SAT Prep: 6 Essential Steps To Help Your Students Succeed At Their SATS.

by | Mar 22, 2019

SAT Prep: 6 Essential Steps To Help Your Students Succeed At Their SATS.

At OpenView Education we know the lead up to SATS can be a high pressure time for Year 6 Teachers and their students. That’s why we have put together our top six tips for approaching your Sat prep in an effective and positive way.
 
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1. Be Positive

It’s great to embed the idea of the Growth Mindset throughout your teaching & SAT prep, and remind your students about this as they are encountering challenges.
Use these great videos from ClassDojo to remind your students to have a Growth Mindset while preparing for their SATS.
 
 

2. Get Active

It’s a fact, physical activity and exercise helps us to think and memorise more clearly. Findings from numerous studies show that revising after a burst of physical exercise can dramatically increase our ability learn and memorise. This is because exercise causes the release of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which stimulates growth of new brain cells.
 
So why not take advantage of this physiological fact and turn on some music and get your students moving right before their next revision session. At OpenView we use this approach in our Anti-Bullying & Internet Safety Workshops.
 

3. Use Peer Support & Team Work

Pair up students to work together. If you have one student who is performing well and very confident in maths, you can pair them up with a student who is struggling.
 
This gives students the chance to explain concepts in their own way, and you can supervise the conversation to make sure their on task.
 

4. Little & Often

Use short, sharp bursts of revision on the more challenging subjects. Cover just enough information so they can take it away and digest it.
 
You can try this for Maths by giving them a question and a 5 minute time limit. This can improve their confidence and makes the questions more like a game. Make the focus of these questions on showing proof of their work.
 

5. Use Inspiring Language & Build Confidence

Praise, praise and praise progress, even if there is only small improvement. Students (and human beings in general) respond to social motivators like appreciation and recognition, seeing that you are pleased by the progress they have made can be transformative.
 
 
 
 
 

6. Celebrate

Plan an event or special treat for your students after the SATS period, let your students know it is a reward for their hard work. You could put a picture up in the classroom to remind your students about this event coming up throughout their SAT prep.
 
 
 
 
Remain calm, remain positive. Give praise, recognition and appreciation more than ever. SATs can be a stressful time, but with a positive and calm approach you will make it through and help your students to succeed.
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