Test Prep World Trip
Well, it’s almost that time again…test-prep season.
Every year when pacing runs out and we enter our review/prep period before the state test, I like to switch things up for my 3rd grade readers. Two years ago this meant a Jumanji theme with students earning gold tags to fill their pocket and last year it meant bootcamp with students earning stickers on their progress grid.
The bootcamp sticker grid worked SO well and my students were excited about and engaged in the process. This year, I knew I wanted to keep the foundation the same, but because I’m me and I get bored, I decided to change the layout and theme. This year I will be taking my students on a “Test Prep World Trip“. As I designed this program, I knew I wanted to be able to share it in my store, so I created a detailed frame that teachers can use to custom build a test prep program that fits any grade or subject.
How does it work?
Students each get a passport and earn stickers as they complete tasks while “visiting” each continent. I have 7 weeks of review, so I will do a continent a week. Continents can be excluded for shorter review periods, or less tasks can be assigned to each continent.
Each continent passport page has 6 pictures, students need to earn a sticker over each of those pictures to “complete” the continent. Students get rewards on Friday if they have completed 5 of 6 tasks. Students can always use free time or early finisher time throughout the day to complete tasks from already “visited” continents that they haven’t completed. No matter when 5 tasks are completed, Friday is the only day I do rewards.
The passport booklets are interactive and engaging, but I know that in teacher-world sometimes simple is key. Using file folders to house everything and storing them in a file crate, is a more simplified way to “travel”. Students earn stickers on a grid stapled to the left side of the file folder and reflect in their Empowerment Journal on the the right side of their file folder.
What is the schedule?
Monday-Thursday: 30 minutes of “world trip” task time. Students do one center/task a day and earn stickers for completed tasks.
reward box
Friday: Students write on the left side on their passport page to reflect on the week, set a goal for the next week, and connect/make meaning of the “continent precept”. Then, students who have earned 5 stickers since last week get to select a reward while I cross off their stickers so they can’t be used again. When needed, we will have a class discussion about how the week went as a whole and set a class goal for the next leg of our “trip”. I end the week by setting up the next continent we will visit. We watch a short continent fact video or share a read aloud.
How can students earn the 6 stickers for each continent?
I have students earn one sticker per completed center. Since I do “world trip” 4 day a week, I have 4 centers. To read about my 4 centers, which are the same from last year, click here. My students earn the 5th sticker from turning in that week’s homework and the 6th from the completion of the weekly goal setting/reflection page in their passport.
How is it all organized?
I have a binder where I keep all my masters organized by continent and an overview of the entire “trip”. I keep the centers cards behind each divider so I know where to find them.
Students keep their passport and weekly packet in file folders that I keep in a crate.
I keep all of the center activities in plastic pockets (from Amazon) that I store in the back of the passport crate. This way when students have free time and want to revisit an activity to earn a sticker, they know where to find the resources.
So, there you have it! If “Test Prep World Trip” sounds like it would be a good fit for your students too, then click here to check it out in my store.
Still have questions? Click here to read my bootcamp post which answers all of the following questions (toward the bottom).
-How do I keep track of stickers already used for a reward?
-What if a student earns 5 stickers before Friday?
-How do you take grades when your main focus is centers?
-How do the students feel about it?
-Is it successful as prep?
Don’t see your question? Feel free to send me a message on Instagram @adrienne_teaches or email me at adrienne@adriennewiggins.com.
