5-Minute Film Festival: Beat Standardized Test Stress!
A playlist of videos about standardized tests.
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While we here at Edutopia believe firmly in the idea of authentic comprehensive assessment, high-stakes standardized tests are a reality most teachers must deal with. Any educator will tell you that accountability is critical to a good system of teaching and learning, but most teachers I know dread state test time. To give you a break from the stress of the tests, I've pulled together a few videos on the lighter side of testing -- a few protest songs, a few silly parodies, and a few schools that turn test-time into an opportunity to get creative.
Bubble-Sheet Blues
Watch the first video below, or watch the whole playlist on YouTube.
More Ways to Defuse the Stress of Test-taking Time
Frankly, there's not too much available when one does a Google search for "test prep" and "fun", but I did manage to dig up a few tidbits to share. I found a few great pinboards on the testing theme from Pinterest users Heather Whetham, Danielle Smith, and Janice Edgar, among others. From there, I found a excellent list called "State Testing: Ideas to Take the Stress Away" from the blog Wise Guys Teaching Resources. Third-grade teacher Suzy Brooks wrote a blog post with tips for parents to help kids be prepared for test-taking time, and the tips are useful year-round. Scholastic published a solid article, "Five Ways to Make Standardized Test Prep Engaging." The National Education Assocation offers a guide on how to relax test-stressed kids. Wherever you are in the test-taking process, I hope it goes smoothly and quickly so you can get back to the work of teaching!