Test Review
Test anxiety runs high when a test is approaching. I like to give a test review the day before the test. Most of the time students are surprised at how much information they have actually retained. Following up with words of encouragement helps as well.
Amy,
I feel instruction is a shared responsibility, my part and the students part. I always prepare a thorough exam review outline that is derived exactly from the test. When I review, I know I've covered everything that the student would be tested on. With that, I've done that part. It is now the students responsibility to take the resources I've provided and use them for their personal preparation. That's their part of the responsibility. On review day, I encourage and explain, but there comes a time where I have to step back and let my students demonstrate their understanding of the material.
Barry Westling
What if you do a test review a day before the test and you feel that the students are not prepared to take the exam, what should your next step be?
Aimee,
Study guides are a great resource. Supplementing the lesson with SG assignments often makes the learning expierence come alive with many "aha" moments.
Barry Westling
I like to use Study Guides to help students focus on the relevent materials.
Sarah,
Good thoughts. I think minimizing test anxiety can be accomplished by focusing on the material to be learned and tested on, and less about the test itself. Using terms like "assessment", "learning evaluation", or even "checking for understanding" can ease some angst for some students. A practive run, such as you suggest, is not a bad idea either.
Barry Westling
