As the second half of the school year looms ahead, so does another ominous figure. It is more prevalent for certain students than it is for others, but it still remains a lingering presence for all. A section of the year filled with dread for so many students across Texas. Bridgeland High School’s testing season is approaching fast and it’s shaking up the student body.
Teachers across Bridgeland are doing their best to craft reviews for these tests to ensure student success.
“We have been working on getting some review materials together,” U.S. History teacher Teri Hudson said. “We are also focusing on helping them practice the type of questions, like the formatting of the test, so that it does not hinder their scores.”
Some teachers are having to put up with new classes, so it makes their priorities much different from previous years. Some even have to deal with multiple different types of classes at once.
“For me, I did not teach K-level kids [before],” Hudson said. “So this year I have AP students and K-level students, so to come together and get them both ready and work with them to get ready for the test, that’s different for me this year.”
It’s an interesting dispute considering the decision to soon split certain tests into separate sections. The students and teachers will have to work around it in a very different way than normal.
“The testing schedule is changing,” Hudson said. “The state has changed how we’re going to be testing STAAR, moving away from one test at the end of the school year to 3 smaller tests, so, it will be interesting to see how that change happens.”
Preparation for the testing season varies quite heavily from student to student, especially in the different tests students take. Whether it be the SAT, PSAT, or a variation of the STAAR. Some don’t bother preparing at all and go in hoping for the best. Others spend hours a day cranking in skills to help make these tests easier. The rest usually cycle between both.
“I study a lot,” junior Ranen Ashu said. “And even when I don’t study, I usually get stuff like 80s, maybe 90s if I’m lucky.”
Most students truly do try, though. Even the ones who don’t study understand that these tests are too important for them to fail. It’s an incredibly pivotal moment for the school and the students as a whole.
“They really put their mind to it,” Ashu said. “Even then, I feel like there are people out there who could do better than I can.”
The teachers can’t he help the students with the test itself, but they remain confident in them. Keeping the students from being overwhelmed by it and convincing them to go in with a positive mindset.
“I think they will be great,” Hudson said. “I think it’s very important to have a healthy understanding of why the test is valuable, but also not be stressed out. I really try to emphasize that this test doesn’t determine or identify anybody in any certain way.”
