As ELA teachers, test prep can feel overwhelming—especially when juggling everything else on your plate. But what if I told you that with just 10 minutes a day, you could prep your students for success on state tests and keep them engaged? Let’s dive into some quick and effective test prep strategies that fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.
1. Start the Day with Test-Like Starters
Warm-ups set the tone for the class, and they’re an easy way to sneak in test prep. Try giving students:
- A multiple-choice question that mimics the test format.
- A short reading passage with a quick comprehension question.
- A grammar or vocabulary practice task.
Pro Tip: Use word banks for sentence starters to encourage confidence and provide scaffolding for all learners. If you need inspiration, check out my resource on ELA Word Bank Activities. As I am writing this post in December, I know this resource isn’t exactly relevant, but my students (elementary) love these word bank exercises that I gave them each day in December using my Holly Jolly Language Practice:
For our middle and high school students, I’ve found that using one 1-2 Context Clue task cards have been valuable daily practice when in a pinch for time!
Interested in incorporating ELA task cards in your classroom? I talk a about a few tips and tricks here: Unleash the Power of Secondary ELA Task Cards
2. Practice Writing Under Pressure
Incorporate short writing exercises that mirror state testing prompts. Set a timer for 5-7 minutes and have students:
- Write a quick argumentative paragraph using textual evidence.
- Summarize a short article in two sentences.
- Respond to a creative prompt with a focus on proper structure.
These mini-writing sessions build stamina and help students feel comfortable working under time constraints.
3. Use Quick Group Activities
Collaborative activities energize your students and make test prep less intimidating. For example:
- Station Rotations: Set up stations around the room for different skills (e.g., finding textual evidence, grammar correction, vocabulary practice). Students spend 6-8 minutes at each station, working together to complete tasks. This is one of my favorites. There is a misconception that prepping for stations put a heavy lift on the teacher. While this CAN be true, there are ways to execute meaningful station work with little work. Check out these ELA Winter Stations I create here: Winter-themed ELA Test Prep Stations
- Mini Debates: Present a test-related topic and let students argue their points using evidence from a text. This hones both critical thinking and speaking skills.
4. Gamify Your Prep
Turn ELA test prep into a game to boost engagement. Try:
- Quizizz or Kahoot: Create quizzes with test-aligned questions to make review fun.
- Task Card Challenges: Students race to answer task cards with short tasks like identifying themes or correcting grammar.
5. Reflect and Review Together (one of my favorites)
Dedicate the last few minutes of each session to reflection. Have students:
- Share their thought process for answering a tricky question.
- Pair up and explain their answers to a partner.
- Write down one question they still have and discuss it as a class.
These quick reviews reinforce learning and build a collaborative classroom culture. There are many effective strategies on how to review collaboratively in the classrom and I am hoping to get them all down in a post soon!
Final Thoughts
Implementing these 10-minute test prep strategies will save you time and reduce stress while helping your students feel confident and prepared. Remember, it’s not about cramming—it’s about consistency. By incorporating small, targeted activities into your daily routine, you’ll see big results come test day.
Want even more tips and resources for test prep? Check out my Winter ELA Test Prep Bundle (which doubles as a GREAT set of sub plans) or follow me on Instagram for tips, tricks and updates!
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