Every upper elementary teacher knows that test prep season can be overwhelming. Whether your students are preparing for the SBAC, STAAR, PSSA, or another state test, the challenge remains the same: how do we ensure our students feel confident, prepared, and engaged?
Teaching to the test isn’t the goal—but equipping students with the skills they need to think critically, apply knowledge, and manage their time is essential. After doing SBAC test prep for many years, I have gathered some teacher-tested strategies to help your students tackle those state assessments with confidence!
1. Make Test Prep a Daily Routine (Without the Dread!)
Test prep doesn’t have to mean weeks of drill and kill. Instead, incorporate small, consistent practice sessions into your daily routine.
✅ Use bell-ringer questions related to key test topics.
✅ Assign quick exit tickets that mimic test questions.
✅ Hold 5-minute “lightning round” discussions to review concepts in a fun way.
When students see test prep as part of their normal routine, it becomes less intimidating and more manageable.
2. Use Performance Tasks to Build Real-World Problem-Solving Skills
One of the biggest challenges on state assessments is applying knowledge to real-world scenarios. Students struggle when they encounter multi-step word problems or tasks that require reasoning.
💡 That’s why I created these SBAC Math Performance Tasks for 4th and 5th Grade! These rigorous, standards-aligned tasks help students practice multi-step problem-solving in a format similar to what they’ll see on test day.
👉 With engaging scenarios and step-by-step scaffolding, these performance tasks are perfect for:
✔️ Test prep stations
✔️ Small group instruction
✔️ Independent practice
Your students will gain the confidence they need to break down problems, show their thinking, and justify their answers—all essential skills for SBAC, STAAR, and other state tests!
3. Teach Students How to “Think Like a Test Maker”
Students often struggle not because they don’t know the material, but because they misinterpret questions. Teach them to analyze questions by:
🔎 Identifying keywords (e.g., explain, justify, select all that apply).
🔎 Recognizing common distractors in multiple-choice questions.
🔎 Practicing elimination strategies for tricky answer choices.
Make it fun by turning test questions into a game! Try a “Test Question Detective” activity where students work in teams to rewrite tricky questions in clearer language.
4. Incorporate Movement to Keep SBAC Test Prep Engagement High
Long test prep sessions can be exhausting, so get students up and moving while they learn!
🏃 Gallery Walks – Post test-like problems around the room. Students move in pairs to solve each one.
🔍Scavenger Hunts—Post reading passages or math word problems around the room. Students start at any question station. As they answer each question, that answer leads them to the next question. When finished, they should end up at their original starting point. Perfect for partner work! Here is a Winter Scavenger Hunt to help you visualize how they work.
🎯 Scoot Games – Have students rotate between task cards, answering as they go.
💡 Four Corners – Read a multiple-choice question and have students move to the corner representing their answer.
These activities keep students active, engaged, and thinking critically while reinforcing test content!
5. Boost Student Confidence During SBAC Test Prep with Positive Mindset Strategies
Test anxiety is real, and a nervous student is less likely to perform at their best. Help students shift their mindset with these strategies:
💬 Affirmations – Have students write (or say) positive statements before practice tests.
🎵 Relaxing Music – Play calming music during independent work to reduce stress.
💨 Breathing Exercises – Teach deep breathing techniques to help students reset when they feel overwhelmed.
Encouraging a growth mindset will help students feel more capable and confident on test day!
Originally designed for after standardized testing, these low-stakes, calming Growth Mindset Activities are also a great addition to SBAC test prep, helping students build confidence and reduce stress before test day.
For more after-testing activities, see my blog post, 7 Ideas to Keep Your Students Calm and Quiet After Standardized Testing.
Final Takeaway: Preparation = Confidence!
By incorporating test prep into your daily routine, using performance tasks, teaching test strategies, and keeping students engaged, you’ll set your 4th and 5th graders up for success on state assessments.
And don’t forget—if you’re looking for engaging and effective resources to support SBAC test prep and beyond, check out these must-have tools! My SBAC Math Performance Tasks for 4th and 5th Grade provide rigorous, real-world practice to help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills—essential for SBAC success. Keep your students positive and calm during your SBAC test prep time with these growth mindset activities. Plus, my Exit Ticket Templates make SBAC Test Prep quick and easy. With the right strategies and resources, you can make SBAC test prep stress-free and effective! 🚀
