High-stakes state testing can generate a lot of anxiety for students and adults alike. Counselors are uniquely prepared to support students in developing strategies to manage this anxiety and do the best they can. Five Confident Counselors share their go-to activities and ideas for testing season.

Positive Thinking & Calming Strategies

During testing season, my focus is on calming fears and nerves and practicing positive, realistic thinking. I help students create affirmations for test day to remind themselves that their worth is not defined by test scores with our “donut stress about the test” activity.

I always set aside time for students to ask any questions they have about the test, so we can clear up any misconceptions or jumping to conclusions.

We also spend a lot of time practicing calming strategies and little brain breaks they can do while seated if they need a 30-second break during the test.

De-Stress Zone

Now that I’m no longer the test coordinator (hurrah!), my focus is on helping students feel calm and confident about state testing.

One way I do this is by partnering with my librarian to make the library a “de-stress zone” with mandalas, colored pencils, stuffed animals, and glitter jars. We invite teachers to bring their classes down the afternoons after morning testing.

We also pair up lower-grade classes with upper-grade classes during testing weeks; the younger kiddos make posters, chants, snack bags, etc., and come to deliver them and give high-fives to the big kids.

And finally, I like to lighten the mood when reviewing test-taking strategies by doing a zombie-themed escape room with my students. Making things a little silly always helps calm nerves!

Mindfulness Strategies

I help teachers during testing season by teaching students test-taking skills to help them succeed. During my guidance lessons, I teach students calming techniques and mindfulness strategies to help them ease their minds and show what they know on the test. I find that teaching students how to clear their minds so they can focus is the best way I can support teachers and help set their students up for test-taking success.

Mindfulness Lesson

I think any discussion of test-taking should go hand in hand with a mindfulness lesson. I use guided meditation videos from The Honest Guys on YouTube to show students how to self-calm the night before a big event or test.

Once they are calm, I show a PowerPoint with test-taking strategies and send them home with a flipbook containing the same information. The day of the test, we decorate the doorways with encouraging signs that say things like “You can do this!” or “You will rock this test!”.

Build Confidence

I try really hard to help kids think about their inner awesomeness during testing season. I try to shift the focus away from “you must do your best because this test is important” to “You’ve got this, just show them what you know!” I love leaving the students little inspirational messages, and my kindness lunch bunch students help me to decorate pencils and lockers with notes of encouragement.