8 Steps for Using Study Sheets to Get Your Students Ready for the Test

8 Steps for Using Study Sheets to Get Your Students Ready for the Test

You have spent the entire school year covering the necessary knowledge and skills.  You used all the best instructional practices from keeping journals, using cooperative learning groups, providing effective feedback, to helping students reflect on their progress.  These strategies were effective for many of your students, but as the state test approaches you are concerned about students who are still not ready.

 Let’s be completely open about the following:

– Time is extremely short

– Students who have not developed the necessary depth of knowledge on a given topic will not have enough time to reach that level of growth

– You are only one person

 

Stop stressing.

 

Let’s work on a plan of action:

•  – Maximize the remaining time by only working on test prep.
• – Focus on the fundamentals
• – Put each student in charge of their own test prep.

A quick and sure-fire way to follow through with your plan of action is to use Study Sheets.  You will need to prepare the study sheets and make copies for each of your students, but they are well-worth the effort.  You may be tempted to have your students create their own, but consider the following before you take that approach:

• – Inevitably the information will vary from student to student since they never quite get all the information down as you intended.
• – Some students will take longer than others to prepare their study sheets.

 

How to Create and Use Study Sheets:

1 – Decide on the organization of the Study Sheet.  Will you create …

• An All-In-One Study Sheet where all objectives are included on the same page
• A One-Objective-Only Study Sheet where the questions focus on one core area
• A Vocabulary-Only Study Sheet

2 – Decide on the number of questions

3 – Identify the key pieces of content, skills, processes, and vocabulary that you should include

4 – Create a five column table in a word processing document

• The first column lists the number of each question
• The second column lists the objective for the question
• The third column shows the question
• The fourth column shows the solution
• The fifth column is checked off when the student can recall the solution

5 – Make copies for each student.  You may want to consider using colored card stock.  Color is always more appealing to the eye, and the Study Sheet will be easier to find in any folder, backpack, or desk.  Card stock adds a little thickness and durability which may come in handy as the study sheet will be used over and over until the student is able to recall the information.

6 –Students should independently review the Study Sheet.  They should read through each question and answer.  They can do this for up to 10 minutes.  The students should then be paired up or placed in a group of three. They will take turns asking each other the question and waiting for the answer.  The checkmark should only be added when the student is confident about being able to recall the solution.

7 – In order to liven up the review a bit you can organize a pop-game every 15 minutes or so where the whole class participates in a Q and A session, jeopardy, or bingo. You ask the questions and each team gets a chance to answer for points.  If extrinsic rewards like pencils, grips, erasers, or other favors aren’t your thing, then consider a day to day trophy.  The day to day trophy is a symbol of victory so that each winning team gets bragging rights for the day.  Trophies can be an actual trophy, a plush cartoon character, pennant, or banner.

8 – The Study Sheet review time will provide you with some time to re-teach or review critical content on a one-to-one basis or with a small group of students.  You will also be able to act as a facilitator by visiting each group, listening, asking follow-up questions, checking for understanding, checking progress, and providing positive reinforcement.

The Study Sheet review time can be a positive experience.  Struggling students will develop confidence with each solution they are able to recall.  All students appreciate opportunities to work with others and show what they know.  Study Sheets will also reduce planning time and give you the chance to work more closely with students in the days leading up to the test.

Please share your experience with Study Sheets in the comments section below.  Let me know how you facilitated the class.  Do you have any questions?  If so, please post them here or feel free to send an email to vlopez@treetopsecret.com.