Rocking the iSAt:ReLAXAtion StRAtegieS

DEEP BREATH•Take a deep breath.•Hold it for about 3 seconds.•Then, let it out all at once. As you let it out, let your jaw relax, your shoulders relax and think “calm.” •Let your teeth remain slightly apart, with enough space between your front teeth to fit a pencil.

EQUALIZED BREATHING8.Take 4 seconds to breathe in and 4 seconds to breathe out. Count “1 one-thousand, 2 one-thousand, 3 one-thousand, 4 one-thousand.”9.Do this 4 or 5 times.

ABDOMINAL BREATHING12.Put one hand on your chest and the other hand on your belly button. 13.Now, breathe so that only the hand on your belly moves – as you breathe in, the hand moves out and moves in as you exhale. The upper hand on your chest does not move. 14.Watch your hands as you breathe and see if you can breathe with only the lower hand moving.

Rocking the iSAt:SiMPLe StRetcheS

GENTLE HEAD ROLLS2.Gently roll your head in a circle about 3 times to the right and 3 times to the left. 3.Roll slowly and gently.

SHOULDER ROLL6.Raise your shoulders as if trying to touch your ears with them.7.Then, move your shoulders back and let them drop.8.Up, back, down, and around. Do about 5 of these.9.Keep your jaw relaxed and breathe easily while doing these.

ARMS UP AND BACK12.Put your arms up over your head and interlace your fingers. 13.Now turn your palms toward the ceiling and include two moves; push up toward the ceiling and push your arms lightly back. 14.Feel the stretch in your upper arms, shoulders, and upper back.

THE NIGHT BEFORE…•Go to bed on time.•Solve any problems that you are having with your family or friends before the day of the test.•Talk to your parents about any concerns or worries that you might have about the test.

The Morning of the Test•Eat a good breakfast.•Dress in layers so that you can take layers off or put them on, depending on the temperature of the room.•Bring a nutritious snack to school, even if you normally don’t. Avoid salty foods that may make you thirsty later on while testing. •Bring a water bottle to school the day of the test. Water makes up more of the brain (with estimates of 90%) than of any other organ of the body. Drinking some water before and during the test can help "grease the wheels.” Drinking water is very important before any stressful situation, such as tests!•Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.•THINK POSITIVE!

Rocking the iSAt:heLPfuL tiPS

Rocking the iSAt:teSt tAking StRAtegieS

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS•Read the question and all answer choices before marking anything.•Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice…trust your first instinct!•Try to answer every question. Make the most intelligent guess you can if you are unsure of an answer.

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION•If you are stuck on a question, get rid of any answers that you know are wrong.•If you can eliminate some of the wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is much greater.

EXTENDED RESPONSE – Reading and writing•Read the question first! By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read!•Read the article or story twice so that you are sure that you found all of the clues.Remember…I E I EI- Idea- Turn the question aroundE- Evidence - Find support in the text.I- Interpretation- Connect support to idea.E- Extension- Make a connection or tell what you have learned.

What I Did Why I Did It

EXTENDED RESPONSE – MATH•Make a t-chart to help organize your thoughts

•Show all of your work!•Label EVERYTHING! Label! Label! Label!

MATH•When using scratch paper, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet!•Line up the numbers correctly (ones, tens, hundreds) when you are adding or subtracting.•If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers, and try solving it again.

CHECK YOUR WORK•If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all of the questions. •Double check your answers to see if you made any “silly mistakes.”•Check to make sure that you have filled in the bubbles completely and that you have erased any extra marks well.

PACE YOURSELF•Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and then move on.

RELAX•If your arm gets tired during testing, it is probably due to the grip that you have on your pencil. Relax the grip and give those muscles a break! •Go through a relaxation strategy or two. Do not do anything that will disturb others. •Remember, it is okay not to know everything! The test will have some difficult questions on it. Not all of the questions are supposed to be easy. Just do the best you can!

Rocking the ISAT “SOUND OFF”I do know, what I’ve been toldWe are just as good as gold

Extended Response, we’re not scaredYou know that we are all prepared

Rocking … the ISATRocking … the ISAT

Read the question first, it’s trueSo that you know just what to doRead the passage, look for clues

Use them as evidence for youRocking … the ISATRocking … the ISAT

Read the passage a second timeBeing prepared is not a crime

When you’ve finished reading thenIt’s time to restate the question

Rocking … the ISATRocking … the ISAT

Find some evidence as your supportFor the idea that you reportOne or two pieces of text

Then interpret them to do your best!Rocking…the ISAT

Rocking … the ISATThen to keep the judge from dozing

Explain what you’ve learned as the closing.Add a textual connection

Ending with the extension!Rocking…the ISAT

Rocking … the ISATAdapted from http://www.mrsvandyke.com/isat.htm

by Ms. Batchu

(Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

The answer is my idea The answer is my idea

Turn the question around Then write the answer down

The answer is my ideaLook for clues in the textLook for clues in the text

You need to make a referenceSo use the clues as evidence

Look for clues in the textConnect the clues to ideaConnect the clues to idea

Your interpretationIs a clue explanation

Connect the clues to ideaLast is the conclusionLast is the conclusion

Write a great extensionMake a text connectionLast is the conclusion

Remember IEIERemember IEIE

If I get writer’s blockThink of this song and rock!

Remember IEIEBy: Ms. Batchu and Mr. Korbitz

(Tune: Row your boat)

Solve, Solve, Solve the problemUsing strategies

Tell what and why, what and why, what and whyAnswer it complete!

By: Ms. Batchu

MOTIVATIONAL SONGSTime For Tests

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle)Time for tests where I will show

Things I’ve learned and things I know.I am ready! I feel strong!

When I’m careful, can’t go wrong.I worked hard the whole year through.

I will show what I can do!* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Do My Best(Tune: This Old Man)

Do my best on this test!I know how. I am not stressed

‘Cause I worked, I learnedand studied through the year.

I’ll do well. I have no fear!* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

All Those Nights Of Homework(Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider)

All those nights of homework and all those days in school!Lots of information, lots of learning tools!

I know I’m ready, I’ll do the best I canOn the tests that I am taking. Oh yes, this is my plan!

http://www.mrsvandyke.com/isat.htm

The ISAT Song(to the tune of "I Will Survive")

At first I was afraid, I was petrified.Kept thinkin' I could never pass it even if I tried.

But then I spent so many nightsThinkin' hard and thinkin' long,

And I grew strong,And I learned how to carry on.

Now ISAT is back, from outer space.I just walked in to find that test staring me

right in the face.I know that I can really rock.

I know that I have got the key.And now I know it's all because

My teachers taught the strategies.

Go on now, go, walk to that door.Just walk on through now,

'Cause you're not frightened anymore.Weren't you the test that tried to

throw me off the trail?Did I crumble?

Did you think I'd lay down and fail?

Oh no not I. I will survive.Oh, as long as I know the strategies,

I know I'll stay alive.I've got all my life to live,

I've got all my time to give and I'll survive.I will survive. Hey, Hey!Adapted by: Ms. Batchu

Special Thanks to:

• http://www.mrsvandyke.com/isat.htm

• The Brookdale Staff

• The Brookdale Students