Now that spring is finally here, birds are chirping, trees are blossoming…and, for teachers and students, testing season is on the horizon. In last week’s slowchat hosted by teachers Lyndsay Nottingham and Sarah Thomas, we asked how you empower students during assessment season. Read on for 10 of the Teacher2Teacher community’s responses and share your own ideas in the comments below.

1. “We stand like Superman before we start!” —@thecozyLC
2. “Let them make big team posters encouraging themselves and hang them in [the] room.”—@ShannonPapcun
3. “I write messages on desks, give cute erasers & use inspirational messages.”—@TeachChilds
4. “Share with students specific, real test goals. For example, ‘If you get 25 problems right, you will pass.’”—@OGAlikor
5. “Larry Bell says kids believe what you say, so say it often—so tell them they are smart.”—@LorennaAnderson
6. “Find a powerful and inspiring song, analyze it, and sing it with your students!”—@smsjazz81
7. “We did a clap out for all the kids. I told them how proud I was of them. And of course…food!”—@HargrovesAllie
8. “Best math teacher I know started breakfast study club w/ struggling ELLs 3 months before exam…slow & steady.”—@CSIdeas4Ed
9. “My daily mantra to students—let’s do our best to make our best better—makes testing just another opportunity to shine.”—@DarrenLukenbill
10. “I tell my students the assessment is a way to celebrate all we’ve learned this year. Students know it’s important, but so is daily work,
    formative assessments, etc. We celebrate the test as [the] end of our year.”—@juliabishopnbct

Don’t miss this week’s slow chat about finishing the school year strong—use #T2TChat to join in the conversation with hosts Lyndsay Nottingham and Sarah Thomas. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter if you don’t already!