Pick of the Day: Big Test Success (DVD)

Big Test Success: Motivational Videos for Kids. DVD. 45 min. Page Turner Adventures. 2013. ISBN unavail. $99.
K-Gr 5–Preparing students for high-stakes testing can be a challenge. Teachers spend considerable time helping them gain the knowledge they need to succeed. However, sometimes students can know the correct answers, but they allow other things to come between them and success. This program contains 15 short videos that speak, briefly, to other issues that can affect not only testing but also life in general. A female “storyologist” in an explorer outfit and a male wannabe clown in overalls who will be taking a major clown test, serve as the hosts in this live-action production. They go inside the brain of Ben, a boy who will be taking a high-stakes test. The episodes focus on relaxing, staying in control, visualization, avoiding perfectionism, healthy eating, exercising, maintaining a positive attitude, and self-affirmation. One section deals with basic test-taking strategies such as pacing, fully filling in circles, erasing completely, and making sure you’ve answered all the questions. The videos are somewhat sequential and should be shown in order. They are designed to be part of a school-wide morning broadcast, but could also be used in individual classrooms. When opened on a computer, the DVD also contains written support material. There’s plenty of gentle humor, lots of pies in the face, and good advice for students who tense up when testing time arrives. The cogent and kid-friendly episodes could lead to short classroom discussions that reinforce key concepts. Both teachers and students will enjoy this series.–Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary,FederalWay,WA