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 2nd person (you) 1st 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, 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)