WELCOMEWELCOME S.C. Lee Junior High 7th Grade STAAR Parent Information

AGENDA 7 th Grade STAAR Testing Overview Writing Reading Math

CONTENTS In your folder, you will find the following: Important Released and Actual STAAR Testing Dates Released Writing Test: Expository Rubric & Writing Process Released Reading Test: Study Tips Handout Released Math Test

STAAR TESTING OVERVIEW What Parents Need to Know

WHAT IS THE STAAR TEST? Criterion-reference test measuring the state mandated curriculum (TEKS) 4 hour test Passing Standard or “Met Standard” score is established by State Board of Education in Austin

Types of STAAR Testing For grades 6–8, STAAR tests are in: § 6–8 Mathematics § 6–8 Reading § 7 Writing § 8 History § STAAR, STAAR Accommodated (online), STAAR LAT (online), STAAR ALT 2, STAAR Spanish

TEKS TEKS is the acronym for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The TEKS represent the basic curriculum for each subject area at each grade level in Texas.

PURPOSE OF TEKS The TEKS outline the "scope and sequence" of what students are supposed to learn at each grade level. The TEKS indicate what students should learn and when they should learn it.

TEKS AND STAAR How do the TEKS relate to STAAR reporting categories and the STAAR test ? The STAAR reporting categories are drawn from the TEKS. Not all TEKS are tested in the yearly STAAR test. The STAAR test focuses on the TEKS

WRITING

WRITING REPORTING CATEGORIES

WRITING EXAMPLE OF REVISION 3. Nina would like to add the following sentence to the second paragraph (sentences 9-15). Where is the BEST place to insert this sentence? A. After sentence 9 B. After sentence 10 C. After sentence 12 D. After sentence 14 Then, despite his own injuries, Hao went back into the ruins.

WRITING EXAMPLE OF EDITING 32. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 32? A. Change seperate to separate B. Delete the comma C. Change feel to fell D. No change should be made in this sentence. If we could be in seperate rooms, I know I would feel happier.

READING

STAAR READING REPORTING CATEGORIES Reporting Category 1: Understanding Across Genres The student will demonstrate an ability to understand a variety of written texts across reading genres. Reporting Category 2: Understanding and Analysis of Literary Texts The student will demonstrate an ability to understand and analyze literary texts. Reporting Category 3: Understanding and Analysis of Informational Texts The student will demonstrate an ability to understand and analyze informational texts.

READING BLUEPRINT

Critical Reading Skill Needed: Figure 19 Reading/Comprehension Skills. Students use a flexible range of metacognitive reading skills in both assigned and independent reading to understand an author’s message. Students will continue to apply earlier standards with greater depth in increasingly more complex texts as they become self- directed, critical readers.

Fig 19: Reading/Comprehension Skills (A) establish purposes for reading selected texts based upon own or others’ desired outcome to enhance comprehension; (B) ask literal, interpretive, evaluative, and universal questions of text; (C) reflect on understanding to monitor comprehension (e.g., summarizing and synthesizing; making textual, personal, and world connections; creating sensory images); (D) make complex inferences about text and use textual evidence to support understanding; (E) summarize, paraphrase, and synthesize texts in ways that maintain meaning and logical order within a text and across texts; and (F) make connections between and across texts, including other media (e.g., film, play), and provide textual evidence

RELEASED STAAR READING PACKET 4. The author organizes the information in this selection by- A. summarizing Abdul-Jabbar’s basketball career and then relating his experiences with the Falcons B. comparing Abdul-Jabbar’s coaching style with that of the Falcons head coach C. describing how Abdul-Jabbar’s philosophy of coaching changed over time D. discussing Abdul-Jabbar’s impressions of the Apache reservation and then explaining how he became a star player

STAAR CONTENT When comparing two passages, they are quite lengthy, so please practice reading more rigorous materials with your student.

Ways to assist your student Read and discuss a variety of materials with your child. Help your child to understand the meaning of new words using context clues. Ask who, what, when, where, and why questions to help your child understand the main idea, purpose, and implied meaning of what is read.

ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENT TO… READ 20 minutes per night Increase READING to 30 minutes per night Then Increase READING to 45 minutes per night to build stamina!

STAAR MATH REPORTING CATEGORIES Reporting Category 1:Numbers, Operations, and Quantitative Reasoning The student will demonstrate an understanding of numbers, operations, and quantitative reasoning. Reporting Category 2:Patterns, Relationships, and Algebraic Reasoning The student will demonstrate an understanding of patterns, relationships, and algebraic reasoning. Reporting Category 3:Geometry and Spatial Reasoning The student will demonstrate an understanding of geometry and spatial reasoning.

STAAR MATH REPORTING CATEGORIES Reporting Category 4:Measurement The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and uses of measurement. Reporting Category 5:Probability and Statistics The student will demonstrate an understanding of probability and statistics.

STAAR GRADE 3 MATHEMATIC BLUEPRINT

Math Example 28. A car dealership offers two types of discounts. Discount 1: Take 5% off the original price of a car built last year and then receive a $3,500 rebate. Discount 2: Take 10% off the original price of a car built this year and then receive a $1,250 rebate. A customer is deciding between two cars. Car R was built last year and has an original price of $25,340. Car S was built this year and has an original price of $22,860. Based on this information, which statement is true? A The customer would pay $19,324 for Car S. B The customer would pay $24,073 for Car R. C The customer would pay $21,824 for Car S. D The customer would pay $23,107 for Car R.

Ways you can assist your student When your child gets “stuck” on a problem, don’t just provide a solution. Instead, suggest trying again or using another strategy to find the answer. Let your child know that he/she can be successful in mathematics and encourage him or her to attend tutorials. Be sure your child knows their math facts and are studying or discussing materials nightly.

STUDY MATERIALS Released STAAR questions located at the TEA Web Site: s_Assessments_of_Academic_Readiness_(STAAR)/STAAR_Released_Test_Questio ns/ Web site for personal purchase of study material Includes test taking strategies & Tips to overcome anxiety (Approximately $15.00) Available Reference material including printable Mathematic Chart Study Guide and Scoring Categories

S.C. Lee Thanks you for attending our STAAR Parent Coffee Session!!!