Seating Arrangements for Standardized Tests
How to Organize the Classroom for State Testing Days
Jan 13, 2009
As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2002, schools are striving to have every child pass a standardized state test at or above grade level. Even children with special needs must take this test, with modifications deemed appropriate by special educators. Organizing the classroom in preparation for this important test will help to minimize the stress on both the teacher and the students.
Seating Arrangements for Testing Days
In order to prevent cheating, teachers often find ways to separate students on testing days. The basic idea is to put desks around the room in such a way that prevents students from being able to glance at a friend's paper and copy answers. This is important, as teachers need to get an accurate idea of what students know. Usually teachers will put the student desks in rows, with space around each desk. This enables the teacher to easily walk around the room during the test to monitor student progress and answer any questions that come up.
Testing Days for Distractible Students
When considering seating arrangements, it is important to keep in mind those students who need minimal distraction. It is prudent to seat them at the front of the class so that when they look up, they do not see the entire class working, as that can be a distraction. The teacher should sit at the student's desk and look around the room. Whatever catches the eye may be a distraction. Be careful to not rearrange the room too much, though, as students will look to posters and other props around the room to help them remember information while taking the test.
Rearrange the Desks before the Test
There are two options for when to rearrange the desks before a test. Many teachers wait until the state tests to rearrange student desks into rows. This sudden change heightens the anxiety level in many students, and magnifies their fear of failing, resulting in a lower test score. The other option is to rearrange the desks for each test that comes up. The practice of moving desks apart even for a simple weekly spelling test, will accustom the students to this manner of testing, and allow them to do their best even on those all important standardized tests.
Some students will naturally do better than others on standardized tests. The stress placed upon state tests causes an enormous amount of stress for teachers, which is often passed on to the students. Calm, confident students will always perform better on tests, so teachers should work to minimize test anxiety in any way possible.
You may also be interested in helping students focus in class, and how to prevent students from cheating.
Read more information about classroom organization.
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