Simple routines to work test-style practice into your week — without the stress
Every year, students face a growing number of assessments — from district-level progress monitoring to major state tests like STAAR, FAST, CAASPP, and more. Each test may look different, but the types of questions students encounter are surprisingly similar.
If we want to set students up for success, it’s not just about teaching standards — it’s also about teaching how to approach the questions they’ll see.
But here’s the good news:
You don’t need to dedicate weeks to test prep or overwhelm your students with daily drills. With just a few small shifts in your weekly routines, you can build test-taking confidence naturally — without sacrificing meaningful instruction.
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to do that using smart, simple routines that:
- Reinforce content
- Familiarize students with test language and formats
- Reduce anxiety around assessments
- And fit seamlessly into your current teaching schedule
Let’s take a look at what these routines can look like in your classroom 👇
How do you give your students ongoing exposure to test formats without turning your classroom into a test-prep machine?
It’s actually easier than you think — and the key is this:
🎯 Make it part of your regular routines.
When test-style questions become part of your weekly rhythm, they stop feeling scary (for both you and your students). You’re still teaching meaningful content — you’re just doing it in a way that builds test readiness naturally.
Why This Works:
When test-format practice is embedded into everyday instruction, students learn to:
- Recognize the structure and language of real test questions
- Practice critical thinking without test anxiety
- Build confidence gradually — not just the week before testing
And for you? You get to plan smarter, not harder. Let’s dive into the how. 👇
✅ Easy Ways to Work Test Formats into Your Week
You don’t need to overhaul your lessons. These small tweaks are so doable — and so impactful.
🕐 Warm-Ups / Bell Ringers
Start your day or class with a single test-style question tied to your current content. Think:
- Multiple choice
- Short response
- Multi-part questions
This keeps skills fresh while taking just 5 minutes.
🏠 Homework with a Twist
Add just one test-format question to your regular homework assignment.
Use test-style stems or vocabulary — no drilling required!
🎯 Task Cards in Centers or Small Groups
Rotate in task cards that:
- Mimic the structure of test questions
- Require short written responses
- Use test terminology
Perfect for centers, small group reteach, or early finishers.
🎲 Whole-Class Games
Games are a great way to get exposure without stress.
Use a PowerPoint or review game that includes:
- Multi-select
- Vocabulary-in-context
- Evidence-based responses
Learning feels like play, but you’re still hitting key skills.
📚 Vocabulary Routines
Incorporate testing vocabulary into your weekly word routine.
Use words like:
“contributes, best matches, implies, infer, convey” — all common test language.
Display them. Use them in quick discussions. Reward students for spotting them in texts!
🔁 Weekly Routines That Make Test Practice Automatic
Want to stop worrying about test prep season? Build it into your weekly plan.
These routines are easy to implement and give you yearlong coverage:
✅ Test Question Tuesday
Pick one test-style question for the whole class to answer and discuss.
Great for modeling thought processes and test vocabulary.
✅ Exit Slip Fridays
Wrap up the week with a short quiz (1–2 questions max) that mirrors real test formats.
Keep it quick. Keep it low-pressure.
✅ Think-Aloud Thursdays
Model how to think through a tricky question — out loud.
Then let students try their own think-alouds with partners or in writing.
✅ Weekly Writing Warm-Ups
Use a constructed response question related to your current content.
Even 1 paragraph a week builds major writing confidence.
✅ Partner Talk Prompts
Give test-style questions as discussion starters.
Let students talk it out before they write.
This helps verbal reasoning and builds background knowledge for future questions.
🧠 Why It Matters:
By embedding test-style exposure into your week:
- Your students are constantly learning how to think like a test-taker
- You avoid the cram sessions and last-minute panic
- And you’re still teaching in a way that feels authentic and purposeful
📅 This Week’s Small Step
Take 5–10 minutes to pick one routine from this list that fits your teaching style.
Start a document titled:
📄 My Test-Smart Weekly Plan
Use it to sketch out where you could plug in:
- 1 warm-up
- 1 game
- 1 exit slip
- A vocabulary word-of-the-week
Start small. Build as you go.
💬 Want More Help with This?
Here are a few of my favorite resources to dig deeper:
🔗 How to Make Students Comfortable with State Testing
🔗 How to Decode Test Questions + Vocabulary
🔗 Teach Students to Be Smarter Than the Test
🎥 Want to see it all in action?
Check out my YouTube channel where I break down test strategies, question types, and ways to build test prep into real instruction — from STAAR to MAP to FAST and more.
Want these routines done for you?
From warm-ups and task cards to vocabulary and games, I’ve created ready-to-use resources that help you start the year strong without starting from scratch.
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