What is the best advice for a first-year teacher facing upcoming tests?

Incorporating questions into daily lessons is a highly effective strategy for first-year teachers preparing students for upcoming tests. This approach fosters a continuous learning environment, where students are consistently engaged with the content rather than cramming material just before the tests. By integrating questions that reflect the test format and content into everyday lessons, teachers can help students become familiar with the types of questions they may encounter. This also promotes active learning, critical thinking, and retention of knowledge, all of which are essential for students’ success on assessments.

In contrast, creating a testing environment similar to standardized assessments can be beneficial for practice but does not necessarily aid in content retention or comprehension. Avoiding the introduction of new material before tests may limit students’ learning and growth, as they miss opportunities to engage with relevant concepts. Spending time reviewing old tests can sometimes help but may not cover the breadth of content that students need for the upcoming assessments. Furthermore, it lacks the interactive element that daily incorporation provides, which can be crucial for keeping students motivated and focused on learning.