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I've always hated it... the dreaded TEST REVIEW DAYS!
"Is this for a grade???" -every 6th grader
There are three important reasons why I've always hated test review days:
1) I've got to come up with some creative, engaging, fun game that students will enjoy and learn from. I have even gone so far as to dress up as my alter-ego "Phillip Livingston", an Alex Trebek wannabe from Papua New Guinea. (SPOILER ALERT: It's really just me with a name-tag and mustache that's been touched by a rainbow. Shhh!)
2) I have to manage behavior during the games because some 6th graders get WAY to excited when I say the word "game".
Example
Mrs. Oberkofler: "Today we are going to play a review game."
Class of crazy childrens: "YESSSSSS! OH MAN! WOWZAH!!! Cool! Can we write on the board? Do we get to run around? Can I throw things? Do we get to punch each other? What do we win? Do we get candy??"
Mrs. Oberkofler: "Oh, Lord in heaven. Please help me."
3) The students who always do what you ask them to do DON'T NEED TO REVIEW! They know it backwards and forwards and a review is a waste of time.
Luckily (for my sanity's sake), I have found a simple solution! ...All in 8 simple steps, after the break:
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Step #1: Put your students into collaborative learning teams
Step #2: Get enough of these big envelopes so you have one for each team
Step #4: Laminate these puppies!! They won't last a day if you don't laminate 'em!
Step #5: Fill each envelope with in-depth, high DOK review questions that go along with that unit. You might want to laminate these too, if you're like me and plan on having 130 middle schoolers looking at every card. (UPDATE 7/17/2013: You can also put primary documents inside the folders along with questions that students can answer as they analyze the document. Sometimes my students finish with the folder too fast and this can lead to off-task behavior. I make a mental note to add more questions next time. On more than one occasion, I've added more questions after the test review has started. I'll just come up with another question on-the-fly, scribble it on an index card and give it to the group that needs more questions - "Add this with your folder, please.")
Step #6: Pass out folders.
Step #7: Put 3-4 minutes on a timer. Tell students when the timer goes off, the folder will rotate. They are to discuss in detail each question. No one gets to sit and do nothing. Everyone will participate. The teacher will be walking around to check and make sure this is happening. If you'd rather review by yourself, I can give you a textbook and send you to another classroom! And GO!
Step #8: Ask "Are there any questions we should go over as a class before tomorrow's test?"
Tah-Dah! The students just had a completely student-centered review lesson. No one needed to be out of their seat. No one got a free ride. Everyone had to play along for the good of the group.
Now all that's left to do is take the test! Wish us luck!
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