Test Prep — ugh. (yes, period)

Gearing up for end-of-the-year testing

The former teacher in me and the former student in me still shudders a bit with the phrase “test prep.” In an ideal world, no such prep would be needed for standardized testing. The year’s work, whether as a teacher or a student, would culminate in proficient test scores across the board. Yet, we know standardized testing is not so seamless for a whole host of reasons. Even with the changes that Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, which aimed in part to make standardized testing less high-stakes, there is still a flurry of classroom “test prep” activity come April and May.

To help ease some of the anxiety and to further motivate all when it comes to test-taking, we have compiled some videos and downloadable resources for classrooms to use this spring. Learn some simple yoga moves from Olympian and Canadian skeleton racer, Mimi Rahneva, or create personalized motivational posters to take the place of classroom decor that needs to be removed during testing.

Discover a host of resources that you can share with your students, like our interactive video with Gold Medalist Andrea Proske on making healthy choices when it comes to eating and sleeping during testing (and beyond!) Plus, share resources to bolster the home-to-school connection, such as our healthy recipes. Encourage families to share their own favorite meals to create a classroom cookbook!

Keep your kids’ spirits high and their overall wellness in mind during testing — you all have got this! Share your personal mantra with us on Twitter @ClassroomChamps.

Simply sign up for a FREE Classroom Champions account to access these free resources — plus our daily Champion Check-In videos and reflection prompts — to bring a bit of social-emotional wellness into your classroom’s daily practices.