Case
Troubled on Tests

I have two students who demonstrate they are able to do things proficiently in class, especially in math. Oftentimes, they even excel, and I have them become peer-tutors on the topics for their classmates. When it comes to our weekly common assessment, however, they freeze. It is like they have never seen the material before and have no idea where to even start. The test has had the same format since the first week of school. We go over their tests weekly, have them work through the problems they miss, dissect and conference on what parts they were confused on and what they can do to fix it. Most of the time, they are able to correct it without any help for me. They just can't do it on the actual test. These tests are the only things we are allowed to put in for grades.
The parents are upset because their children are consistently scoring low or failing math each quarter. They say I am not doing enough to help their students, I am not sending home enough extra work, etc. I have explained to them many times that in class every day of the week besides the test day, they are able to do everything 100% without my assistance, but of course this is not a satisfactory response, and I understand.

At this point, however, I am kind of at a loss for what more I can do.

Posted on: 03/15/15 | Views: 907
Solution #1
This sounds like a complicated situation. If students are able to demonstrate their knowledge successfully leading up to the test consistently and are scoring poorly on the assessment itself, I would request permission from administration to use the other work for a grade for these two students. It seems like an ethical dilemma because it appears the students are dealing with test anxiety and only allowing this grade, when you know as an educator that it does not demonstrate their actual knowledge would not be fair to your students. I believe most administrators will be empathetic to this and allow exceptions if you explain the situation and provide them with sufficient evidence. I believe our goal should always be to help students be successful and grades should reflect students' true abilities not their ability to test well.

This is a well thought out solution.

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Solution #2
Maybe the students could make themselves a list of steps for the math tests, so they could rely on this when they freeze up on assessments. Another idea would be having them create motivational messages for themselves on the inside of a student office (tri-fold cardboard to remove distractions) to help them through test anxiety.
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Solution #3
Maybe these students have testing anxiety. Have you tried putting the students off away from other students so that they feel more comfortable. It is worth a shot. You just reassure them that they know how to do this material and that they have done it may times. Are you not able to take small daily grades? This may help their grade.
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Solution #4
Have them do a practice test
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