Practical hints are offered about leading a class discussion, managing student journals and homework, and preparing for parents night. Content related questions deal with developing number sense and the importance of the basics, using manipulatives and calculators, and creating lessons for the first week of class. The reply stresses that test preparation is not a right before the test event. One strategy for preparing for multiple choice tests is called hands on the table, which can be used as starter for a regular math class. A multiple choice problem with possible answers is written on the board and students use only their heads and the ideas of others to solve the problem.
Students talk in pairs.
The answers with explanations are collected and placed on the board and discussed with the class. The teacher's questions can lead students to approach test questions with an attitude of reasoning and making sense of the questions as well as encourage them to develop a deeper understanding of the mathematics. The strategy is recommended for solving problems with familiar or with unfamiliar math content. Eisenhower National Clearinghouse. Teaching in the Standards-Based Classroom.