3 Ways to Boost Focus and Save Time This Testing Season

ClassPlanit Weekly – Issue #1

Finding Balance During Testing Season: Teacher-Tested Strategies for Energy, Focus & Sanity

Hey there,

Test season has its ups and downs—but we're moving through it together. This week, we've gathered classroom energizers that take less time than brewing coffee, reminders that your own wellbeing matters too, and resource recycling strategies that'll save you precious planning time.

We know what it's like in the classroom right now: the pressure of getting through content, the worry about student performance, and that nagging feeling that there's never enough time. That's why we've crafted this issue specifically for these challenging mid-test-season moments when both you and your students might be feeling the weight of exhaustion.

Let's launch into it.

Tip of the Week: Movement Matters

Move to improve. When test-day focus starts to wander, a quick movement break can bring everyone back to center. Just 2 minutes of stretching, a standing review game, or a "move if you know..." activity can reboot energy levels and sharpen minds. No prep, no tech—just bodies ready to reconnect with learning.

Try these teacher-tested movement breaks:

• Content Corners: Label the four corners of your room with A, B, C, and D. Read review questions and have students move to the corner representing their answer. This gets blood flowing while reinforcing content.

• Stand-Stretch-Solve: Have students stand whenever they're ready to answer a question. Once standing, they stretch upward while thinking, then share their response. The physical action helps cement the learning.

• Review Relay: Form small teams. Students must walk (not run) to the board to solve one part of a multi-step problem, then tag the next teammate. Combines movement with collaborative thinking.

Fellow teacher tip: Hand the reins to a student leader. They'll beam with the responsibility, and you'll score 120 seconds to breathe. Create a rotation so everyone gets a chance to lead—you'll be surprised at how even your quietest students might shine when given this opportunity.

Resource Refresh Center

Remember that brilliant resource you created months ago? It's time for its comeback tour. Pull up a past warm-up, exit ticket, or activity and retrofit it for review purposes.

Resource recycling strategies that work:

• Flip the format: Turn an old assessment into a collaborative study guide. Students can work together to correct mistakes or enhance responses from a previous quiz.

• Speed upgrade: Take a worksheet from earlier in the year and turn it into a timed challenge. The familiar content with a new constraint creates fresh engagement.

• Student curators: Have students transform your past materials into new review resources. They might turn a reading into questions, convert practice problems into a game, or transform a slideshow into a study guide.

Students actually benefit from seeing familiar formats with fresh content—and you get to skip the design-from-scratch process. Want to boost engagement? Invite students to help upgrade the material. The content they remember (and how quickly they jump to improve it) might surprise you.

Your Self-Care Mission

You're doing important work—don't overlook your own needs during this intense season. Test preparation can feel all-consuming, but maintaining your own balance is crucial for sustainable teaching.

Small self-care strategies from our teacher community:

• The 5-minute sanctuary: Find five minutes daily where you close your door, silence your phone, and just breathe. Many teachers swear by arriving at school just 5 minutes earlier to secure this quiet time.

• Celebration journal: End each day by writing down three small victories. They don't have to be test-related—celebrate that student who finally crafted a complete sentence, the group that stayed focused on their task longer than usual, or even your personal win of remembering lunch three days running.

• Colleague connection: Find a buddy teacher and commit to checking in with each other once during the school day. Even a 30-second conversation about something non-school related can reset your perspective.

Remember: if today's victory is simply making it through the day? That counts too. Your wellbeing matters just as much as test scores—in fact, it's a prerequisite for effective teaching during this demanding season.

Q&A: Testing Season Challenges

Q: My students are showing major test anxiety. How can I help them without adding pressure?

A: Test anxiety thrives in uncertainty. Create predictable routines during test prep, share clear expectations about format and content, and normalize stress as a natural response. Try introducing simple breathing techniques at the beginning of review sessions—these same tools can serve students during the actual test.

Q: How do I keep non-testing subjects engaging when everyone's focused on the "big test"?

A: This is the perfect time to make non-tested subjects a creative outlet. Use these classes as opportunities for project-based activities that connect to test content in unexpected ways. For example, art can visualize math concepts, music can reinforce language patterns, and physical education can be a space to release test stress while promoting brain function.

Until Next Week...

Here's to finding your rhythm, making the most of what you already have, and discovering small moments to recharge amid the busyness. We're right there alongside you—cheering your progress and celebrating every success.

Remember, test season is just one part of your teaching journey. The connections you build, the light-bulb moments you create, and the care you show during this challenging time will resonate far beyond any test score.

You've got this. And we've got you.

— Your Fellow Educators at ClassPlanit

P.S. We'd love to hear your test-season survival strategies! Reply to this email with your favorite classroom energizer or self-care tip, and we might feature it in next week's issue.