Pumping Them Up for the State Test

From the Apple

These are some tried and true suggestions that come from seasoned FCAT teachers. These come from Special Education teacher Debbie Rossignol's collection of ideas. These are some of the things that she has used to encourage her children as she gets them in the right spirit each day for the testing. Most of the teachers at my school ask parents or groups of parents to select a day of the testing and then they are responsible for the treat for that day. Here are some of the things that have been winners.


You have MOUNDS of brain power! - statement attached to a mini Mounds candy bar.

So you can analyze the question stems! – statement attached to a small bag of flower seeds

We have visions of “sweet” success – statement attached to any sweet treat

4th Grade Writers are RED HOT! – attached to Red Hots

“Super” Bubble for Super Writers! – statement attached to Super Bubble gum which research says stimulates the brain – Make sure the kids chomp while they work!

Let’s PUMP IT UP! Put a label on a bottle of citrus/ peppermint sanitizer and give each child a squirt as you tell them to “pump it up!”

Find a parent that is willing to make homemade cookies. Put a cookie in a Ziploc bag for each child with a note – Take a bite out of FCAT!

There will be no SNICKERS about your awesome score! – statement attached to a mini-Snickers bar

It’s CRUNCH time! You’ll do GREAT! - statement attached to a mini Nestles CRUNCH

FCAT is your time to shine like a STARBURST! – statement attached to a pack of Starburst

FCAT will be a slam dunk! – statement with chocolate basketballs

Great writers get HUGS and KISSES – statement attached to a little baggie of assorted chocolate Hugs and Kisses

Go around and sprinkle the children with magic dust (little bits of glitter) and tell them that the magic dust will make them sparkle!

Fill a spray bottle with water and a little peppermint extract – peppermint is suppose to stimulate the brain. Attach a sign on the spray that says “Attitude Spray.” Make a BIG deal of going around and spraying each kid so that they will have a positive attitude for the test.