Test success is not just about students mastering content and then demonstrating it. Many students also need support in mastering specific testing behaviors that will increase the chance of their success on a test. Whether that is time management, a method for analyzing a question, or a method for selecting the correct multiple-choice option on tricky tests, testing behaviors can be improved and practiced in students as a way for them to truly demonstrate what they know and guarantee better success on assessments.

Ideas and strategies to check for student understanding are plentiful. You may find that you’ll use several different methods within each classroom and choose methods specific to the task students complete. A large toolbox of strategies to pull from can help ensure you understand exactly what each student knows. When designed correctly, your methods to check for student understanding can also work to support students in self-analyzing their learning to train them to think critically about what they do and do not know. The 3-2-1 Strategy is a simple yet effective method you can introduce to your students to learn what they know and to help them analyze it for themselves.