It may not be a popular opinion, but standardized tests play an important role in measuring growth for students, informing instruction for teachers, and guiding decisions for schools and districts. But the testing season and necessary test prep can, admittedly, be tough on our students! Hours of sitting in front of a computer and staying focused on a test can take a toll, even on our most motivated and eager students. As teachers, we know the importance of our students doing their best, but we must balance that hard work with rest and opportunities to recharge, too. We’ve focused a lot on test-taking tips and strategies in previous posts, so this post will be packed with practical strategies to support your students during test days to boost their confidence and help them recover with engaging, low-stress activities after they put their test-taking pencils down! 

Setting the Stage for Success

Helping your students feel confident and ready for the testing season starts well before the actual assessments. In addition to covering (and reviewing!) essential standards, I make sure to cover test-taking tips and strategies like the importance of pacing, reading each question carefully, skipping difficult questions, etc. Visit this post for more pre-testing tips!

Jessica V. from our Free Inspired in Upper Elementary Facebook group said, “We make each week a theme week when reviewing so all the things were read or more engaging. Each day is a game from an obstacle course outside, collecting special items with questions, or even escape rooms. We give prizes that match our themes.”

Once students have been prepared we focus on the less academic aspects of testing season, like having a positive mindset and maintaining a supportive classroom environment. Standardized testing often feels like an all-or-nothing experience, but it’s important to help our students see the value in their effort, not just the outcomes. This could look like praising students for staying focused and using phrases like, “I’m proud of how hard you’re trying” between sessions.

We also review growth mindset with these activities. The journal includes four pages of introductory content explaining key concepts like brain research, cultivating a growth mindset, and understanding the difference between fixed and growth mindsets. Then, students explore 10 inspiring stories through five paired passages (one fiction and one nonfiction per set) about overcoming challenges with perseverance. Each passage comes with opportunities for thoughtful annotation and reflective written responses, helping students connect the lessons to their own lives. 

Grab the beautiful picture book The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires (Amazon affiliate link) and pair it with Moving Mountains for the perfect SEL literacy resource. This resource includes EVERYTHING you need to implement growth mindset lessons that are perfect for the testing season. Just grab a copy of the book (you can also find fun read-aloud versions on YouTube), and you’ll be set to go!

Finally, we create encouraging decor. We’re required to cover any anchor charts and reference posters on our walls, so I have students illustrate positive mindset banners to hang over them. Our younger students who aren’t in testing grades yet have also helped by drawing pictures and writing positive messages on happy faces to line the hallways. Sometimes, our teachers order matching t-shirts with positive quotes each day, and I’ve even heard of a school receiving a grant for all students to wear the same shirt! 

I created this Amazon storefront (affiliate link) with lots of ideas to make test prep more engaging!

Motivation During Testing

Keeping students motivated during long testing days is essential for helping them give their best effort. While I’m not big on extrinsic rewards, a little extra encouragement can go a long way this time of year! 

Consider setting up classroom, grade-level, or even schoolwide incentives tied to effort, mindset, or even attendance. This gives students something to look forward to once the assessment window closes! A simple movie party or themed spirit day can do the trick! One year, each teacher in our grade planned a twenty-minute activity, and students rotated through each room, which was a hit! This post has more ideas for schoolwide incentives. 

You can also incorporate mini morale boosters between sessions. Testing can be mentally draining, so giving your students opportunities to refresh between sessions makes a big difference. Here are some ideas:

• Brain Breaks: short, simple, calm activities and videos
• Gentle Stretches: a few yoga poses or videos can release tension and get blood flowing
• Jokes or Riddles: a silly knock-knock joke or riddle can keep things lighthearted
• Read Alouds: try a chapter from your current book, a quick picture book, or even inspiring stories. Visit this post if you need recommendations!
• Pep Talks: use this time to remind students that they’re capable and ready for the test and you’re proud of their effort
• Healthy Snacks: fruit, crackers, pretzels, granola bars, etc. can work wonders for lifting moods between sessions. I encouraged students to bring a healthy snack each day and had parents donate extras when possible. 

Recharging After Testing

While test-taking tips are important, so is recharging. After the intense focus required for testing each day (usually in the morning), I like to use the afternoon for activities that help students decompress with low-stress, engaging options. I offer a range of choices so each student can find a preferred way to wind down. Here are some options:

Encourage Creativity: Tests aren’t known for valuing creativity or expressions, so I always offer open-ended options. An art station with supplies for drawing or crafting, Lego, journaling, or creative story prompts can be the perfect outlet.

Early Finisher Activities: I always have early finisher activities ready, and these afternoons are the perfect time to pull them out! This bundle includes options for literacy, math, and critical thinking skills. The creative A-Z task cards are always a hit! 

Group Work: Because students have been doing independent work all morning, I like to provide group work options in the afternoon. STEM challenges, logic puzzles, Topple Blocks, etc. are all great choices!

Physical Movement: Physical activity is another way to release pent-up energy! Try brain break videos or dance parties to get everyone up and moving!

Take It Outdoors: If weather permits, head outside! Plan a few relay races, a playground scavenger hunt, or even journaling in the sun. Fresh air and a change of scenery can both go a long way toward resetting for the next day.

Whichever activities you choose, offering students choice can make all the difference. Just like adults, students have different preferences for quiet relaxation or energetic release! Working together with your grade level team when possible makes it easier for students to complete different activities.

Engaging Academics

Once your testing sessions are finished and students have recharged, you can get back to academics. Afternoons are the perfect time to mix in engaging activities that reinforce key skills students may still encounter on future testing days. I try to balance subject areas during this time, too. For example, if students completed heavy math tests in the morning we focus on literacy in the afternoon.

Here are some fun options!

Math Ideas

Elapsed Time Amazing Race: This FREE gameshow-themed activity reviews multi-step elapsed time problems. Students will visit every single continent with a multi-step problem they have to solve in order to move on.

Elapsed Time Topple Blocks: This Jenga-style game is always a hit. Students stack colorful blocks after answering math questions to unlock their turn.

Test Prep Passport: Students get a passport of tasks they have to complete for a variety of different topics. I love this because you can totally differentiate it. I usually end up with multiple different passports because students have different needs. You can grab the FREE, mostly editable passport in this post. 

Task Card Game Show: This Jeopardy-style pocket chart game is another fun review option.

Reading Ideas

You can practice comprehension skills with interactive practice using this quick comprehension review activity. I copied the first page of each book and wrote 3-5 comprehension questions (both literal and inferential) about the first page. I taped them up all over the hall, and the kids walked around with clipboards answering the questions.

I also love using pictures to teach and review reading comprehension, language, and writing skills. Using Pictures to Teach is a well-loved, teacher-approved method that has become a staple in tens of thousands of classrooms across the globe. Each activity starts with a picture to analyze and includes a written passage portion that requires students to apply their skills to short reading passages.

Finally, figurative language is always a good time! This digital or printable flipbook helps students review the seven types of figurative language through the use of stories and images. On the left side of each section of the flipbook, students review the definition of the specific type of figurative language and complete a brief activity using pictures and sentences. On the right-hand side of each section, there is a carefully crafted story that uses each of the specific types of figurative language. Within the story, students must identify as many examples of the figurative language as possible… HERE IS THE REALLY FUN PART! All five of the stories go together to tell one long tale. Students should complete the entire resource over the course of several days.