Standardized tests are as much a part of school today as reading and math classes. Unfortunately, while most children eventually learn to read and do the math they need to live, many do not learn to take the tests that PROVE they have learned reading and math. Whether parents and teachers like it or not, a student’s ability to do well on standardized tests is increasingly important—and not just to the student. Teachers and schools are judged based on student test scores. Parents and teachers need help. Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A National Test Prep Adventure may be just the help they need.
Written specifically for testing, Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A National Test Prep Adventure is available in a format geared toward the National Curriculum Standards, as well as some individual state tests. Aimed at grades 2-5, the book is a series of silly stories that will engage students. The stories are followed by a set of questions similar to those found on standardized tests. These questions are written to directly correlate to specific standards such as “Grade 4 Basic Reading Skills” or “Grade 2 Math Facts.” There is a guide on the back to help parents or teachers see what specific learning standard is being addressed.
Why would this book work when other teaching aids fail? There are a few reasons why this book might be a better option. First, the stories are quite funny and will make students want to read the next one. Second, the book is extremely well organized and easy enough for adults to navigate (even if they have little or no academic background). In just a couple of pages at the beginning of the book, the author CLEARLY describes how to use the book. A third advantage of this book is that it seems like it would be just as useful for a student who may not have trouble taking tests, but who lags a bit behind in developing basic concepts. In other words, this is not just a test prep book. It could also work as a booster for a student who is struggling with a specific concept, for example, 3rd grade Math, Measurement and Data or 5th grade Speaking and Listening.
One last thought about the usefulness of the book is that it covers four grades of material. So, as a parent, assume your child just finished grade 3. Over the summer, you can use the book to review material from grades 2 and 3, but then in the spring, pull out the book to use for homework. of tests for grade 4. Or you might even want it during the year if your student hits a bump with a given concept, say fractions. By using the same stories with different objectives, it allows the student to achieve real growth in specific areas.
Overall, Kumar Sathy’s Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A National Test Prep Adventure seems to be almost a must-have for teachers and parents alike.
