Top Test Taking Tips for Elementary Students

 

Top Test Taking Tips for Elementary Students

 

 

    

In my 4^th grade class, I taught all year long with that little nagging notion in the back of my head that at the end of the year, we will have to endure those standardized state tests.  But in a year’s time there is so much learning to be done and so many fun, appropriate ways to learn that we don’t really get down to outlining explicit test taking strategies until after the holidays. 

There are many effective test prep approaches but I have come up with the twelve tips that work best for my elementary students.  I have collected these tips in a PowerPoint (and now in Google Slides) here:

These are the tips included in the presentation and a brief explanation of each:

 

Tip #1 -  Read the title

It is not uncommon for a student to just begin reading the story without reading the title first.  Often, reading the title will give the reader their first clue as to the topic of the article or the main idea.   It will also be the catalyst to engage prior knowledge if the student recognizes the topic in the title.

 

Tip #2 – Scan the story

Before reading the story, students should look for how it is laid out.  Are there headings, bold words, illustrations, charts, tables, lists?  There can be good information here that readers can pass right by if they start reading the story first.

 

Tip #3 – Headings

If there are headings, they can help the reader know what the following section will be about.  They are also a great help when scanning the story for a particular answer.  The student doesn’t have to reread the whole article, just zero in on the section that may hold the answer.

 

Tip #4 – Bold Words

Often, in our standardized tests, there will be a single bold vocabulary word.  The test creators will more than likely ask a question about that word.  They will ask, “What does the word bold mean in paragraph 2?”  It is easier to locate a bold word when the student is scanning for the answer. 

 

Tip #5 – Illustrations

Most times, but not all, the article has an illustration or picture with a caption.  It is important not to ignore those.  There can be really helpful information in a caption or a picture that might help activate prior knowledge if the picture is of something the student is already knowledgeable about.

 

Tip #6 – Charts, tables, lists

Other things to look for are charts, tables, or lists.  Again, there is information the student may need to answer a question or they may need to complete an unfinished table with information.

 

Tip #7 – Read the questions before you read

Some students think this is a time waster and they just want to start reading.  It is so helpful to read the questions (not the answer choices) before reading.  If they have read a question and come across the answer as they read, they can highlight or underline that answer to go back quickly when it’s time to choose the correct answer.

 

Tip #8 – Read the story like it’s the most interesting thing you have read in a long time

This usually gets a laugh from the kiddos. But it’s true!  Attitude make a huge difference in doing your best on these tests.  When you introduce this tip, you can have some fun with it and get a laugh.  “Oh my gosh!  Mason  jars!  I’ve always wanted to know more about canning jars!” (in a very theatrical voice! haha!) By the way, I chose a rather boring topic because that seems to always be the case with the standardized tests – boring!

 

Tip #9 – Read the first question

The student should only read the question!  Then the student thinks about what the best answer could be before looking at the answer choices.

Tip #10 – Read the answer choices

Now the student reads the possible answers carefully and sees if their answer is listed. At this time, they can cross out any answers they KNOW are not correct.  Caution here:  I always have students that cross out the CORRECT answer because they did not read it carefully enough.

 

Tip #11 – Go back and scan the story

Now the students can go back into the story, look for their underlines or highlights or bold words just to verify that they have chosen the best answer.

 

Tip #12 – A word on vocabulary words

A vocabulary word question usually has four choices to substitute for the bold word.  “Which word would be best in place of the word bold in paragraph 2?”  I strongly suggest the student find that sentence, put EACH of the four answers into the sentence in place of the bold word to hear which one sounds best.

 

Bonus tip – If there is time, go back and reread the story and the questions and answers to make sure you have chosen correctly.

Often students will race through reading the article and answering the questions just to sit, reading their own book and wait for their classmates to finish.  I get it.  I’d rather read my novel than this boring nonfiction article but today we are taking a test and trying to do our very best.

 

Again, if you would like these tips to share with your class in an easy to project 14 page PowerPoint (or Google Slides), here is the link:

 

Included is also a printable checklist of the tips that students can use as they read.

Also included is the printable article on “The Mason Jar”.

And 11 printable multiple-choice questions to answer about the article.

If you have an additional test taking tip that you have found to be beneficial with your students, please leave a comment and share it!

 Adding the Doubles to 20

 

I have always found songs to be a great strategy for teaching math or ANY subject!  Learning songs work! I have used them in 1^st through 4^th grades!  They get stuck in the kiddos’ heads (and mine!)  and the more times they sing that song in their heads, the more practice they have mastering the topic.

 

Twenty years ago, I wrote a song for my first graders as they were learning to add their doubles.  This is a particularly fun math song using the familiar tune, ‘The Ants Go Marching’.  My first graders ADORED doing the actions that go with the song – particularly the serious face and refrain, “Doubles – No troubles!”

 

Let me demo the song and the actions for you with this short video.  The first part is the song. 

 The second part is an extension idea that really ramps up the learning.  The song is not sung in 1,2,3 order anymore but in random order of your mixed-up flashcards. This idea, with the mixed-up flashcards, can be a wonderful time filler for those 3-5 minutes you have to fill before lunch or before going home.

 

Feel free to use this doubles song and extension idea with your students!  I hope they love it as much as mine did!  Have them go home and teach it to their families!

 

If you like this fun math song and would like to have more materials to extend the learning, I have a product  in TPT with super cute, colorful ants to help you teach the song.  The first half of the download is a PowerPoint that helps you teach the song with colorful visuals.  For example, “1 + 1 is 2 you know, Hurrah! Hurrah!”

 

 The second half of the PowerPoint is a duplicate EXCEPT the sums have been omitted.  You still sing it the same way with your kiddos, just pause at the missing sum and they continue to sing and fill in the sum. For example,

“1 + 1 is  ___  you know, Hurrah! Hurrah!”

 

 Now available in Google Slides as well:

 

The file in TPT also includes a printable song lyrics sheet.

 

 

 

 

 A mini book featuring the adorable ants is also in the TPT file that the students can color, cut, and assemble.

 

 I also include the doubles flashcards.  I am sure you already have flashcards, but sometimes it's nice not to have to sort through your stack to find the right ones.  And, as was often my case, I was missing the 2 + 2 or the 9 + 9 card when I really needed them!

 

Also, if you are a member of Boom Learning, I have a set of Boom Cards that use the same cute and colorful ants to help students practice their double facts.  If you aren’t familiar with Boom Learning and Boom Cards, I recommend you check them out.  There are so many fun ways for kiddos to practice their learning with games! You can preview the ‘Adding the Doubles’ deck here:

 

 

 

Please leave me feedback with any questions about this activity or to tell me how it went!