Testing Season Tips for Teachers (Without the Burnout)

Hey Teacher Friend!

If you’re looking at your calendar wondering how you’re supposed to fit in all the curriculum before state testing and keep your students emotionally supported—you are not alone.

Recently, I asked teachers in multiple Facebook groups about testing season. Are they cramming? Are they stressed? Are they trying to fit it all in?

The response was overwhelming.

And interestingly, most teachers fell into three clear categories.

The 3 Types of Teachers During Testing Season

As I read through hundreds of responses, I noticed a pattern. Teachers tend to fall into one of these three camps:

1. The Crammers

These teachers are feeling the pressure. They’re rushing through content, trying to fit everything in, and often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

2. The Magicians

You know the ones. Somehow, they’ve taught everything and have time for review.

(And the rest of us are wondering… how?!)

3. The “It Is What It Is” Teachers

These teachers have decided not to stress. They’re doing what they can and letting the rest go.

At first glance, this mindset can feel freeing. However, there’s something important to gently consider.

A Gentle Check-In: Are You Protecting Your Peace… or Disconnecting?

Let me be clear—this is not about guilt. It’s about awareness.

There is a difference between:

• Letting go of what you can’t control
• And disconnecting from your purpose

If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed or thinking, “It is what it is,” take a moment to reflect:

• Am I protecting my peace… or have I started to check out?
• Have I stopped trying because I feel grounded… or because I feel defeated?
• Do I still feel connected to helping my students grow?

Here’s the truth we don’t always say out loud:

Yes, we have a responsibility to teach the content our students will be assessed on.
And yes, the system doesn’t always give us the time to do that well.

Both things can be true.

However, when we fully disconnect, we risk losing something really important—our connection to why we teach in the first place.

So instead of choosing between panic or apathy, let’s look at a better way forward.

A Better Way to Prepare for Testing (Without Burning Out)

Rather than rushing or giving up, what if we focused on intentional teaching?

Not doing everything—but doing the right things on purpose.

Here are three simple shifts that can make a big difference.

1. Prioritize Power Standards (Not Everything Equally)

First, take a step back and look at what will actually be assessed.

Focusing on power standards helps you:

• Use your time more effectively
• Reduce overwhelm
• Support student success more intentionally

And let’s clear something up…

It is not a bad thing to preview the test.
It is not a bad thing to show students what they can expect.

While “teaching to the test” often gets a negative reputation, preparing students for how they’ll be assessed is simply part of good teaching.

At the same time, remind yourself:
There will be time after testing to explore, create, and go deeper.

2. Teach the Social-Emotional Side of Testing

Here’s something I see all the time…

Students give up before they’ve even fully read the question.

That’s not just a content issue—it’s a mindset issue.

So instead of only reviewing material, we also need to prepare students emotionally.

Help them understand:

• It’s okay to feel frustrated
• It’s normal to struggle
• The test is meant to challenge them

Then, guide them toward what to do when things feel hard:

• Take their time
• Think things through
• Use scrap paper
• Show their work
• Keep going

Equally important, remind them to:

• Get rest
• Come in with a positive mindset
• Do their best

When students feel calm and supported, they’re much more likely to stay engaged and persevere.

3. Build in Breathing Room Before the Test

Finally, resist the urge to cram right up until test day.

Students need time to rest—both mentally and emotionally.

That doesn’t mean you stop teaching. Instead, it means you shift how you use your time.

Consider:

• Turning review into a game
• Doing a creative activity the day before
• Having students make encouragement cards for one another
• Creating space for connection and positivity

These moments of calm are not wasted time. In fact, they help students perform better.

And honestly… they help us feel better too.

You Don’t Have to Choose Between Burnout and Giving Up

Testing season can feel like a lot.

However, you don’t have to live in the extremes of rushing or checking out.

There is a middle ground, even during testing season: teaching with intention.

You are doing important work. Even in a system that isn’t always perfect.

And your students need you—present, intentional, and connected.

You’ve got this.

I hope this inspired you today.

Let’s Reset How We Approach Testing Season

If you’re feeling stuck between cramming everything in and throwing your hands up, I want to support you.

Inside The Classroom RESET, I help teachers move out of that constant pressure of “not enough time” and into a classroom that feels calm, focused, and actually manageable—even during testing season.

Together, we focus on building a classroom where students are engaged, emotionally supported, and ready to learn—so you’re not relying on last-minute cramming or carrying all the weight on your own.

Because preparing for testing isn’t about doing more…

It’s about teaching with intention, creating space for connection, and supporting your students in a way that actually helps learning stick.

And when that shift happens?

Testing season no longer feels like a race you’re trying to survive…
It becomes something you and your students can move through with confidence.

And you finally get to feel like a teacher again.

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.