Writing for the Test (Ladies)™
Test Ladies™ unite! Timing truly is everything when we’re helping students prepare for the writing portion of the state assessment. Check out a strategy that gets kids writing—fast!
Streams of Consciousness
To help prepare students for the timed state assessments, consider trying some streams of consciousness writing. Sometimes just getting students to put pencil to paper is gigantic! Try this exercise with children who are already comfortable with writing (grade 2 and up).
Challenge students (and yourself) to start writing and to continue writing without pausing for 30 seconds. Pencils on paper need to keep moving at all times even if what they’re writing doesn’t make much sense. Encourage students that there is no topic given, they are simply to write without stopping, writing whatever comes to mind.
Increase the time with each streams of consciousness practice time. By the end of the year, you could make this into a contest to see who can write for the longest time without stopping. Then another challenge could be to see who can write the longest and still have their writing be legible!
For more information and resources to help you prepare students for standardized tests...
- Kristina offers a powerful one-day workshop that focuses on prompt writing and preparing students for the state assessment.
- Want to help your kids “picture” the Test Lady™? Wear her to work. Sport this Smekens original T-shirt with authentic anchor pictures from students just like yours.
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Want additional support and more resources? Click here for a list of recommendations.
Ever since Kristina Smekens introduced the idea of a Test Lady™, signs of that lady's true identity have been popping up all over. Visit the following links for more ideas about how to introduce the Test Lady™.
Test Lady™ Sisters at Smekens Literacy Retreat
Helping Kids Envision Their Audience
Introductions to the Test Lady™
Test Lady™ Sisters on a Bulletin Board
