Encourage your student during this year’s standardized testing with these free test motivation printables!
It’s that time of year again, when students all over the country will be sitting down to show what they know on the state tests. I know as a parent I feel overwhelmed for my kids who have to sit through hours of testing, so I can only imagine how he must feel actually having to do it!
My hope for my child is that this is a small blip on his elementary school experience. We know that testing isn’t going away, so it’s my job as his parent to encourage him and support him through the 6 days of testing.
Our school system has broken down the standardized testing to about 90 minutes or less per day.
I know teachers are working hard to prepare and encourage our kids at school. And believe it or not there are a lot of things we can do to support our kids at home as parents!
How can I help my child with standardized testing?
1. Talk about testing expectations.
Discuss with your child the purpose of the test...to find out what they have learned all year long! Then set expectations that your child give their best effort, stay focused, and work hard. Testing days can feel really long for both kids and adults. Let your child know that you expect them to pay attention and do their best.
2. Meet with the teacher.
Set up a meeting with the teacher to find out ways you can help prepare your child for the test at home. Your teacher can share test taking strategies that you can reinforce at home on homework, subject areas that need extra help, and other tools that are useful for preparing for the standardized test.
3. Clarify accommodations.
Does your child receive special education services? Students with an IEP or 504 Plan have testing accommodations outlined. Make sure you know what the accommodations are and check to see that the school has a plan to implement them. Then help your child understand the accommodations, whether it is extra time on the test or moving to another classroom to take the test. Preparing your child for accommodations will help them feel more comfortable and confident on test day.
4. Share test taking strategies.
These are a few strategies that kids can use while taking a standardized test. Skip questions that you don't know the answer, then after you've finished the test go back and work through those questions. After you've finished the test, use your time to go through and make sure you answered all the questions. Read the directions carefully when you start the test. Make sure you bubbled in all your answers clearly.
5. Teach your child ways to stay calm.
Testing days can cause anxiety for kids. These days are structured different from their normal routine. The tests are timed. There is more security involved on standardized testing day. Many things make testing days feel like a big deal. Help you child stay calm on these big days by teaching them to breathe deeply, stretch, and stay positive.
6. Get plenty of rest.
By the time testing comes around, it's the end of school and routines are starting to fall apart a little bit. We get tired and a little bit lazy, but during test week it's time to revamp your routine and stick to it! Make sure your child is getting to bed on time and waking up at a regular time. A good nights rest is helpful for feeling refreshed in the morning and being alert during testing.
7. Create a reward for the end of testing.
Create a reward that your child can look forward to at the end of testing. Maybe it's a play date with a friend, a trip to the arcade, or an ice cream party to celebrate the end of testing! Let your student help you come up with the reward so they will be more invested in reaching the reward.
8. Set goals for test day.
Help your child pick 2 to 3 goals that they can have for each test day. This could be finishing the test on time, answering all the questions, listening to all the instructions, staying focused during the test, or other goals that will help your child do their best! Talk to your child each day of testing to see if they met their goals. Discuss how they can work to reach them again the next test day. Also talk about what they need to change for goals they didn't complete.
9. Feed them a good breakfast.
Eating a good breakfast is a great way to get the day started! Kids need fuel so that they can stay focused on the test.
10. Stay positive about the test!
Help your kids stay positive about taking the test! Encouragement cards are a great way to cheer for them on test day. Hang encouragement cards on the bathroom mirror, stick them in their lunch box, or stash one in their backpack. You can grab our fun encouragement cards for standardized testing below!
Test Motivation for Elementary Students
