Google Doc Checklist | PDF Attached Below

Final Four to Six Weeks Prior to STAAR: Review Standards Reports

In your class Standards Report identify areas of need by TEKs, especially Readiness Standards, at the class, group, and individual student levels.

1. Assign additional practice activities or lessons via the Standards Report by Student Average to provide students with targeted practices in areas where there is opportunity to improve performance.
   
2. As you spot trends among groups of students, create instructional groups based on similar needs and challenges, and then assign additional practices to each group to provide additional targeted practice; when reviewing future reports, filter by instructional group to see progress of student performances by group.
   
3. Remind students that they can continue to improve, especially if they slow down, practice doing multiple reads of passages and questions, utilize strikethrough to eliminate obvious incorrect responses, consider context clues, use other available tools and accommodations they’ve practiced in class.
   
4. In Math Courses, assign daily Mixed STAAR Review and Practice leading up to the exam as they focus on reviewing the most tested Readiness standards in Math.

Final Weeks Before STAAR

1. Assign online Practice Test(s) early. Note: Assessments in Sirius can be assigned more than once.
   
2. Continue to build stamina, in depth study and review of results from Practice Tests, including reteaching and additional skill building when necessary.
   
3. Practice with actual accommodations students will use on the STAAR test.
   
4. Create a list of topics and resources for student review, including review content to study before the test.
   
5. According to need and district expectation, assign last minute items for assessment, including possible reassignment of the Final Practice Test.
   
6. Lower your students' affective filter, build their confidence, and present reasonable suggestions  before they take the STAAR test.
   
7. Continue to support development of strong test-taking skills and behaviors as they do Final Practice Tests. 
   
8. Provide individual feedback and support as the testing date approaches.
   

Consider a Final “Dress Rehearsal” Practice Test

Note: RLA programs have one practice test; all other programs offer two forms (Version A and B) for multiple sessions; Any assessment can be assigned more than once, especially if such an assignment can help to build student confidence through familiarity.

• Remind and review the use of tools such as highlighting, annotation, sticky notes in their final preparation; consider reviewing the tools within the new STAAR redesign, if needed.

• Require students to do their practice tests with the accommodations they'll use on STAAR.

• Encourage students to use paper and pencil for notes and thinking through problems.

• Remind students to take short breaks during practice tests and the actual STAAR test (at least once every 45 minutes, or every 30 minutes for younger students).

• Observe students carefully. Try to spot negative test taking behaviors like working too quickly, changing answers, jumping among questions.

• Look for signs of anxiety, and then take steps to help students manage the things that cause them stress.

Final Review of Practice Tests

1. Celebrate student effort.
   
2. Help students analyze test questions (1 hour +) so they can avoid making the same mistakes on the actual STAAR Test.
   
3. Remind students of sound test taking strategies.
   
4. Help students overcome their test anxiety, including reminding them to:
   
1. Focus on answering test questions, not on their feelings or those of other students.
   
2. Monitor their inner dialog (be aware of their "self talk)
   
3. Replace negative thoughts with more helpful thoughts like, "I don't have to be perfect."
   
4. Contract and relax muscles throughout their body.
   
5. Close their eyes and take a couple of slow deep breaths.
   
6. Take breaks: stretch, get a drink, or go to the bathroom.
   
7. Reflect on how they will feel after the test, after doing their best.
   
8. Do a ten minute expressive writing exercise right before they start the STAAR test (assign calming topics).
   

Final Night Before STAAR

1. Students actively rest, get a good night's sleep, and wake up with a confident attitude that supports success.