School Staff Uses Video To Rally Young Test-Takers

Only grades 3 to 5 take the Kentucky high-stakes’ tests, but at Old Mill Elementary School every grade and employee helps in the preparation. A motivational video created by the school’s instructional coach gave school staff the chance to encourage test-takers. Included: View the video.

Only third-through-fifth graders at Old Mill Elementary School in Mount Washington, Kentucky, take the state’s high-stakes tests. But preparing students for those tests is a school-wide activity. Everybody -- from the cafeteria staff to the kindergartners -- provides encouragement to the school’s test takers.

Two years ago Beth Vachon, Old Mills’ instructional coach, teamed up with the school’s Webmaster, Steve Mahoney, to produce a motivational video that included pep talks and encouraging words from many of those in the building.

“Everyone thought it was a wonderful idea; everyone felt like part of the community and wanted to encourage the kids,” Vachon told Education World. “The kids thought it was fun; they loved seeing the people they know.”

LEARNING FROM TOP PERFORMERS

Vachon first considered making an inspirational video after researching motivational programs for testing at other schools in the state. “From attending different conferences in Kentucky, we found that high-performing schools tended to do something positive to get kids pumped up for the tests,” she explained. “One of the things that came through in high-performing schools was that the whole school was involved [in motivating test-takers]. They were getting a variety of people in the building to show support.”

While Old Mill is not a struggling school, administrators want to do as much as possible to help students perform at the highest levels on the tests, Vachon continued. “We just wanted to learn from schools that have been very successful,” she said. “We want to get ahead of the game; we do want to raise the bar for our students.”

RALLYING AROUND THE ‘TEAM’

The video tied in with other motivational programs, including an assembly, principal Les McIntosh said. After watching the video, students were invited down to the gym for a pep rally that included games, such as one related to good test-taking skills. In addition, medals were awarded to students who scored in the proficient and distinguished levels on the prior year’s test.

“It’s a way to pump kids up,” according to Vachon. “They think, ‘Maybe I can get a medal and be on stage next year if I work hard.’”

Students in the primary grades also “adopt” a third, fourth, or fifth grade class and provide its students with test-taking encouragement, including posters, cards, and goody bags with small candies or a pencil and eraser, said McIntosh. “I talk about how the third, fourth, and fifth graders are representing the school,” he added. “So this is a whole-school assessment. When the scores are posted in the newspaper, it reflects on the whole school.”

To psyche students up last year, instead of showing the video, one of the instructional tutors wrote a song with advice and rules about test-taking. Vachon and other faculty members dressed like kids and sang the chorus, which had to do with eating a healthful breakfast and getting a good night’s sleep.

The popular 2009 video could be making a return this year before the April tests, Vachon said. “We really try to put the children at ease,” she added. “A lot of kids have test anxiety, but we tell them a test is just a chance to show what know. It’s the same material they’ve been learning all year.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ed World Special Article Archive Page: Testing
School Issues Article Glossary: Testing
What Are You Doing to Motivate Your Test Takers?

Article by Ellen R. Delisio
Education World®
Copyright © 2011 Education World

Originally published 02/21/2011