My Trick For Getting Done with End of Year Testing

Reading alone with 25 children takes a TON of time. Especially when you have students that you need to read with multiple times because they either need to go up or down levels based off their fluency or comprehension. 

It is really hard as an educator to find the time to do all this within the span of a few weeks. 

I am very thankful that as a third grade teacher, most of my students do have the ability to be independent if I am reading with students, so you may need to tweak this depending on the level of learners (or needs) your class has.

My biggest flex this year has been implementing my “don’t bug me” ears. I am not kidding you when I say this is my favorite behavior management strategy I have. When I’m wearing these, my students know they are only to come and ask me a question if they are bleeding, going to vomit, or there is a celebrity at the door. Otherwise, they can problem solve their questions for the little bit I’m wearing them. These ears really help me put my focus on the student in front of me reading without being interrupted 8 times in the span of 5 minutes.

I also am a firm believer that coffee helps stay awake while I listen to the same stories over and over and over again while wanting to fall asleep so I always make sure to stop on my way to school on these big testing days.

Then here’s the kicker. If your students can handle it, plan a Read-A-Thon day. Students can bring blankets or a small pillow to read with throughout the day and just let them enjoy books while you DRA students independently. Again, depending on the type of learners you have in your class this day may need to be broken up a ton. You can read to students, partner reading, silently read, read on your iPad, read outside, listen to stories, etc. There are so many ways to get books in front of students while you are working one on one. 

Again, I have an amazing class this year and they could sit and read all day if I let them so they pretty much read all day! Other grade levels do it a little more sporadically, 20 minutes here and there throughout the day because they are younger and don’t have the stamina.

I read with almost my whole class today and have 90% of my testing done. The kids love these days just as much as I do! I even had one student at the end of the day complaining because he got halfway done with his book and wanted to keep reading! 

I’d love to know how you get all your testing done – comment below the tricks you have!