Show them the data and set individual goals
Ownership is a huge part of success. Have each student examine their previous scores, setting goals that they agree to reach for. Break things down into concrete chunks. If students see that only one or two more questions answered correctly might have put them in a higher category, they can set tangible goals in the form of an informal contract, a bar graph, or a reflection paragraph. Remember that “Do better next time” can’t be achieved without...
Read MoreStudy your data and model how to use it formatively
Teachers, do not be scared to analyze your own data. Use it to make prepping more efficient. Read and understand the data about your prior and current students. Determine your lessons not on what you have not yet taught, but rather on what the data shows they do not understand. This style of teaching is known as date driven instruction. Combine this with the knowledge of what you know you need to work on and focus on those weaknesses. Spend time on what your students do not get and what might not come naturally for you—not on what they have already achieved or what you have already covered with...
Read MoreTest Prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming: Use technology in a targeted way
Testing for the ACT and SAT are just around the corner. Schools nationwide are planning for additional meetings, sending out automated voice messages to families that reminds students to “get some sleep” and in-class test prep. Test prep generally takes the form of practice questions, daily drills and putting a pause on regular curriculum to pass around packets of daily test questions. While educators typically spend a great deal of time prepping for standardized exams, there are ways to tackle test prep without sacrificing classroom time. Use technology in a targeted way Some students are given the opportunity to use a tool that read the text to them. Teach students to look for this tool on different assignments before they even sit for a test. Teach them the typical icons to look for that represent this function. Develop lessons that ask students to access Read&Write for Chrome so that they can trigger documents to be read to them. Use a Variety of Tools: Develop lessons that ask students to digitally highlight phrases or select terms and move them to other areas of a document. If students do not have an ease in using these kinds of tools in class, they will it when they take a test. Create Interactive Files for Students: Online tests are documents with hyperlinks. They include text to read, videos to watch, and images to view, and they ask students to click on, write about, drag, etc. Develop some assignments that adopt this kind of multimedia information delivery system....
Read MoreFinal considerations for retaking the ACT
Students, while retaking the ACT can lead to a score increase for many, you should also consider the cost of taking the exams and what multiple scores mean to college admission officers. The ACT costs $46 and $62.50 with the writing portion. Costs can add up if you repeatedly take the test but keep in mind, the ACT offers fee waivers to low-income family students. Once you complete the exam and send your score to colleges, many schools may subscore your results. Subscoring is a process in which schools take the best scores from each section if you have taken the exam multiple times. Keep in mind, some schools may not subscore, which may be problematic if your second test score drops. For example, if you received a 25 composite score on the first exam and a 20 on the second, that may raise some questions with the admission officers. Consider the potential for good and bad outcomes that come from taking the ACT multiple times. Students may find drawbacks of having to spend more time, money and effort into the process of test preparation but the strong possibility of raising your score will be worth...
Read MoreTackle the ACT a second time: Watch the clock
It’s not uncommon to skip some questions while taking a standardized exam. A score report can show you where you skipped questions, possibly revealing that you ran out of time. First-time test takers are not always aware of how quickly the exam moves and so they need to develop a strategy for timing and pacing. The ACT has more questions per minute than the SAT. The SAT has a grammar section which is 44 questions in 35 minutes. Whereas, the ACT English section has 75 questions in 45 minutes. SciMath Education’s mock test program administers practice tests in timed environments to improve college applicants time management for test...
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