Tests

Tests are things that most people dread, especially students with test anxiety. Teachers should be sure not to use tests as a punishment. In Harry Wong's book, he says that the major reason for giving a test is to find out if students have accomplished the objectives of the assignment. Tests should be used to monitor and asses learning, and tests help show where students need corrective help.

When a teacher gives a test, it should not be a passage of time, need to put grades in the grade book, or a period to kill time. Each test should be written with a purpose to assess student's mastery of assignments. To write tests, teachers should be sure to make sure each question corresponds with an objective. Wong says, "The basis of every test is the objectives for each assignment."  It's important to keep questions based on the objectives so that students and teachers can monitor learning.

Tests are also important to see where a student might need help. Wong says, "If you do not correct and remediate, learning gets worse as the year progresses." Students need to master a topic before they move on to the next one, correcting will help see what went wrong, or help clear what was not understood. Teachers should not just give the test over again, but clarify the objectives and what is needed to be learned.

Tests might always be something students dread, but they need to realize it is only there to help them. Tests only can help improve a student's mastery. Teachers don't give grades, students earn grades.

Here are some links to give more info on testing:

http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/teaching-to-the-test/

http://m.wikihow.com/Make-Tests-Fun

http://www.uky.edu/~kdbrad2/EPE773R/StudentPapers/ConsumerBehavior.pdf