LAST MINUTE REMINDERS FOR THE STAAR TEST WHAT

LAST MINUTE REMINDERS FOR THE STAAR TEST!!!

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE TEST! § Go to sleep early – do not stay up late playing Fortnite, Pubg, etc. § Review your STAAR materials, including the Released Test § Review 5 quotes to help you with your essay § Be on time § Eat a good breakfast! Don’t come to the test hungry! § Bacon, eggs, or something with protein

WHAT TO BRING TO THE TEST § Lunch – you will eat in the classroom. If you don’t bring your own lunch, you will have the opportunity to choose a sack lunch from the cafeteria. § Your own pencils and highlighter (must be yellow only) § Snacks!!! Something quiet and non-smelly § Water. Trust me, you will want water at your desk § A novel– Life of Pi is always a good choice

WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME § Homework of any kind – you will not be able to work on this after your test § Blankets § Pillows § Smart watches § Phones § Air pods

WHAT TO DO DURING THE TEST § Stay positive! § Get competitive with the test makers, not intimidated by them § Take breaks, mentally and physically § Use the dictionary/thesaurus § § Careful: don’t get “thesaurus happy” Check your answers on your MC and essay before submitting

SUGGESTED APPROACH TO TAKING THE TEST 1. Reading MC 2. Revise/edit 3. Essay § The rationale behind completing the reading MC first is so that your eyes get used to seeing GOOD, correctly written passages. After that, it may be easier to identify errors in the revise/edit passages. § However, this is just a suggestion. Please complete the test however you were planning to.

A FEW TIPS/REMINDERS § Careless errors, skipped questions, and smudges can be very damaging. This is why it’s important to check your work! § Do not second guess yourself. Go with your gut. § The difference between passing the test and getting commended can come down to just ONE question. § Online STAAR – if you take the STAAR online, make sure to write your essay on paper first, then type it. This way you make sure you’re writing enough and editing your work. § 1 essay, about 60 MC questions (revise/edit and reading passages)

ESSAY REMINDERS § No 2 nd person (you) § 1 st person only used if you’re telling an anecdote § Hook, transition, thesis § CLARITY! § 2 body paragraphs with 2 very clear, strong examples § Conclusion: 2 -3 sentences § Transition list § REMEMBER THE BURGER PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: § ts, cd, cm, cs

REVISE/EDIT REMINDERS § Preview the questions before you read the passages/essays § USE THE DICTIONARY and thesaurus when needed § Use the grammar rules at the front of the dictionary § Remember: these are essays that you’re trying to make better § Remember what you’ve learned from your own writing and use it here

READING MC REMINDERS § Preview the questions before you begin § MC strategies we covered in class § Analysis § Go with your gut, don’t second guess yourself § Choose the BEST answer to the question § Annotate the passages

TEST BLUEPRINT AND PERCENTAGES § https: //tea. texas. gov/student. assessment/staar/writing/

REMEMBER…. . I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!! YOU’RE GOING TO DO JUST FINE!!! (OH, AND…MAKE ME PROUD)