End of The Year Archives - Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould

What To Do After State Testing (That Actually Helps Your Students)

Lindsay — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:35:55 +0000

So… state testing is done. Your brain is screaming, “Now what?”

If you’re like most teachers, the time between testing and the last day of school can feel like no-man’s land. You’re expected to “keep teaching” but everyone’s a little burned out, your pacing guide is done(ish), and kids can practically smell summer vacation.

Here’s the good news: This stretch doesn’t have to feel like a chaotic countdown to summer. You can absolutely make these weeks meaningful, productive, and (dare I say?) even fun for you and your students.

Let’s talk about how to make that happen.

Finish the Curriculum (Yes, Really)

Before you toss the pacing guide out the window, pause. Were there any skills you had to rush through? Concepts your students clearly didn’t master? Now’s your chance to go back and clean things up.

Use anchor tasks, collaborative work, or hands-on review games to solidify those must-have skills.

But once that’s done? It’s time to shift gears.

Review or Preview: An Intentional Way End

Here’s where the magic happens.

Not every student needs the same thing in these final weeks. Some are barely hanging onto the grade level material. Others have crushed it and are mentally halfway to next year. So why treat them the same?

Instead of assigning the same activities to the whole class, try this:

➤ Group 1: Review Crew

These students showed gaps on benchmark assessments or struggled with key concepts. They need targeted review — not a generic packet or endless worksheets. Use spiral review stations, skill-based small groups, or interactive review challenges to help them rebuild confidence.

Bonus Tip: Let these students work together in pairs or triads with clear roles. Collaborative learning is powerful when guided.

➤ Group 2: Preview Pros

These students have already demonstrated mastery of most grade-level content. Give them the gift of curiosity.

Let them explore:

Real-world extensions of the content (project-based learning is gold here)
A few high-leverage standards from next year’s curriculum
Open-ended math investigations or “challenge problems”

You’re not trying to teach the next grade, just plant seeds. Get them thinking, connecting, and excited for what’s coming.

Keep It Light and Purposeful

This isn’t the time to start something massive or overwhelming. But it is the time to spark joy and remind kids that learning doesn’t stop when testing ends.

Ideas that work beautifully post-testing:

Math escape rooms (I have end of year ones that teacher LOOOOOVE)
STEM challenges
Multi-day themed reviews to hook them and keep them engaged, like these Math Mystery Reviews.
Passion projects tied to math or problem-solving
Game Choice Boards – they create them, then play them!
Math journaling with reflection prompts like:
- “The hardest thing I learned this year was…”
- “One math skill I’ll use in real life is…”

Final Thought

Teaching between testing and the last day of school doesn’t have to be a survival game. With smart grouping, a little structure, and a dash of creativity, you can make this time meaningful for every student.

Let them leave your room feeling confident, curious, and maybe even excited for what’s next.

And hey, you deserve to end the year on a high note too.

Lindsay

The post What To Do After State Testing (That Actually Helps Your Students) appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

Math Escapes : Escape Room Style Activities in the Middle School Math Classroom

Lindsay — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 19:09:48 +0000

Watch a FREE Math Escapes Webinar – anytime, anywhere! SIGN UP HERE!

Why Escape Activities?

Escape rooms have gained immense popularity in recent years, and it’s not difficult to see why. These activities encourage individuals to collaborate and use problem-solving skills to reach a common goal, making them a great way to promote teamwork and logical thinking among students. By incorporating escape room-style activities in the middle school math classroom, students can work together to solve math-related problems while having fun.

I’m going to dig into this 6th Grade Math End of Year Escape to show how this type of activity could become a fun addition to your classroom.

What makes this escape activity different?
This activity does not require the challenges to be completed in any particular order. Students simply need to find all eight codes to “escape.” This makes the activity highly customizable and allows for differentiation and the ability to remove challenges based on time constraints. Additionally, teachers can make only one copy of each challenge and reuse them as groups finish.

This escape room is NOT…
It’s important to note that while this activity is designed for end-of-year fun, it should not be used as a comprehensive review of all 6th grade standards. The primary focus of escape activities is on collaboration and problem-solving, and while they do help reinforce content, they should not be used as a substitute for thorough test review.

