ELA Test Prep Language Arts Review. Ideas include different test practice print and digital formats. Access two freebies at the end of the post!

Preparing for state tests need not be stressful if preparation is integrated into the curriculum at the outset.

As much as we teachers do not relish teaching to the test – it just has to be done. Hence, getting into the expected mindset sure does help.

And let’s presume students and teachers alike are in the right ‘testing mindset’, then the next set of questions to think about are:

How do you prepare for an ELA Test?
Other than traditional pencil and paper types, are there other test practice formats?
Can ELA test prep even be fun?

Thankfully, there are positive affirmations to the above questions.

ELA Test Prep Language Arts Review – Print

The saying, ‘practice makes perfect’ is apt when it comes to preparing students for state tests.

Other than subtly incorporating test-prep-style questions into the curriculum, practice tests are an effective way to prepare.

Students get familiar with the presentation and format of tests and gradually assimilate key test-taking skills.

Pencil and paper-type test prep practice tests do good justice reinforcing and assessing skills taught.

There’s nothing quite like the feel of pencil or pen on paper, writing, marking, or shading response options.

Grading these tests also provides focus when it comes to direct instruction as a follow-up activity.

ELA Test Prep Language Arts Review – Digital

We are all too familiar with remote/distance learning and the need to have quick and easy access to digital teaching resources.

Digital ELA test prep language arts review practice tests have effortlessly replaced the traditional pencil and paper ones, thanks to remote teaching.

Giving students digital practice tests will no doubt provide exposure to the online interface.

This format is a winner with teachers too, as grading is all taken off.

In this ELA test prep language arts review boom deck, students are assessed on their competency in spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills.

Test Format of A Boom Deck Practice Test

Giving students a Boom Deck practice test is no prep and no grading.

Prior to assigning the test, the teacher must however provide direct instruction on the strategies involved when responding to multiple-choice questions.

Students will tap or click on the correct response option for each question.

Feedback is instant with the response selected either being correct or incorrect.

There’s also enough data to dictate further teaching and learning.

Students can be assessed on spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Let’s look at each of these individually.

1. Spelling

Students will type the correct spelling after identifying the error.

2. Grammar

Several grammar concepts are assessed. This question assesses students’ knowledge of adverbs.

3. Punctuation and Vocabulary

Students need to know where to insert commas, semi-colons, periods, hyphens, speech marks, etc.

This digital test reinforces all types of punctuation and key vocabulary.

Students get an instant score when the test is submitted. They can also see feedback for each individual response.

Here’s where direct instruction can take over yet once again to re-teach and review key concepts.

Making ELA Test Prep Language Arts Review Fun

So, how can we as teachers make test prep ‘fun’ – perhaps in a way that students don’t even realize they are subtly getting prepared for the big day?

One way to do this is to integrate learning with a fun celebration or a seasonal theme.

Celebration-Themed ELA Test Prep

A practice test can be given via a Google Form.

Let’s take, for example, the fun celebration of April Fools’ Day.

Students are not only laughing at all the ridiculous facts, but they are also subtly preparing for testing.

This fun celebration-themed language arts practice test assesses spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.

The Format of a Celebration-Themed ELA Practice Test

Students will first read a fun fact on April Fools’ Day.

Next, they will read and analyze the fact card not just for the fun fact but also for the language used to express that fact.

Interestingly, the question subtly employs the language used in the fun fact to target skills related to spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.

Everything is not so straight forward too – as fact cards feature deliberate errors that students have to spot.

The Benefits of A Celebration-Themed ELA Practice Test

This kind of preparation has a dual benefit. Other than benefitting the student, it benefits the teacher as well.

How so?

By alleviating the need for – marking!

Once students submit the fun-facts celebration quiz targeting essential language arts skills, they get instant feedback in terms of an instant score and breakdown of errors.

The teacher gets a summary report of all student responses, individual questions, and an individual student’s response.