A Test Prep Strategy Students Actually Enjoy (And You’ll Reuse Every Year)

If you’re anywhere near testing season, you’re probably feeling the tension already.

You know your students need practice with test-style questions.
You know they need exposure to passages, question stems, and evidence-based answers.

But you also know that drill-and-kill packets, endless multiple choice, and test prep boot camps aren’t helping anyone. They’re exhausting for you, disengaging for students, and often don’t lead to better results.

That’s why this episode is different.

In this conversation, I walk you through a test prep structure that keeps the rigor, targets the skills students actually need, and still feels low-stress and engaging in the classroom. It’s the kind of test prep that builds confidence instead of anxiety and doesn’t take over your curriculum.

The strategy is called Sweet Stations, and yes, the name matters. All of the passages are about candy and sweets from around the world, which means students are immediately more willing to read closely. As they rotate through stations, they’re practicing the same skills they’ll need on the test, just without the pressure.

We also talk about why test prep should never replace meaningful instruction, what students actually need in order to feel confident with test questions, and how this structure sneaks in repeated exposure without burnout.

If you’ve ever felt torn between “I need to prep my students” and “I refuse to make my classroom miserable,” this episode is for you.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ Test prep works best when pressure is low
Students perform better when they feel familiar with question structures and passage types. Low-stress, repeated exposure builds confidence and comprehension.

2️⃣ Stations keep rigor without burnout
Short passages, movement, and clear routines allow students to practice test skills without disengagement or fatigue.

3️⃣ Accountability matters more than volume
The Candy Journal and final acrostic puzzle give students a reason to care about accuracy, not just completion.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Sweet Stations Test Prep Activity

MORE FROM EB ACADEMICS

Sweet Stations is available as a ready-to-use resource with passages, station cards, the Candy Journal, and the final puzzle already done for you. EB Teachers with Pro or All-Access can find it by searching Sweet Stations in the portal.

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