Hey Teacher Friend!
Test prep season can be stressful.
Even when we’ve planned all year.
Even when we know our students are capable.
Even when we tell ourselves we’re not going to let it get to us this time.
The pressure of testing week still creeps in.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a little anxious, or tempted to squeeze in one more review packet, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too.
In this post, I want to share three common test prep mistakes teachers make — and what to do instead to create a calmer classroom, reduce student stress, and protect your own nervous system.
Why Testing Prep Feels So Intense for Teachers
Testing pressure isn’t just about the test.
It’s about:
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Student behavior changes
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Increased anxiety (theirs and ours)
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Time pressure
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The feeling that everything rides on this one week
When our nervous system feels activated, we tend to react instead of respond. And that’s often when these three mistakes show up.
Mistake #1: Push, Push, Push
When testing week approaches, it’s tempting to double down.
One more lesson.
One more practice packet.
One more review block squeezed into an already full day.
But pushing harder often creates more stress — not more learning.
Our students feel our urgency. Their bodies respond to it. And suddenly behavior increases, focus decreases, and the classroom feels tense.
What to Do Instead: Have a Plan
Instead of pushing, plan.
Ask yourself:
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How can I review key skills naturally within our existing schedule?
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How can I collaborate with my team to share the load?
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Where can I add energy instead of pressure?
One of my favorite examples of this was something my team created called “Mathapalooza.” Instead of cramming six chapters into four stressful test prep weeks, we built a collaborative, music-infused structure that lowered stress and increased engagement. It wasn’t about doing more. It was about doing it differently.
The result? More motivation. Less panic. Better atmosphere.
Test prep doesn’t have to feel frantic to be effective.
Mistake #2: Practice Test After Practice Test
I’ll be honest — I’ve been guilty of this one.
Printing out released tests from previous years. Having students take test after test after test “for practice.”
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Practice without reflection isn’t powerful.
Yes, students need stamina. Yes, they need to understand the format. But silently taking full practice tests over and over again doesn’t necessarily build skill or confidence.
What to Do Instead: Guide and Visualize
Instead of just assigning a practice test:
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Walk through questions together.
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Model how to break down a prompt.
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Pause and talk through thinking strategies.
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Teach students how to approach tricky questions.
And if your goal is building test-taking confidence?
Use visualization.
Research shows that athletes use mental imagery to improve performance. We can guide students to visualize:
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Walking into the room
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Taking a deep breath
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Opening the test calmly
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Working through questions with focus
This simple shift reduces anxiety and builds confidence — without adding stacks of copies to your desk.
Mistake #3: “This Test Is a Reflection of the Teacher”
This one might feel controversial.
Sometimes, in an effort to reduce pressure, we tell students: “This test is really about me, not you.”
I understand the intention. We want to protect them.
But when we remove all responsibility from students, we also remove ownership.
And ownership is empowering.
What to Do Instead: Teach Healthy Responsibility
Testing results are not solely a reflection of the teacher. They are also shaped by:
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Effort
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Preparation
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Asking questions when confused
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Getting enough sleep
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Showing up ready to try
Helping students understand what responsibility looks like — in a supportive way — builds life skills that extend far beyond test prep.
And that shift reduces pressure instead of increasing it.
Instead of
Pushing,
PLAN!
A Calmer Testing Week Starts with Teacher Clarity
Testing pressure is real.
But panic doesn’t have to be the strategy.
When we:
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Plan instead of push
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Guide instead of drill
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Empower instead of overprotect
We create a classroom environment that feels steadier — for our students and for ourselves.
And here’s the bigger truth:
Testing week is just one version of teacher pressure. There’s…
Curriculum pressure.
Behavior pressure.
Time pressure.
Expectation pressure.
If we only address the symptoms during test prep season, we miss the opportunity to build systems that support us all year long.
That’s why I created the RESET Roadmap — a free resource that walks you through the first steps of building calmer, proactive classroom systems that prevent behavior before it starts.
If you’re ready for teaching to feel lighter (not perfect, but steadier), you can download it here:
Test prep doesn’t define you.
Your students’ scores don’t define you.
And one stressful season doesn’t define your teaching.
You are doing important work. Don’t forget that!
I hope this inspired you today.
Get in on the Experience!
The Classroom Reset
The Classroom Reset is your fresh (RE)start—designed to bring calm, connection, and creativity back to your classroom in just 6 weeks!
This teacher-centered RESET course is designed to help you improve student behavior and take care of your own well-being—without adding more to your plate. Through the proven RESET Framework, you’ll rebuild classroom culture, re-engage students through creative strategies, and strengthen SEL so that teaching feels calm, connected and joyful again! With Personalized 1:1 Support and a group of fellow educators walking alongside you—you’ll finally feel confident, calm, and in control again. This isn’t just another training. It’s a true RESET Experience: for your students, your classroom and YOU.
