Need to keep your fast finishers busy while others are still working on testing? Nothing is worse than that in between times when you’re trying to keep students quiet and preserve the test environment!
Word Searches Using Class Names
Students always get excited when they see their names in print. Creating a custom word search using your class list of names is a quick and easy way to keep your students entertained. Students can quietly search for names while staying engaged in the task, keeping their minds active without disturbing others.
Best of all there are free websites that allow you to make a word search as fast as you can type. I like the Word Search Maker by The Teacher’s Corner. It’s free and allows you to choose many different grid styles as well as changing the word placement. Type your class names up and print several styles of puzzles to use at different times of the year!
Color by Number or Mandala Coloring
If your students are used to them, have some copies of a color by number math or reading worksheet they can work on when they finish. If you haven’t done them with your class before, I would not recommend starting it when trying to test. You will be answering a lot of questions from your students as they try to figure out what to do.
Instead, I recommend a mandala-style coloring page. My local Dollar Tree often has coloring books you could use to create copies from at a low cost. A quick Google search will also provide free options for printing a coloring page. The more intricate the design, the longer your students will stay engaged in coloring (hopefully quietly). My students always loved a chance to color as during regular weeks we didn’t have free time to spend on it.
Creative Writing Time
Students that love to write will enjoy getting the opportunity to free write. Prior to testing I would recommend going over the options on what they can write (a letter to a friend, a story, finishing any previous stories they are working on).
If you don’t already, provide students with a list of words or a chunk chart. Having these tools available will cut down on the “how do I spell” questions that might interrupt your test taking students. Plan a lesson or two before state testing that goes over how to use these tools so your students can work independently on test days.
Puzzle Corner
Get a puzzle with 1000 or more pieces and place it in a corner of the room. Students can work quietly on the puzzle when they are finished. If students get loud, they sit down at their seats and choose another activity.
I am willing to bet that some of your students haven’t done a puzzle before or haven’t worked on a large puzzle. Taking the time to have students work on a puzzle can provide a lot of great benefits including improved memory, attention to detail, problem solving skills, spatial ability, and stress reduction.
Independent or Silent Reading
Foster a love for reading by providing students with the opportunity for independent silent reading. Allow them to choose books that interest them and match their reading level. Afterward, students can take Accelerated Reader (AR) or Reading Counts quizzes to assess comprehension and earn points.
Silent reading is my go-to whenever students finish a test. They love the chance to gain points for their Reading Counts as well.
Choice Board
Having a choice board ready for when you are testing is a great way for students to pick something they want to do when finished with testing. Just make sure that the activities on your choice board are ones your class is familiar with and know how to do to minimize questions during test time.
Students can treat the choice board like a Bingo game and cross off activities when they choose them. With luck, they can continue the same board if testing multiple days and maybe you can offer a small incentive for their finished boards. An extra 10 minutes of recess or free time on the computers are always a big hit and will cost nothing to fulfill.
Audio Books
If you follow the Daily 5, one of the choices students should be doing daily is listening to reading. While most of us no longer have CD players or even older - books on tape, having options to listen to audio books is a great alternative. One of my favorites is creating a list of QR codes and having students scan the code to be taken to a favorite read aloud. Creative Teaching with Miss Hecht has many free (and already done for you) Google slides that are linked and ready to go.
I know YouTube is often blocked but linking to YouTube read alouds is another way to have an audio book center. Students can easily scan the codes and plug in their headphones and listen away while the other students are focused on their tests. One of my favorite ways to create QR codes is the site QR Code Generator. It makes it so easy to make a code.
Quiet Music
Playing quiet music even during testing (if allowed by your state rules) can help your students focus. As students finish their tests and begin working independently, the background music can help maintain student focus and drown out additional distractions. One of my favorites is this quiet music video on YouTube.
Class Webpage of Activities
As like a few of the previous ideas, this one requires preplanning and teaching prior to testing days. A class webpage can be easily created using Adobe Express or Google Sites. Using a webpage you can easily add links and videos of approved activities you want your class to work on. You can even lay out steps of an assignment that students can follow.
Rest
After a long day of testing, students might want the option to just rest quietly. Set up a cozy reading nook with pillows and blankets where students can curl up with a book or simply take a quiet moment to recharge. After all, testing can be tiring!
Related Post: Mastering Test Taking Strategies for Elementary Students