Welcome to Ms. Briggs' Studying Strategies Blog!

I am a ninth grade biology teacher at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, DC. I have the opportunity to teach incredibly talented and curious 13 and 14 year-olds, but this past year, I noticed an overwhelming trend: many of my students’ test results often did not match their abilities. I investigated this further by analyzing student data and through my own observations and realized that the main thing preventing my students from truly succeeding was their study habits. Many of my students did not study at all for exams, because they did not realize the importance of studying or because they simply did not know how. This blog is designed to be a resource for both parents and students to help support all students in their attempts to become better scholars! Please check out this blog – use the advice and tips, comment with questions or criticism and feel free to add your own resources as we all grow together as an educational community.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Test-taking strategies for word problems

In addition to poor studying habits or lack of studying altogether, I also know that students sometimes perform under par due to poor testing strategies.  For example, during an exam, students may become confused by a problem’s wording or misread a problem and therefore mark the incorrect answer.  One strategy that I have developed in my classroom is called “STOMP.”  This strategy was originally adapted from a Teach for America professional development program and then adapted for use in my classroom.  I have found that by teaching students to go through problems in these steps, the students are much less likely to make a mistake or rush through an exam.


TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES FOR WORD PROBLEMS: STOMP
Search for key words & underline them. 
Tell yourself what the problem is asking (box the question).
Omit unnecessary information.  Scratch it out!
Make pictures to summarize information in the problem (if possible)
Process of Elimination (cross out answers you know are wrong)

Does anyone have any other testing strategies that they use in their classroom? 
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