How to encourage students before testing

Testing season is a stressful and overwhelming season at the end of the school year. It hard on students and teachers as well. You have reviewed, practiced, played review games, and probably so much more and you are ready to just get it over with. I know the feeling! This post is exactly what you need to get through testing season with your students and have a little fun to boost that motivation and encouragement to show what they know! Let’s be their cheerleaders and root for our students together!

6 ways to encourage students before testing

1. Pass out testing treats

Print encouraging testing tags to add with a yummy treat and simply attach them! That easy! I like to pass out cookies, fruit snacks, popcorn bags, smarties candies, donuts in the morning, a blow pop, trail mix, or cake pops. These are just a few ideas. There are so many different treats to choose from and a little touch with a cute encouraging testing tag. Place it on their desk at the beginning of the testing day and pump them up before beginning their test.

2. Write Letters to Your Students

Write a letter to your students and put it on their desk for them to read when they walk in. Writing a personalized letter to each students to a beautiful way to show how much you care and believe in them! You can use the Letters to Students on Test Day templates to write your letters. Another way to write a letter or note is to use an expo marker and write it on their desks, or even just using a sticky note. It’s the smallest things that can make such an impact on test day. Freebie here! Click on the image above or this link to take you to my shop.

3. Wear Motivational Tees

Another fun way to inspire and motivate students is to wear it! These fun teacher tees for testing are super cute. You can purchase the teacher tee or make it yourself using a Circuit. What you wear on test day can also make a statement. Teacher tees are easy and fun that always capture kids attention and what a better way to motivate students on test day with words like “You Got This,” “You Are More Than a Test Score, “Rock This Test.” Send students a positive message with your wardrobe!

4. Have a school wide or grade level Pep Rally

Organize a school or grade level pep rally with your staff and teachers. It could be a simple chant for students to motivate each other or you can go all out! In the past years my schools have had an exciting pep rally where students sit in the hallway and the upper grades testing walk through the halls and the students are cheering them on. Students create posters, chants, and songs. Students are lead to the gym and sit in groups. At the end of the pep rally the principal and teachers give a short message and sometimes even a surprise message for end of testing. I loved doing this the day before testing! It’s always nice to have administration involved and make such a personal message during this time of year. If your principal cannot make it, teachers are always perfect for getting students hyped and creative.

5. Have a Surprise Mystery Box

Surprise boxes are always fun and exciting to create! Your students will love the thrill of waiting for the end of the day of testing to open the box up for the surprise. Some ideas to out in the box are: treats, fun goodies (look for bulk or inexpensive items at dollar stores), silly string surprise spray when you open the box, bubbles, etc.

6. Watch Motivational Videos

Motivational videos are a fantastic way to get students hyped up before test day! It’s fun and easy to display some videos leading up to testing day. Below are a few videos suggestions. I love using these videos as a quick and easy way to motivate students.

★ A Pep talk from Kid President to You

★ Test Prep Inspirational Video

★ HAPPY Testing Motivational Video

★ Daily Testing Tips (This one is funny/silly, I think students in the younger grades will enjoy it)

I wish you are your students the best of luck during the testing season. I hope this blog post helped bring a little more excitement into the classroom as testing day gets closer and reviews are coming to an end.