Test Taking Strategies !

  Here are a few things you can do when taking a test:

 1. Get plenty of rest the night before. Make sure to practice the skills needed for a test. If the test is on the story of the week, retell the story to your parents the night before. If it is a skills test, remember the skills you have been taught the previous weeks before the test.

2. Eat a good breakfast. This will help to keep your mind on the test not your hunger.

3. Make sure to preview the test. Look it over to see what kind of material you are dealing with. Look over the questions.

4. Read the directions carefully.

5. Underline or block in important words in the directions.

6. Whenever possible, re-read the material and refer back to the material to find answers.

7. Eliminate any incorrect answers. If the test is multiple choice, there are usually four answers. Place a line lightly through the incorrect answers. Most reading tests have two answers that are not directly related to the reading material and two good answers.

8. Choose the best answer from the two last choices.

9. Check your answers. When you are finished with the test, re-read the story and check your answers carefully. make sure you answered each question.

10. Answer the easy questions first. If a question is too hard, make a small ? symbol next to the number and go on. Come back to that question when you are finished.

11.  Answer all the questions.  If the teacher announces it is close to the finish time for the test, guess on the remaining answers, unless you are penalized for making guesses.

Check out these sites:

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/teststress/article10.html

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002268.shtml

Principal Gallegos and Mrs. Romero went to Washington DC to accept the Blue Ribbon School Award.

Morton Elementary is proud to be among the 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools   in the Top 10% in their State with at least 40% of Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. In addition to being honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, where each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

"Dramatically improving" schools have made adequate yearly progress (AYP) as defined by their state and at least 40 percent of their students come from disadvantaged backgrounds. These schools must have dramatically improved the performance of all students to high levels in reading and mathematics on state assessments over at least the past three years.

At a minimum, "high levels" means that the students in the school are achieving above the 60th percentile on state tests in reading  and mathematics. That is, the scores for at least the last grade tested in the school in reading and in mathematics are at or above the 60th percentile.

"Disadvantaged" is defined as eligible for free or reduced meals or Title I services, Limited English Proficient (LEP) or migrant students.

"High performing schools" are in the top 10 percent of all schools on state assessment scores in both reading and mathematics, regardless of their demographics.