Math Test Prep Center Activities for Upper Elementary
The end of the year test prep chaos can be super daunting. You are just counting down the days until the next long weekend while trying to survive the spring fever taking over your classroom. I get it. I’ve been there. In this article we will learn all about how to tame the chaos by keeping students engaged in end of the year math test prep. Whether your students are taking the state test, an end of the year cumulative exam, or you are just looking for ways to assess for report cards, these ideas are sure to inspire your lesson plans!
Why Use Math Centers for Test Prep?
Math centers used to scare me. Truly. I could not imagine a world in which I would let students roam the classroom in groups together. I was picturing a loud, out-of-control situation in which very little learning was happening. But – the moment I embraced math centers and figured out that the most important part was ensuring students knew the expectations, had a clear idea of what was expected of them at each station, and knew that they would be held accountable for their work – well, there was no going back. I was hooked. Meeting with small focused groups to tackle skills specifically aligned to their needs while allowing my other students the chance to practice, enhance, and even extend their math skills was exciting. I could see the confidence growing in my students, I was able to build deeper connections with them while we worked one-on-one or in small groups, and students who had mastered the skills didn’t have to sit through a 45 minute class on something they already knew – they had the chance to enrich their math world with extensions and activities.
All that to say, math centers for test prep is no different. If you haven’t been using math centers/rotations this year – don’t worry, they can be implemented any time of year. And now is the perfect time to try. During a time of year when students are starting to check out – spring sports are starting, the sun is out, and the final countdown is on – centers and movement can work wonders to keep students engaged and learning during those final months.
How to Structure Your Math Centers
When I started with math centers, the structure was the hardest part. I wasn’t sure I could picture exactly what students would be doing during that time, and I dreaded the inevitable principal walkthrough when all chaos had broken out during my math block. Luckily, that did not happen. I started with a simple setup using the MATH acronym: Meet with the teacher, At your desk, Technology, and Hands on. Eventually, I expanded this and had a few more (word problems, task cards, etc.) but keeping it simple is the best way to start!
When planning for test prep, choose 3-5 math centers that students can move through over a few days. Give them ample time to complete each task and for you to dive deep into meaningful topics with your small group. You can repeat this weekly with different skills all the way up until test day. Choosing engaging activities such as math games, color by code activities, and real world math problems can really go a long way in enhancing the math block.
Then, if your principal does walk through during math centers, he/she will be thoroughly impressed with your standards-aligned math centers savvy.
Must-Have Math Center Types for Test Prep
I won’t leave you hanging. There are a few must have math centers for test prep that my students always flock to – they even ask to do them during indoor recess – so they are tried and true ways to keep their math skills sharp!
Review games: My students love Tic-Tac-Math and Math Mania – both easy to learn and implement. They truly are our go-to!
Skill practice pages: Now, for some of the skills we are reviewing I know that it has been a long time since we originally learned them (maybe September or October). And, while we all hope that everyone will remember all.the.things…it’s just not the case (I can’t even remember what I had for dinner last night, so…we all get that). Using these booklets in your math centers can work wonders. Students can use the step by step guide in a student friendly format to review skills. Then, they have the booklet on hand while they practice. It’s almost like they have their own personal tutor right by their side!
Hands-on: I love color-by-code activities. I mean – who doesn’t,right? Students see an art project and I see a meaningful way to practice important math skills, a self-correcting format, and a beautiful display for students to show off at the end of the day. Want a FREE color-by-code so you can get started right away? Check this one out!
Technology centers: Let’s face it. This generation of students has never NOT known a time when internet was king. It is a huge part of their lives, especially since COVID, and allowing them the opportunity to showcase their skills in a digital format is important. My students always gravitate toward Boom Cards – they are self-correcting so they can see how they are progressing right away in a low-stress environment. We also love Blooket and Gimkit as ways to enhance skills!
Teacher center: This center is perhaps the most important. It gives you the chance to really hone in on skills that need a bit more practice. During test prep season, this usually means we are working on word problems. Let’s face it – they can be daunting. They can look scary. But – they don’t have to be. Teaching students strategies, giving them opportunities to talk about their math reasoning, and allowing them the space to think through tricky situations with you and a small group of their peers can really impact students deeply. I love to use real-world math situations to have students connect with the material. Want to read more about word problems? Check out this blog post!
Tips for Math Center Test Prep Success
There a couple of things that I had to have in order to make sure that things were running smoothly. Probably the most important one was the visual timer. We would pick a timer image and then set it for each center. This reminded me and the students that we had to manage our time in order to make the most of each center.
Math centers can also seem like a lot of extra work to correct. I wanted the added accountability so students would staple their work to the week’s math center menu. But – no one wants a huge pile of extra work to look through.That is why center activities that are either self-correcting or have QR codes available for students to check in with make everything so much simpler. A quick glance through their stack of work would give me an idea of where they were with each skill
Grab-and-Go Test Prep Center Ideas
Let’s wrap it all up with four of my favorite math center test-prep resources!
Remember, test prep math centers are not about cramming everything in. It’s about boosting confidence, offering support, and engaging students in a way that makes learning math magical, not mundane!