Testing Strategies: How Accommodations Can Boost Performance

Standardized testing can be a daunting experience for many students, especially those who may struggle academically. However, incorporating accommodations into testing strategies can make a significant impact on student performance and create a more inclusive testing environment.

I am sure you have all heard of accommodations, but just a little reminder. Accommodations are changes in the classroom or testing environment that help level the playing field for students that need additional support. Accommodations do not change the curriculum or what is expected of a student.

Now that we are all on the same page for what an accommodation is, lets look into some things that can help our students be more successful and are easy for teachers to incorporate

First off, we need to make sure we know with what accommodations are available to our students. Depending upon what umbrella your students are served under (504, SPED, TIER, etc.) will determine the types of accommodations they are eligible for. This is mainly for state testing and standardized testing as students have to be eligible for them based on their disability or needs. Like the example above, having a list of possible accommodations and a quick over view for each student helps keep everything organized and easy to refer to!

Providing visual cue cards while testing is an easy and effective accommodation. Visual cue cards can prompt various testing strategies, accommodations or behavior expectations. Attach the visuals to a key ring to change out when needed.

Breaks are super important for students that struggle with focus and attention during testing. Having planned breaks throughout testing help students refocus their minds and gives them the mental break they need. You can easily use these break cards for students and the teacher can track the breaks using this log. It’s great for documentation of accommodations and to track students break ensuring they are being used to their full potential!

My last little testing tip, reading a social story to help guide students through testing strategies and accommodations. This social story is easy to understand and will walk students through the testing experience. You can check out the preview HERE!

Happy Testing!