It's testing season (*sigh*) and students all over the globe will be sitting stressful tests to show what they know... there is no way around it, it has to be done. I do believe we can help our students and ourselves get through it and have a little giggle at the same time, with a few key resources and ideas! 

Testing subject knowledge can dominate the curriculum, but I feel students need to be taught to manage their stress and their studying/revision methods in order to deal with test stress, and we need to make time to teach them these skills. I have a range of resources (including a freebie!) that will help your students during this tough time.

Before the testing even begins, there can be signs of stress showing in students months in advance. That's why I created this resource to use with students to teach them strategies to manage the effects of stress:

Teach your students all about what stress is: why we need it, how we respond to it in the modern world, causes and effects, what we can control and what we can't, and actions to help relieve stress. Your students will get to role play and analyze different teen appropriate stressful scenarios. Your students will also be taught 3 different breathing exercises to control the physical signs of stress that are very powerful in stressful situations (this one is great for adults too!).


Once they learn these techniques to manage their stress, they will be in the right frame of mind to plan their test preparation! This resource will help with that:

Your students will be provided with graphic organizers to help them plan and prepare for their test preparation - on any subject. The sheets are self explanatory for students to complete meaning no preparation is needed from you. Students could select their own tasks or they can be chosen for them as a class activity. These would also make great homework tasks too!
They will be reflecting on their target grades, setting goals, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, prioritizing their studies, identifying keywords and definitions for any subject and planning their study time.

When it comes to the test, nerves can cause students to rush and not read questions carefully. This FREE resource will make such an impact to teach them a very important lesson in reading all questions and instructions carefully..!

This resource is hilarious for you as the teacher, and also for those students who follow the instructions exactly as indicated (which isn't likely to be many of them!). The rest who fall hook, line and sinker, will be left with a very powerful message as they come to realize what they are doing is absolutely ridiculous and only have themselves to blame as they didn't read the instructions carefully! I highly recommend trying this out with your students - it will also create a massive roar of laughter in your classroom: much needed during the testing period!


My final test prep treasure is an activity to do right before a test is to take place, for about 5-10 minutes or whatever you can fit in:

These “Don’t Stress The Test” doodle coloring pages are a wonderfully relaxing and motivating resource for your students to help calm and encourage them during the dreaded testing process. You’d be amazed at the wonders it can do just by giving students a few minutes to wind down and relax by coloring in – no matter what their age. It is something that is very therapeutic, and the fact that these coloring pages contain motivational quotes, well that gives them a much needed confidence boost before the test!

I hope all these ideas will help prepare your students for the tests and create a fun and relaxing environment during this tough time for all. Wishing the best of luck to your students!

If you're a teacher and you sell your resources online too, you need to ensure that you use photos or clip art (paid or free) that permit commercial use. I have made lots of clip art for commercial use which are a hit with my students, however, sometimes there's nothing like a nice photograph in your resources as well! There are plenty of places you can purchase great photographs, but if you want to try some free ones first, I have collated some awesome photographs from some of the best sites I have found that contain copyright free photographs for commercial use. This edition is all about Spring, I'll post more collections I find in the future as well - enjoy!