Preparing for the Texas STAAR ® Test

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - February 1st, 2015

The STAAR ® test or the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness ® is one of those standardized tests given to public school students to determine how much they’ve learned in their various subjects under English, Science, Math, and Social Studies. Scores matter a lot in these tests because whatever the performance of the students also reflects the performance of the whole school.

There is a lot at stake in assessment tests like the Texas STAAR. There is pressure among students, teachers, parents, and school administrators. In order to get a good score in STAAR test, one has to prepare for it ahead of time. Here’s how:

• Conduct regular review classes- weeks or even months before the big test, it’s imperative that everybody starts conducting review classes. There are schools that shorten their regular class schedule to include review of previous lessons. These classes should be done regularly to ensure mastery of skills learned.
• Provide sufficient materials- teachers should also provide enough review materials for the Texas STAAR. This is one way for students to get used to the different items that may come out in the test. It’s also important that they familiarize themselves with the types of test.
• Ask for parents’ support- preparing for the STAAR Texas test is not only the responsibility of the students and teachers but also of parents as well. They must supervise their children at home. They need to see to it that their children use the review materials provided by the school. In addition, parents should also offer moral support by showing they care, giving encouragements, and providing external and internal motivation to their children.

Preparing for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness ahead of time is the best way to deal with the pressure of taking the test.

For information on the most frequently asked questions about the STAAR test, see http://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_Accountability/Testing/State_of_Texas_Assessments_of_Academic_Readiness_%28STAAR%29/STAAR_Released_Test_Questions/.