Is there a lot of work involved for the teacher?
While escape activities do require some preparation on the teacher’s part, they are guaranteed to engage students and make learning fun. Teachers do not need any special materials to carry out the 6th Grade Math End of Year Escape, and even the more elaborate methods of “escaping” only require simple materials like manila folders, metal paper fasteners/brads, and mirrors. Take a look at this video if you want to peek inside the 6th Grade End of Year Math Escape. I go over all of the prep needed in detail. It is a 30 minute video so you’ll need time to get through it all!

What materials are needed?
CLICK HERE for links to everything mentioned below.
Here’s the great thing – you don’t technically need ANY materials. WHAT? Other than paper and typical classroom materials (glue stick, scissors, a ruler), manila folders, a metal paper fastener/brad and a mirror, you aren’t required to have anything else.

There are three ways to “escape”. The first TWO ways involve only the materials listed above. Students can either check their codes by themselves using a digital lock (a Google Drive file) or by having you check their code. It is as simple as that!

The third method does include a lock box, lockout hasp and a variety of different locks (four 4 digit, two 3 digit and two alpha) that require materials but once you purchase them, you can reuse them over and over again.

What activities are used in Math Escapes?
The activity options are almost endless! Any skill can be turned into an escape style activity as long as the answer(s) can somehow be converted to a code. This is possible using ciphers, decoders, etc. or simple letter/number coordination.

Students can put together puzzles, complete worksheets, decipher messages, complete word searches or crossword puzzles, color by number, etc. There really are SO many different opportunities.

If you wish to create an escape style activity for your class and you want one challenge to lead to another you’ll need to make sure the code from one challenge somehow leads students to the next. The Math Escapes I have created do not have linking challenges so they can be used without worrying about having to complete all challenges or complete them in a specific order.

Take a peek
This short video takes you inside my 6th Grade End of Year Math Escape so you can get an idea of the types of resources that are included.

https://beyondtheworksheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/6th-Grade-Math-Escape-Preview.mp4

Wrapping it up:
In conclusion, escape activities provide a fun and engaging way to teach math and problem-solving skills. While they may require some preparation on the teacher’s part, the benefits of these activities in promoting teamwork, collaboration, and logical thinking among students make them well worth the effort

If you’d like to purchase any of the individual math escapes you can do so by CLICKING HERE!

You can also get access to all current and future Math Escapes by becoming a Math Escapes Member!

Lindsay

*This post includes Amazon affiliate links.

The post Math Escapes : Escape Room Style Activities in the Middle School Math Classroom appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

3 Reasons Choice Boards are PERFECT for End of Year Review

Lindsay — Tue, 24 May 2016 02:16:24 +0000

Choice boards are a powerful tool that can transform how students learn and demonstrate their understanding of a subject. They provide students with a sense of ownership over their work, and give teachers an opportunity to assess their knowledge in a variety of ways. If you are not using choice boards, you are missing out on a fantastic opportunity to engage your students and assess their learning.

But what exactly are choice boards? In essence, they are a set of activities that allow students to choose how they want to demonstrate their understanding of a subject. Each activity is aligned with a specific learning objective, and students can select which activities they want to complete. This approach is particularly useful at the end of the year, when students are starting to check out and lose motivation.

One of the main benefits of choice boards is that they provide students with a choice. Students have different learning styles and preferences, and choice boards allow them to choose activities that align with their strengths. For example, if a student is not artistic, they can choose an activity that doesn’t require artistic skills. This approach helps to ensure that every student is engaged and motivated.

Another benefit of choice boards is that they are fun to grade. Unlike traditional assignments, where you know exactly what to expect, choice boards offer a variety of products that showcase student creativity and ingenuity. From student-produced textbook pages to videos, the possibilities are endless. Grading choice boards allows you to see your students in a new light, and can help you to appreciate their skills and talents in a way that you might not have otherwise.

If you are hesitant to try choice boards, remember that giving up control can be a little frightening. But as teachers, we need to be willing to try new things and experiment with different approaches. Choice boards are a simple yet effective tool that can help to transform how students learn and demonstrate their understanding of a subject. So why not give them a try? You might just fall in love with this new method of informal assessment and find a way to incorporate it into your classroom throughout the next school year.

Interested in more end of year ideas and activities? Head to this post for details on my Math Mystery Reviews!

Click here to grab a choice board resource to try in your classroom next week!

The post 3 Reasons Choice Boards are PERFECT for End of Year Review appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.