Testing
season is upon us, and with that comes test anxieties. Although, I’m not sure
who has more anxieties about the tests – teachers or students! Either way the
stress that goes along with testing is very real, so I thought a light-hearted
post was in order. This post was inspired by a conversation I had with my
students after they completed the state writing exam, which is timed and taken
on the computers. We aren’t allowed to
administer the test to our own students or discuss test’s content, but I always
like to ask them how they felt about it afterwards. My honors group had been very nervous, apparently,
because their senses were heightened to every possible distraction in the room. To say they were somewhat distracted by every
little thing would be a huge understatement.
I couldn’t help but laugh as they shared their testing room experience
with me. Perhaps their list of “Ways People
React to Text Anxieties That Might Annoy Others” will give you a little
chuckle.
season is upon us, and with that comes test anxieties. Although, I’m not sure
who has more anxieties about the tests – teachers or students! Either way the
stress that goes along with testing is very real, so I thought a light-hearted
post was in order. This post was inspired by a conversation I had with my
students after they completed the state writing exam, which is timed and taken
on the computers. We aren’t allowed to
administer the test to our own students or discuss test’s content, but I always
like to ask them how they felt about it afterwards. My honors group had been very nervous, apparently,
because their senses were heightened to every possible distraction in the room. To say they were somewhat distracted by every
little thing would be a huge understatement.
I couldn’t help but laugh as they shared their testing room experience
with me. Perhaps their list of “Ways People
React to Text Anxieties That Might Annoy Others” will give you a little
chuckle.
1) Leg Shaking – Anxiety increases
adrenaline levels, and when adrenaline goes up, your body has a natural
“fight or flight” response.
Leg shaking must equal the need to get up and run out of the room for
dear life. It might make time pass more
quickly for you, but the person next to you feels as if they are on a bad
amusement park ride. If you’re a
leg-shaker, try to just wiggle your toes instead!
adrenaline levels, and when adrenaline goes up, your body has a natural
“fight or flight” response.
Leg shaking must equal the need to get up and run out of the room for
dear life. It might make time pass more
quickly for you, but the person next to you feels as if they are on a bad
amusement park ride. If you’re a
leg-shaker, try to just wiggle your toes instead!
2) Heavy Mouth Breathing and Nose Sniffling – I almost laughed
so hard I cried when my kids mentioned this to me, but it’s a reality. When that adrenaline gets going, breathing is
a struggle. If you often find yourself short
of breath during testing, try to do a few breathing exercises before entering
the testing room so you have that under control!
so hard I cried when my kids mentioned this to me, but it’s a reality. When that adrenaline gets going, breathing is
a struggle. If you often find yourself short
of breath during testing, try to do a few breathing exercises before entering
the testing room so you have that under control!
3) Mumbling – What signifies mumbling, you might ask? Well, if
you are Goody Osburn (from The Crucible),
mumbling could get you condemned a witch.
If not, you might just be a testing room proctor who isn’t quite on her “A
game.” In this case, the proctor was mumbling to herself and hovering during
the entire test. When you are reading
and writing on the spot, every moment counts.
Being distracted by a mumbler, well, that’s not the charm you are
looking for.
you are Goody Osburn (from The Crucible),
mumbling could get you condemned a witch.
If not, you might just be a testing room proctor who isn’t quite on her “A
game.” In this case, the proctor was mumbling to herself and hovering during
the entire test. When you are reading
and writing on the spot, every moment counts.
Being distracted by a mumbler, well, that’s not the charm you are
looking for.
4) Loud Typing/Writing – Machine guns firing. That’s what my students
told me it sounded like when people began typing their essays. (Teenagers love hyperbole.) In a room of complete silence, though, I imagine that
is probably true. While some students were still trying to read the text, others
were rapidly firing their sentences to beat the clock. Online testing… sounds like an efficient way
to collect and grade responses, but in reality, it might not be the best “bang”
for the buck.
told me it sounded like when people began typing their essays. (Teenagers love hyperbole.) In a room of complete silence, though, I imagine that
is probably true. While some students were still trying to read the text, others
were rapidly firing their sentences to beat the clock. Online testing… sounds like an efficient way
to collect and grade responses, but in reality, it might not be the best “bang”
for the buck.
5) Pen Clicking/Tapping – This is probably my biggest personal
pet peeve. It’s not band class and we don’t
need a drum roll, but some students/people can’t resist the urge to click,
click, click, rap, tap, tapping at my chamber door….. Oh, sorry. I forgot I
wasn’t quoting Poe. Yes, the tapping. If pen clicking is your go-to tick during
testing, perhaps take a long some writing utensils that aren’t so interactive!
pet peeve. It’s not band class and we don’t
need a drum roll, but some students/people can’t resist the urge to click,
click, click, rap, tap, tapping at my chamber door….. Oh, sorry. I forgot I
wasn’t quoting Poe. Yes, the tapping. If pen clicking is your go-to tick during
testing, perhaps take a long some writing utensils that aren’t so interactive!
Are you
guilty of any of these? You probably don’t even know you have these aggravating
habits, but it is probably driving someone else in the room batty! May the odds be ever in your *testing* favor! Click on the keep calm image below to download a free pdf version of this cute sign!
guilty of any of these? You probably don’t even know you have these aggravating
habits, but it is probably driving someone else in the room batty! May the odds be ever in your *testing* favor! Click on the keep calm image below to download a free pdf version of this cute sign!
