HIGH STAKES TESTING: KEYS TO SUCCESS

	Strategies for testing success: • Engage students • Communicate with and involve parents • Practice and prepare for test-taking • De-stress and encourage students and teachers • Celebrate and recognize everyone's efforts
	Download a comprehensive list of tactics to implement these strategies. (PDF)

Ongoing student assessment is common practice at schools that have implemented the Beat the Odds principles. But even these schools can get the jitters around high stakes testing.

At Gilbert Junior High School, Principal Kevin Rainey meets the challenge head on, working year-round to make sure everyone is prepared for Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards, or the AIMS test.

The school is one of more than two dozen in the Phoenix area participating in the Beat the Odds School Partners program. Recently the group met to share tips and practices that have helped their schools succeed at high stakes testing.

Communicate Early and Often

The principals agree that it is vital that everyone knows what to expect and the role they should play to prepare for test day. This includes students, teachers, non-teaching staff and parents. They encourage schools to "talk AIMS" all school year long.

"You need to raise students’ general awareness of the importance of the AIMS test," commented Principal Rainey. "It isn’t just a test; it’s a grade for your school. It’s important that students know it impacts the school’s and the district’s image."

Practice Test Taking

October through April, students at Gilbert Junior High School do a daily warm-up for 15 minutes each week to get in practice for the AIMS test. The warm-up is limited to four or five questions that pertain to what the students are currently studying, including non-core subjects like music or athletics.

The questions are created by the school’s testing committee. The group consists of a representative from each core and non-core subject area.

The warm-ups focus on areas of difficulty that surfaced in the school’s Tungsten benchmark testing, such as math or reading comprehension. They also take into account the overall areas needing improvement at the six feeder schools that supply students to the junior high, based on the prior year’s test.

Evaluate the Test Environment

Where the test is taken also can have a significant impact on outcomes.

"Previously, we had three PE (physical education) classes in the cafeteria with 80 or 90 kids and three teachers, and 60 kids in band taking the test together," commented Principal Rainey. "Now we put those kids in one of the four core subject classrooms, so the teacher has four additional students taking the test.

"This change helped the students focus on the test, which helped student achievement rise," he said. "For three years, we were highly achieving and then we went to excelling."

Provide Emotional Support and Encouragement

Gilbert Junior High and other schools in the Beat the Odds School Partners program say positive reinforcement and emotional support are critical elements for success. Some schools allow students to have a photograph of their most supportive teacher on their desk during testing to encourage them. Others provide special snacks for students and teachers on test days.

Some parent groups make encouraging posters to place around the school or goody bags for each day of testing. They include special pencils, stickers and affirming notes that say "I know you can do it" and "I love you."

Pampering teachers during test week is also an effective strategy. One principal fixes breakfast for her staff the first day of testing to start the week off on the right note. Other options include having students from a local massage therapy school come in to give massages in the teacher lounge, to creating a decorative theme in the teacher lounge with special refreshments and treats.

Channeling the anxiety that surrounds high stakes testing is also helpful. During test week, Gilbert Junior High School students can go outside at lunchtime and beat on an old Dodge vehicle which was donated for this purpose. "It let’s them get some of their anxiety out, as well as reinforces our school’s message, ‘Don’t dodge the AIMS,’" the principal said.

Celebrate!

Once testing is over, it is important to thank everyone for their contributions. Principal Rainey grills hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone at a celebratory lunch. Entertainment is provided by a band that includes one of the school’s teachers. "It lets the kids know we appreciate them making the effort," he said.