1. Mr. Meador ’ s Guide to Passing the STAAR, Life, Love, and Stuffs

2. Reading Section Strategy

3. Utilize the AVID strategy !

4. Reading Section Strategy Utilize the AVID strategy ! - Read the question - Identify and define the important academic vocabulary - Identify the wrong answers - Identify the right answer

5. Reading Section Tips Read the story and question ( s ) slowly and deliberately. Do not be afraid to use a dictionary if you stumble on a word.

6. Reading Section Tips Use process of elimination. Choosing between two answer choices is much easier than just between four.

7. Reading Section Tips Stay calm and relaxed. If you are uncomfortable with a question, move on and revisit it later.

8. Open Ended Response

9. Do not to forget to ACE ( E ) the STAAR test !

10. Open Ended Response Answer the question !

11. Open Ended Response Answer the question Cite ( Provide evidence !)

12. Open Ended Response Answer the question Cite ( Provide evidence !) Explain how your evidence supports your answer !

13. Open Ended Response Answer the question Cite ( Provide evidence !) Explain how your evidence supports your answer ! Expand – find the deeper meaning !

14. Open Ended Tips If reading a poem, read it several times to fully comprehend the meaning or theme

15. Open Ended Tips Use strong sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and punctuation

16. Open Ended Tips If given a picture to analyze, focus on the minute details. Why did the tester choose it?

17. Open Ended Tips Identify what the question is asking. Make sure you understand exactly. Use a dictionary !

18. Open Ended Tips For paired passages, create a list of similarities or differences. If you cannot back it up with evidence, it ’ s not legitimate.

19. Essay Section

20. INTRODUCTION Create a hook ! Catch the reader ’ s attention ! Rhetorical Questions Quotes Pathos Creativity

21. Essay Section BODY Provide personal and / or universal examples to support your thesis statement. Use transitions and strong grammar to make the essay “ flow ”

22. Essay Section CONCLUSION Restate the thesis statement in DIFFERENT words ! Wrap up your essay. Make sure you do not leave any ideas “ open ”. Make the reader remember you.

23. Essay Tips Even if you don ’ t do the essay first, make sure you look at the prompt the moment you open the test.

24. Essay Tips Use a thesaurus to vary your diction

25. Essay Tips Use sentence variety – simple, compound, complex, and compound - complex !

26. Essay Tips Use paragraphs to help organize your development

27. STAAR Strategies Get as much rest as possible this weekend and Sunday night

28. STAAR Strategies Get on campus as soon as possible and find your testing room, get comfortable, get focused.

29. STAAR Strategies Do not be afraid to use a dictionary. Even if you think you know the meaning of a word, look it up and be sure.

30. STAAR Strategies Stay positive.

31. Dare to be great.