Low-Prep Testing Strategies That Save Your Sanity

Testing season doesn't mean high stress for you, too. These low-lift strategies are classroom-ready and designed to maximize review and calm nerves, with minimal prep.

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• 3-2-1 Review - Use this as a warm-up or cool-down.
  • 3 things I learned today
  • 2 questions I still have
  • 1 thing I want to revisit tomorrow
    
• Turn & Teach - After introducing a concept, have students teach it to a peer in 60 seconds. Teaching = Mastery.
• Color-Coded Confidence - Use sticky notes or colored cards (red = confused, yellow = need a little help, green = got it!) for any practice problem, passage, or review set. You'll instantly see who needs reteaching and who’s ready to move.
• "This or That" Review Game - Post two answers or concepts on opposite sides of the room (ex, “Simile” vs “Metaphor”). Read a sentence aloud, and students walk to the side that matches. Easy movement + built-in formative assessment.
• Scaffolded Text Detective - Give students a short passage with missing words or bold key terms. Ask:
  • What clue helped you choose that word?
  • What part of the sentence supports your answer?
• Sentence Starters - When writing practice feels daunting, give them:
  • "One important theme is..."
  • "The character's actions suggest..."
  • The evidence that supports this is..."