dancers” with the most personality.

Motivating Mascot

2008-11-14T07:49:00.001-08:00

If your school has a costume of its mascot, utilize it to boost enthusiasm for testing. Recruit an energetic member of your staff or PTA/PTO to play the mascot. Send this person into classrooms to meet with students. Have him or her distribute Score Your Best On The Test Sports Stickers-On-A-Roll and Score Your Best On The Test Educational Activities Books.

Tips To Go

2008-07-09T07:18:00.001-07:00

Send students home with information to help them and their parents prepare for testing. Two weeks before testing begins, have teachers give students “Believe, Achieve, And Succeed At Test Time” Goody Bags with “10 Ways To Help Your Child Do Better On Tests” Glancers in them.

Plenty Of Rest

2008-07-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

A good night’s sleep is essential when it comes to doing well on a test. Have fun emphasizing this prior to test-taking week by having Pajama Day. Let students wear their pajamas to school and encourage teachers and staff to do so as well. On the morning announcements, stress the importance of getting at least six hours of sleep each night and eating a healthy breakfast. Tell students that if they wore pajamas they can stop by your office to receive a “Do Your Best On The ______” Dog Tag . ( It allows for an imprint of a specific test!) or a “Learn It, Know It, Show It” Temporary Tattoo.

Meaningful Meal

2008-07-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Involve non-teaching staff in helping students gain confidence during test time. The week before testing begins, give cafeteria workers “Do Your Best On The ______ ” Water Bottles. ( It allows for an imprint of a specific test!). On a designated day, as students go through the lunch line, have cafeteria workers ask them if they’ll be taking the test next week. Each student who responds “yes” gets a water bottle on his or her tray.

On The Right Path

2008-07-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Get students excited about test taking by holding a parade! Ask each classroom to come up with its own test-taking tip or motivational phrase to put on a banner or sign. Provide teachers with enough “Learn It, Know It, Show It” Highlighters for every student to use when creating signage for the event. Before testing begins, have the children march through the halls with their creations and then into a gymnasium or auditorium that’s decorated with “Do Your Best On Your Test!” Test-Taking Balloons. At the end of the parade, give a short inspirational speech before teachers and students return to their classrooms.

Extra Activity

2008-07-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Exercise is one of the healthiest ways to relieve stress. Take advantage of this fact by allowing students time to play sports inside or outside on test days. Coordinate activity schedules for classrooms that are taking tests to make sure that students are allotted at least 30 minutes of exercise. Provide teachers with “Score Your Best On The Test” Key Tags and “Score Your Best On The Test” Mini Basketballs to give to students.

Put It In Writing

2008-07-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Children are often more apt to listen to their peers than to adults. Therefore, create your own group of student motivational speakers. Two weeks before test-taking time, have interested students write and submit a short essay about why it’s important for them to do their best on tests. Hang “Do Your Best On Your Test!” Banners throughout your school. Set a deadline for entries and give a “Be A S.M.A.R.T. Cookie!” Cookie Pack to each student who turns in an essay. Select a winner for each day testing takes place. Have the winning essay writers read their entries on the morning announcements.

Bring In The Reinforcements

2008-07-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

Some messages bear repeating; ones that can improve test scores definitely do. At least a month in advance, hold a special luncheon for teachers to discuss test-preparation strategies. Distribute “Believe, Achieve, And Succeed At Test Time” DVD Classroom Packs, which include a DVD, 25 Educational Activities Books, and 25 Pencils. Pack also includes an Instruction Sheet just for teachers and class leaders. Teachers can present pencils to students to do the activities and then use the DVD interactively with the book. The DVD can also be used alone as a refresher course.

Daily Incentive

2008-07-01T06:27:00.001-07:00

The thought of getting a reward is often enough to prompt youngsters to take action. So offer students the opportunity to win a prize at the end of each day’s testing. For every day a student attends school to take tests, put a raffle ticket with his or her name in a drawing. At the end of each day, draw 10 names and give winners a “Attitude Is Everything At Test Time” Silicone Bracelet or a “Believe, Achieve, And Succeed” Silicone Bracelet With Card.

Get Ready, Get Set...

2008-06-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Preparation is key to ensuring test success. With this in mind, distribute posters from Test-Taking Tips Poster Sets to teachers throughout your school. Ask them to hang the posters up in classrooms and go over the tips with students. Also pass out a pack of “20 Terms Every Test Taker Should Know” Bookmarks to every teacher whose class will be taking a test.

Take A Breather

2008-06-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

Relaxation is key when it comes to doing well on tests. Invite stress-reduction experts (yoga instructors, aromatherapists, etc.) to visit your school the week before testing begins. Have them practice deep-breathing exercises or any other appropriate methods of stress relief with students. If it’s not possible to have people come into the school, simply have teachers instruct children in ways to stay calm. Have teachers hand out “Don’t Sweat The Test…Just Do Your Best” Heat-Sensitive Pencils or “Relax and Do Your Best On The Test” Bookmarks to remind students to relax.