It seems like we are always assessing our students. Depending on what grade you teach you might be preparing your students for a statewide or national assessment. Many students experience test anxiety and this can be very stressful for them. Today we are spotlighting a book all about taking a test. The most important lesson the characters learn in this book is to relax when taking a test! This is a great read aloud to get your students ready for an assessment. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
It is the end of the school year and Mrs. Hartwell and her students are back! It is time for them to show what they learned during the school year by taking the Big Test. Mrs. Hartwell spends the week getting them ready for the test. They practice sitting quietly, working alone, and filling in bubbles. As the week goes on, the students begin to get nervous. Many of them need to go to the nurse because they are not feeling well. When Mrs. Hartwell realizes how her students are feeling about the test, she realizes she must teach them one last lesson.
As the class heads to the library, the students are clearly nervous. When Mrs. Hartwell opens the door she explains the last part of preparing for a test is to relax and stop worrying! She has designed a day of relaxation where students can play games, taste test snacks, and make their own thinking caps! They are now ready to take the Big Test.
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Here are some different ways you can use The Big Test in your own classroom.
- Practice comparing and contrasting two different books, The Big Test and First Day Jitters. Both books are by the same author and have the popular character Mrs. Hartwell.
- Have students make their own connections to the students in this book and their feelings towards test taking.
- Encourage students to write their own how-to books about test taking and relaxing.
- Ask students their opinion on taking tests, make sure they include reasons for their opinions!
- Teach a mini lesson on synonyms using examples from the book.
- Review capitalization and the types of words that must be capitalized.
- Teach students strategies for managing stress and anxiety when it comes to test taking.
- Review the expectations for test taking and how it is important for students to give their best effort.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
All you’ll need to do is select the student pages you want to use and print!
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
- Field Trip Fiasco by Julie Danneberg
- Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
