Fall is still up in the air in terms of how this pandemic is going, but itโs pretty safe to say that at least some or all of the classroom learning will be done online. While many areas have been pretty flexible what online lessons can look like for the students, itโs important to keep in mind that testing is going to happen. Standards and academic language will once again be presented to your class, and you need to make sure theyโre ready for it. Here are tips for transitioning back into a testing classroom.
You canโt just wait to cram everything in at the end
Just throwing up a lesson for your students now might sound like an easy way to get by until we are back in the classroom, but this will end up hurting your students in the long run. Not preparing them for test-taking will make it that much harder for them when the time finally comes. You canโt just cram everything in at the end, and you need to space out these lessons now to allow ample time for your students to learn the information.
There will be a time when testing is required
You may not have classroom proctors, and teaching evaluations like you usually do around this time of year, but that doesnโt mean that those moments wonโt come. Your students will eventually have to sit in a classroom and take a test. For some students, this is going to be a hard transition since theyโve spent so much time online doing distance learning. Preparing your students to not only take tests but also prepare them for classroom testing will help you and your students as well.
Donโt let your students get behind
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and this is true when it comes to testing. You donโt want your students to fall behind or come into their next year unprepared for the material that theyโre now faced with. You donโt have to have the same amount of quizzes and tests as you once did, but you need to confirm that your students understand the material theyโve learned.
Encourage practice tests and even online assessments
Just because you canโt hand your students a physical test doesnโt mean you canโt test them! Practice tests without a huge weight on their overall final grades. This will encourage them to take the tests honestly and give you some insight into whether or not your lesson plans are working. Assessing their knowledge is important, and ensuring you have systems in place to prevent cheating is also important. You may need to consider getting parents involved if you are worried about your students not taking the tests seriously.
It may have been a while since we spent our last few weeks of school standing by while our students take tests, but that doesnโt mean that we shouldnโt prepare for it now! Having these tips handy can help make the transition back into a testing environment easier and set your class up for success in the fall.
