1. LAST MINUTE REMINDERS FOR THE STAAR TEST!!!

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. TEST BLUEPRINT AND PERCENTAGES

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