Today's Lesson: Making Test Prep Lessons More Effective

With the big state tests coming up, a lot of tutors, teachers, and students wonder how to make test prep lessons more effective.

Here are some tips:

• Give immediate feedback. If your students are taking a practice test, give feedback on all the questions they got wrong as soon as possible. Give them a list of topics they need to work on.
• Focus on subject-specific vocabulary.
• Take each concept individually. If you are working on science, try focusing on ecology one day and biology the next. If you are doing math, try focusing on geometry one day and algebra the next.
• Occasionally give students practice tests to do independently to gauge what topics you need to focus on further. This will serve a dual purpose of giving students a sense of joy and pride as they see themselves improving from month to month.
• Try to make your lessons fun. If you can, incorporate interactives. This will get harder as test day approaches, but try anyway.
• Keep in mind that learning is more than just taking a test. Some bright students simply don't perform well on high-pressure tests, but that doesn't invalidate what they've learnt. 
• Get your students used to taking tests before the big day. This will help them get used to the format and the directions. 
• Watch your students while they take the test. You may be able to spot where they lose time or get distracted so that you can tell them how to optimize their time and stay focused on the material. 
• Ask for input from your students themselves. Often, older students will tell you exactly what they think they need help with. Younger or shyer students may not. 
• Laugh a little. Test prep can get boring fast, so laughing at a funny name or oddly phrased question is a great way to connect with your students and lighten the all too often serious mood that accompanies high-stress tests.