Calm Down Strategies for Test Success

It is that time of year again. The dreaded testing season is upon us. Teachers, students, and parents all across the country are preparing for the big test along with the stress and anxiety that accompanies it. Our elementary school kiddos are especially vulnerable to test anxiety and need help learning calm down strategies that will lead to test-taking success.

Students hear us talk about testing; they know how much is at stake. Many students are much more anxious about the test than they may even realize. I think it is important to teach students calm down strategies they can use during testing if they find themselves feeling overwhelmed.

Classroom Lessons

 I like to give students calm down tools during classroom lessons. Going into each classroom once a month is a great way to teach a large number of students in a more efficient manner. I love being able to provide that tier one intervention to all students and directly teach social and coping skills that students may not get during their regular school day curriculum.

In third grade, as part of this month’s classroom lessons, we are focusing on test success and test day readiness. I have all students take a pretest before I come to their classroom. Having teachers collect this data ahead of time allows me to mass screen students and have an idea of who my at-risk students may be before I even enter their classroom.

I can prepare for and better identify those who may be struggling more than their peers and those who may benefit from a small group intervention.

Icebreaker Activity

I start my lesson by asking students how they feel about the upcoming FSA (our standardized test in Florida). We work as a group to make a big chart of all the emotions students feel about the FSA.

We then brainstorm ways we can cope with all those big emotions and what we might be able to do to ease the worry or concern. I tend to take advantage of this time to talk about what is to be expected on test day, as well as help to put student worry into perspective.

This brainstorming session also allows me to understand a bit better where my student’s heads are. I can use that information to help guide my lesson and make sure I am addressing their areas of need and concern.

Once we’ve thoroughly talked about what everyone is thinking and feeling about the FSA, we start talking about strategies.

Calm Down Strategies for Test Anxiety

We focus only on strategies that students can use to keep themselves calm leading up to FSA, as well as on the day of the test.

We go over each strategy one by one using these posters as visuals. I encourage all students to try each strategy from their seat and think about if they feel this strategy would work well for them.

Practice Using Calm Down Strategies

We discuss how each calm down strategy can help us to find test-taking success. I have students practice ways to use each strategy and share examples with each other of how they could quietly do each strategy from their desk. In addition, we think of ways we could use the strategies while we are taking a test if we start to feel overwhelmed. I like empowering students to take control of their emotions and control of their own thoughts in a way that calms them.

After we review each of the strategies, we complete this fun foldable together!

Test Anxiety/Calm Down Strategies Craftivity

I like to double side print the foldable on colorful paper to help keep students engaged and excited. This is also a good way to teach students the whole, “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit” concept when they want to switch colors or get upset over the color I gave them. It is a cool way to throw some social skills into the lesson.

These foldable are really easy to make. All students get one, which they then fold in half, open back up and then cut on the dotted lines.

At the end of the lesson, students have a really fun take away that they can refer back to when they are feeling overwhelmed and need a reminder of strategies to help them calm down.

How do you teach students to keep calm on test day?

Leave your comments and ideas below. ↓

Check out how I use this foldable to set my students up for test-success by clicking here!

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