We still remember those standardized testing days in April so well. Our mom would let us wear a special necklace for good luck. Well, Katie, who is home schooling her daughter, created this fun little kit for her daughter's testing days.
Katie writes: "When I was a child, I actually enjoyed standardized test days. It was a change from the regular classroom routine and I liked the nice rows of clean dot answers. I created a little kit to make standardized testing more of a break from the regular routine and fun for her, and I think it could be a useful idea for school parents as well, as something to send along to school. "
Here's what Katie included in the kit:
• 3 sticks of gum (1 for each day); teachers say this helps burn off nervous energy before the test
• 3 new fun sharpened pencils (1 for each day); number 2 of course!
• 1 pencil sharpener
• 1 fun eraser for mistakes
• 1 pack of tissues for sniffles
• “Quiet Please! Testing in Progress” sign to hang on our door
• 3 sheets of congrats stickers for when that day’s test is done
What a fun way to approach something like standardized testing! Thanks for sharing, Katie.
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I don't think this would fly in the public schools in my town and maybe the schools in my town are out of the ordinary but none of these items would be allowed to be brought into the classroom on a test day.
I went through the school system there and it's the same today - we had to use the school's #2 pencils, never never never is any gum chewing allowed in school at all, and if you needed a tissue you have to raise your hand and the teacher will bring the box to you.
HelloChloe - Katie did write to us in her email that of course you'd have to check with your school, though besides the gum, tissues and pencils seem pretty harmless?
I used to be a teacher, and I offered my kids mints right before we started testing. They liked a treat and it helped them all quiet down to get going.