How many students struggle taking tests? Not because they don’t know the subject matter, but because they just don’t understand what a question was asking? They just might not know what a word meant.
Larry I. Bell, author of the book, 12 Powerful Words That Increase Test Scores and Help Close the Achievement Gap, has come up with a list of 12 words that when students are exposed to these words in a systemic, in depth manner, they will have to think at a higher level. By asking teachers to model these powerful words in daily conversations, as part of the questions on tests and quizzes, students are less likely to be intimidated by them on standardized tests; therefore, relieving any testing anxiety.
Unfortunately, in our current educational testing system, with the infinite wisdom of legislators and policy makers who mandate so many “required state assessments”, high stakes testing is a huge part of the school year. And for many students, with so much riding on these tests, it’s no wonder that many students suffer from test anxiety. However, with continuous and consistent exposure to these 12 Powerful Words there will be an increase in the student’s confidence level as well as a reduction in testing anxiety.
The key is for all students to be thoroughly familiar with these 12 Powerful Words. Every teacher in every class must consistently use these words. When this happens, all students will benefit.
Here are the 12 Powerful Words with a short, “student-friendly” definition of each:
- Trace – list in steps
- Analyze – break apart
- Infer – read between the lines
- Evaluate – judge
- Formulate – create
- Describe – tell all about
- Support – back up with details
- Explain – tell how
- Summarize – give me the short version
- Compare – all the ways they are alike
- Contrast – all the ways they are different
- Predict – what will happen next
What strategies can teachers use to make the 12 Powerful Words a part of every student’s vocabulary? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.