Week 9: High Stakes Science Tests: Will Your Students Be Ready?

http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/high-stakes-science-tests-will-your-students-be-ready

Getting students prepared for the AIMS test is always the focus in schools. Preparing them to the best of our knowledge in reading, writing, and math has been the goal for the past few years. Now we are suppose to add another wrench into the mix...science. Being an elementary school science teacher, I know that is a very difficult thing to do, especially when students have a difficult time getting into science. This article really helped put things into perspective on how to try and prepare my students for the future science AIMS test. The article states several good concepts into preparing the students, but I believe the number one way to increase test scores is student attittude. Positive mental preparation can help students succeed when they are anxious. We as teachers can help in this area by "modeling" good, positive attitudes. Express positive expectations about their ability to perform well. If we are postive, then maybe they can be postitive and lower their anxiety and stress levels.