🎓 Testing Season Survival Kit: 1-Day Activity + MORE Free Test Prep Tools

Written By Tyler Tarver

⏰ TL;DR

🧩 Resource of the Week - The Baller Student Show (1-day activity)

💎 GEMs/GPTs of the Week - MORE State Testing Prep Gems + GPTs

🙌 Email Sponsor - Free Curriculum Aligned Teacher Tools

🔥 AI Conference Reminder - I’m hosting In-Person Conference w/Google! Join us in Central Arkansas or Northwest Arkansas 🤜🏽💥🤛🏽 IMPORTANT: Honor Roll Peeps & Schools attend FO FREE (while seats last)!

⭐️ TeachAid - If you're still spending your weekends building lesson plans, this one's for you!! TeachAid is an AI platform that generates complete, curriculum-aligned units: lessons, activities, assessments, slides…in minutes! 23,000+ teachers are already using it free. Schools can also grab one of their free pilot spots right now (no cost, full setup included)!

Check out teachaid.ca - totally free to sign up!!

👋 REAL TALK

Testing season has a way of making all of us feel like we’re behind like a tortoise in a classic children’s story…even when we’re not.

You’re looking at dat pacing guide, ya lesson plans, that one unit you reallyyyyy wanted to get to, and it feels like you’re choosing between finishing strong or preparing them well. That tension? That’s normal! That’s what good teachers feel when they care!

But here’s the shift this time of year: right now, testing reps matter more than new content (imo).

Your students don’t need more new right now, they need familiar. They need to see it again, try it again, mess it up again, and get it right (hopefully again 😂). That’s what builds confidence walking into a test. Not one more lesson… but one more dub (that’s short for “W” which is short for “win”).

And if you don’t get to everything? That’s okay, bruh.

There’s space after testing to circle back like Toad’s Turnpike in MarioKart. To explore fun stuff and to hit those passion topics that remind you (and them) why learning can be dope. You didn’t fall behind, you prioritized what they needed most for this moment.

You’re still a great teacher. Help them show they’re a great student!

Never Stop Learning!

Dr. T

📥 THE DROP

🧩 Free Resource of the Week - The Baller Student Show

This is a 1-day activity to help students succeed in remote learning (or just in school in general) this might be the move!

Ideally, it helps students realize remote learning isn’t about “just logging in,” it’s about having a plan and actually owning it.

When they set clear goals, build accountability with others, and stay connected, they stop drifting and start making real progress. It turns isolation into intentional learning, which is a game changer (imo).

Basically, less “I’ll do it later”…more “I know what I’m working toward and who’s keeping me on my game.”

Here’s what you can do if you want:

  1. Watch the video (individually or as a class)

  2. Pick one for them to fill out: PDF or Doc

👉 See all of it here: The Baller Student Show

💎 Gem/GPTs of the Week

UPDATED State Text Prep Question Generators!! 🙌

✈️ Places I’ll Be

Come hang with me if you’re nearby and/or want an excuse for a road trip! 😁

  • 5.28.2016 Lubbock ISD

  • 6.4.2026 Spark Summit

  • 6.9.2026 Regional Office of Education #4

  • 6.16.2026 InnovateEDU Tech Conference

  • 6.23.2026 SE Missouri State University

  • 7.16.2026 Sevier County Schools

  • 7.23.2026 The AI Educator Summit

  • 7.24.2026 The AI Educator Summit NWA

  • 7.31.2026 Fentress County Schools

  • 8.3.2026 First Assembly Christian School

  • 8.7.2026 Pottsville Schools

  • 8.19.2026 Trenton R-IX

  • 8.20.2026 Milan C-2 School District

  • 3.1.2026 Middle Township

  • 11.10.2026 Arch Ford ESC

  • 12.2.2026 TETC

If you want me to speak/train at your school and/or conference, hit me up! 🙌

💌 Never Stop Learning!

-Dr. Tyler Tarver

Tyler Tarver
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