Accelerating Student Learning and Motivation in Your U.S. History Classroom

Standardized Exams
Home
Why Study U.S. History?
Using the Standards
Standardized Exams
Developing Themes in U.S. History
Historical Stories and Unit Hooks
Using Primary Sources in the Classroom
General Strategies
Alternative Assessments
Rubrics and Scaffolds
Long Term Projects
Additional Resources
Kevin Williams: Contact and Information

I.  Test Taking Skills and Levels of Questioning
 
Rationale:  By familiarizing our students with questioning levels, we will better prepare them to recognize what certain questions on standardized exams are asking for and increase their chances of finding the “right” answer.
 
For additional information, and other types of questioning see:
 
Source:  Instructional Development, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

II.  Terms Quizzes

 

Rationale:  One reason students may perform poorly on standardized exams is that they have not developed memory skills throughout the year.  They do what I refer to as “The Brain Flush.”  When the exam is over, they flush that information out of their brains. Terms Quizzes are one way to help students retain information throughout the year. There is one other significant benefit to this: by retaining information, students will be better equipped to see connections throughout history. 

 

Click here to see the copy of my U.S. History Terms List (11th Grade Curriculum)

Click here to see a copy of U.S. History Terms (8th Grade Curriculum - thank you Red Team at Lee Burneson Middle School, Ohio)

Click here to see the copy of my U.S. History Terms List (MODIFIED) - I use this list for my modified IEP students.

Click here to see the copy of my A.P. U.S. History Terms List

Click here to see the copy of my A.P. U.S. Government Terms List

       

See an example of a terms quiz below:

terms_quiz.jpg