Test Anxiety Revisited: Can you help me now?

Fauquier County Public Schools

Mary K. Wills

Division Director of Testing

Deb Anderson

Testing Program Specialist

Take a deep breath. Count to three. Exhale. Take a deep breath. Count to 4. Exhale.

RELAX

Anxiety Travels

Heartbeats transfer anxiety Other Causes

Too may changes Too much talk about a test

SimulationsPractice and Reflect

TEACHER BEHAVIOR

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

SimulationsPractice and Reflect

QUESTION FORMAT

ANSWER RESPONSES

MATERIALS TEST RELATED

TEST SETTING

SimulationsPractice and Reflect

ANSWERING STUDENT QUESTIONS

MONITORING DURING TESTING

USE ACCOMMODATIONS WHEN APPLICABLE

SimulationsPractice and Reflect

WAIT TIME OVER TIME PROCTORS ANSWER DOCUMENTS TEST NAV TRANSMITTING SECURE

MATERIALS

Teacher needs to . . .

Predict areas that will cause trouble Plan for support for these areas Practice ways to empower learners

to be successful Reflect Discuss Practice

Review Using Simulations

Weekly Review an Environmental Issue Reflect and Discuss Review a Skill or Concept Reflect and Discuss

Environmental Issues

Teacher Behaviors – Examiner’s Role

Student Behaviors – Test Taker’s Role

Testing Lab or Classroom Islands

Teacher is an Examiner

Reads directions Monitors students before testing Does not offer prompts or clues-they

are quiet Monitors students during testing Walks around Talks to the group

Celebrations of Learning

Students are independent workers They prompt themselves They preview charts and texts They solve problems and check

solutions They work each question form the top

down

Give Yourself Positive Messages

I will do the best I can.

I am capable of doing well.

I know the material. I can do it. I am prepared. I am successful. I am smart (personal

message)

Read and Listen to the Directions with an Open Mind

Block out other thoughts.

Concentrate on voice or words.

If You Get Stuck - Don’t Panic!!

Go back to your relaxation

exercises.

Give yourself positive

messages.

Use the TOP DOWN strategy

Reword the questions to

help you understand.

Teach the test format as a genre.

Teach the test environment and

culture.

Teach parents and students about

your testing program.

Tips for TeachersPrep for Tests

Identifying the Challenges

Manipulating data

Text split by graphics

Dual use of letters

Extraneous information in a

passage

Reading a numbered sentence passage

Question not related to the passage Choosing the best answer out of

sensible alternatives (what is correct for the passage)

Interpreting graphics, illustrations, time, lines or diagrams.

Language of test questions

Reading and interpreting directions

Difficult questions

CELEBRATE

Over and Over Again !!!