The Weight Of Testing Today

Testing has always been a stressful time for students. As kids when we say the pre-sharpened number two pencils and bubble sheets we knew what was about to happen. We felt a pit in our stomach because it was testing time again.

Now, instead of the teacher being the voice of calm – they too are experiencing their own level of test anxiety, and rightfully so.

• The number of schools who have tied test scores to teacher pay is on the rise. Known as emeritus pay, this “incentive” has placed immense pressure on teachers to emphasize “the test”. Some states publish scores next to teachers names publicly.
• Some schools use test scores to determine placement for teacher positions
• Many states publicly rank their schools by test scores, praising those who can eek out the growth needed to earn high rankings. This is often reported with little other information on external factors like demographics that directly affect test scores.

Teaching to the test, which was once condemned is now quietly being suggested by the reporting and incentivizing of test scores.

The Impact on Students

Students know that the test score they earned today can impact the classes they get into, the reading levels they are assigned to, the teachers they get, and so on. Also, the dreaded report will be handed to their parents ranking them amongst other students their age. The test scores affect how others see them and how they se themselves.

The test remains a significant stressor to students – test anxieties have gone up drastically. The number of students who require, by doctor’s request, modified testing environments is growing.

Testing is stressful for the students and teachers, for years teachers did their best to ease nerves.

Teachers still want to be that calming voice of reason during this stressful time. But, now with added pressures on teachers to produce high scores, they are positioned more stressors than as soothers.

The Crisis of Conscience

You see for teachers, there’s quite a bit of inner turmoil happening during testing season. I speak from experience here.

On one hand, teachers believe in their students. They have spent all year fostering relationships. They know their students and what is best for them. They see their students as individuals, each with their unique value. And, they know that tests can’t see how wonderful their students are and what they are capable of. Teachers know that for many of their students the test will negatively impact their confidence by not giving any consideration to their strengths.

On the other hand, it is their job to proctor these test. Despite what teachers may believe about the tests, they have to stand in front of the class preach the importance of it. I’ve been there.

For teachers whose pay, rank, or position is tied to student performance this in a huge crisis of conscience.

Teachers whole-heartedly believe that the test isn’t a true measure of who their students are and now it has also become an untrue measure of who the teachers are.

Survival Tips for Teachers

So what can we do as teachers to make the testing season a little less stressful? We have all the tips for our students: get a good night sleep, eat a good breakfast, tips for educated guesses and brain breaks. But what about the teachers?

Plan for the Stress

You know that testing week(s) are going to be stressful to prepare.

• Run your errands the week before so you can crash after school
• Stock your pantry with your favorite meals (and stock your desk drawers with your favorite snacks)
• Take your own advice and get a good night sleep
• Don’t plan big units and lessons for the same week (your students will thank you for this one too)

Ease Your Students’ Stress

Even if you have a lot riding on the tests, do your best to ease your students’ stress. When they are less stressed about what’s going on you will be too.

• Tell them you know they are more than what a test can report
• Let them know that their best is good enough
• Plan some treats or fun activities to break up the week

Give Yourself a Break

You know that the test isn’t a true measure of your value as a teacher. It can’t report the late-nights of extra planning, the early morning prepping, the conversations with students and extras you sneak them when they need it. Rankings don’t often factor out external influences of test scores – social and economic discrepancies, varying percentages of special needs and modified tests, student absences with intense make-up times… it doesn’t know when one of your students had a bad day, a fight with a sibling, a sleepless night in a hotel or shelter, a lack of nourishment or encouragement.

As teachers, we know the playing field is far from even, but the tests can’t see that.

Give yourself a break. You’ve done your best, your students are doing their best – you can’t ask for more.

These articles from Joy in Teaching offer more strategies and tips to give yourself a boost when teaching gets stress.

Teaching and Work/Life Balance. 5 Tips

8 Quick Tips for Stronger Teacher Resiliency

12 Tips to Find the Calm in a Hectic School Day

Looking for more ideas? Check out the Joy in Teaching books by clicking here.

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