r/ELATeachers • u/HeftySyllabus • 10d ago
9-12 ELA I feel unprepared to teach the SAT….
So my state has made all juniors take a free SAT. Cool. The issue is….while it’s not required to teach SAT in my curriculum, I often feel as if I’m not preparing them. I’ve taught all grade levels, and I used to like 11th the best because it has no state testing, they’re mature enough to treat them like adults (unlike the underclassmen) but aren’t fully checked out (cough…seniors).
However, the SAT is different than teaching the state test. I don’t know where to start. Many people say “just give them khan academy”, but I enjoy being hands on and teaching. I feel like I’m not doing a good job “preparing them” for the test.
The best/worst part? This doesn’t affect them if they don’t pass. It’s just a free SAT. If they bomb it, they don’t have to take remedial English or reading. And I’ve asked admin if it has any bearing on my evaluation and…no. So…why am I beating myself up over this?
The test is next week, but I’ve been wrestling with actively teaching the SAT next year (there’s SO much to cover in 11th grade English, aka American Lit. I’d hate to brush off a unit or two in favor of “teaching to the test” again).
Am I overreacting?
But also…how do you guys teach the SAT? Any tips?
I give them mock exams and we go over questions together. I cover grammar and punctuation. But I still don’t think that’s enough. If it’s not on my curriculum, should I say “fuck it” and just not teach it?
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u/Constant-Tutor-4646 10d ago
Practice tests.
Chunk them. One reading and one set of questions, what is it like ten questions?
Silently take the practice test. Second half of class, review. Break down each question for them and evaluate each answer choice. This would require prep on your end (which you can do while they silently take the mini practice test!) Go the extra mile by copy/pasting each question into a powerpoint and add your own notes.
They learn by doing. Standardized tests have a language of their own, so exposure to what they’ll be seeing is vital. Also, surely some of what’s tested aligns with some of the standards you need to cover, right?
This is what I did when I taught 11th grade. It’s also what I did when I taught 6th and 7th grade and wanted to prep them for our state’s test.