• Home
  • About Maureen
    • As Seen On
    • Contact Me
  • Reviews/PR Requests
  • Contact Me
  • Blogger Resources
  • Privacy Policy

Wisconsin Mommy

Resources and Reviews for Parents by a PR friendly mommy blogger and brand ambassador

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Wisconsin Doggy
  • Travel
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Technology
  • Beauty
  • Healthy Living
    • Wellness Wednesday
    • Gardening
  • Around Wisconsin
    • Field Trip Friday
  • Reviews
    • Entertainment
    • Around the Home
      • Home Decorating
      • Home Office
    • Car and Automotive Reviews
  • Recipes

Helping Students Prepare For and Succeed At State Testing

state test prep title

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Carson-Dellosa. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I’m going to be upfront here and admit that I am not a fan of standardized testing – neither as an educator or as a parent. As a teacher, it always pained me to see students stress out about the yearly tests they were given and not do well because the test asked questions in ways they might not be familiar with. As a parent, I would definitely prefer to see my child spend time interacting in the classroom over sitting and taking hours of standardized tests.

However, not being a fan of standardized tests doesn’t make them go away. The fact is that this type of testing is a new reality in most classrooms and is being used to make some rather important decisions such as future class placements for students and school funding priorities for districts. Helping our students do well on these types of tests is probably a better use of time than lamenting how much we hate them.

One of the biggest challenges of preparing for these standardized tests is the difficulty students have responding to some of the types of questions that show up on the tests since they often are not used in their day to day school work. (Teachers often choose or modify curriculum so that it is more hands on and engaging for students since that is how they learn best.) Think of those typical analogy questions as an example.

Right about now, you are probably thinking to yourself

“Great, but how do I help my child prepare for standardized tests?”

The easiest and most effective way is to purchase classes or materials specifically designed for this sole purpose. Since these tests are measuring the students’ ability to take tests as much as it is their knowledge, it stands to reason that students who have become more familiar with the types of questions they will encounter on the test will have an advantage over the students who haven’t.

In addition to letting students experience sample test questions and formats, test prep materials also help students learn to budget their time during testing which can make a huge difference in whether the student has a chance to address all of the questions or not.  Test prep materials also help students avoid making typical test taking mistakes and helps to build their confidence as well as reduces their anxiety which helps cultivate success.

books for test prep

I was sent Carson-Dellosa and Spectrum Test Prep and Practice books for fourth grade and was very impressed. I recommend using a program like this over taking a test-prep class for a few reasons. First is the cost. Test prep classes can be very costly! Secondly, having an at-home program allows you to fit in test prep at your own convenience. I know our schedule is already crazy between sports practices and games, cub scouts, and other activities. I love being able to squeeze in a few minutes of practice when we have the time and not being tied to a scheduled class. Lastly, you can control the pace and content of the review. If you find that your child is whipping through the reading comprehension with ease but struggles with the written expression portion, you can adjust your review accordingly.

standardized test prep

 

The Carson-Dellosa and Spectrum Test Prep and Practice books are grade specific and come with access to additional state specific resources. The Test Prep book gives test tips and strategies for each type of question on the test. It’s very much like having a coach whispering in your ear, giving you hints on the best way to proceed. Once the student has the basics down, they can move onto the Test Practice book which gives them the experience of handling the test questions with no help. The book comes with an answer key so parents do not have to second guess what the answer might be. All of the tests in the Test Practice book are reproducible so that tests can be taken more than once for additional practice.

I encourage you to learn as much as you can about the tests that are given in your child’s school. Find out which tests are administered and how the results are used. Give your child an edge by helping them get familiar with the test questions and structure before the test is given at school. You can connect with Carson-Dellosa on their website, Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Comments | Be the first!

« How to Choose the Right Running Shoes for Your Child
Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats Recipe »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Maureen Fitzgerald of Wisconsin Mommy

Maureen Fitzgerald is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin influencer, brand enthusiast and strategist. She helps brands reach more potential customers through targeted consultation sessions, press coverage, product reviews and campaigns both at WisconsinMommy.com and by leveraging her blogger network. You can also see Maureen hamming it up on her YouTube channel at WisconsinMommy.tv. READ MORE...
All links on this site may be affiliate links and should be considered as such. WisconsinMommy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com as well as other affiliate programs. The cost to you remains the same, but I make a very small commission off of your purchase. Thanks for supporting WisconsinMommy!

gardening information

home improvement ideas

easy recipes

There….I Said It.

boy holding iphone over ixpand charger

The Easiest Way To Charge and Backup Your Phone

Extend the Life of Your Mac

Five Reasons Why I Love the Amazon Echo Show

Copyright © 2023 · Wisconsin Mommy ✺ All Rights Reserved