Preparing Students for the CRCT Using Effective Instructional Strategies

Preparing Students For The CRCT Using Effective Instructional Strategies

Every year the CRCT, short for the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test, is given to Georgia students in grades one through eight, usually in the springtime. This is a multiple choice test that helps show educators, parents, the students themselves and the world through collective data what a student knows about the set of standards taught in Georgia classrooms. Before the students are asked to take the CRCT teachers and parents are always trying to develop new ways to prepare students for the test. There is said to be few specific strategies that assist with knowledge review and test preparation. Most educators believe that for students, one of the top strategies to do well on the CRCT is to attend school so teachers can teach you—either in the classroom or in an online or home-school setting! As a future proficient educator, I believe that while preparing students for the CRCT, effective instructional strategies should be used as well as other tips followed if need. In my short but vital experience of being on the field in a classroom setting, this has shown to be one of the few that should be included in the preparation process.
Out of the many instructional strategies used in the classroom, in relation to the CRCT, I believe the incorporation of technology in the classroom is a great idea. Being that students are very technologically savvy already and today teachers are learning about new technology every day, it should be a vital asset in the lesson. One way technology can be used to improve CRCT scores is by allowing students to use computers to practice CRCT test preps via internet. Sites such as https://www.georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l can be used to help with this lesson. The teacher would simply say today students we will be working a little differently when reviewing for the CRCT. We will be using a new method such as using technology.

In my experience while observing, I noticed that most teachers rely on implementing repetitive practice on CRCT topics to ensure student achievement. I believe that this is also a great way and strategy to get students prepared for the CRCT. I plan to incorporate both of these great strategies in my classroom lessons when I become a proficient educator!