1. 2015 STAAR Parent INFORMATION NIGHT 3rd GraDE

2. Contact Information
Mathematics:
Ms. Howard
Reading:
Mrs. Simpson

3. AGENDA Review Testing Dates Tips and Strategies Incentives Resources
Questions
Survey

4. What is STAAR?
Stands for “State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness”
Tests skills and objectives the state expects all students to master to show readiness for the next grade level.

5. Promotion standards: 3rd grade
STAAR Reading
STAAR Math
4 hour time limit for each test

6. Dates to remember: April 21st - Math STAAR April 22nd- Reading STAAR
March 11th- Reading Mock STAAR
March 12th- Math Mock STAAR
April 21st - Math STAAR
April 22nd- Reading STAAR

7. What happens to prepare for the test?
Spring Training
Tutorials geared toward specific needs of students
All students attend a group.
Weekly assessments are given on Friday covering objectives practiced and taught during tutorials.

8. Prepare for the test (cont.)
Other Preparations
Small group lessons taught in class
STAAR practice homework

9. What can I do as a parent to help my child prepare?
Review homework with students
Read and ask questions
Visit the TEA (Texas Education Agency) website for STAAR question examples
The TEA website address to view the STAAR questions is

10. Reading Test April 22nd
Test is challenging. Includes many higher level thinking questions requiring greater use of reading strategies and finding evidence to support answers.

12. Reading Strategies
1. Write the genre (Fiction or Nonfiction) 2. Notes (5 words or less) 3. Highlight important words in the question.

13. Strategies Continued
4. Next to each question, write the paragraph # where you found the answer. (P#) 5 . Highlight the answer in the paragraph and write the question number next to it. (Q#)

14. Reading Test Example Question

15. How can I Help my Child with Reading at Home?
Refer to Handout

16. Math Test April 21st
Word problem questions require multiple steps to solve.
Math test taking strategies taught to students include:
UPSE
Problem Solving Strategies
Please emphasize to your child to show work for every problem. Students should go back and check!!

18. U.P.S.E Strategy
Read! Read, Read the problem. Imagine/Picture what you are reading!
Underline the question or statement
Reread the problem, one sentence at a time.
What will you do (+,-,x,÷)
Look for clues
Put a box around important vocabulary
Plan it out
Work out the computation
CHECK your work

19. Math question Example ( +, - ) 164 +56 220 243 medium cups
(Subtract 79 from 243 =__)
(Add __ to 56 = answer)
243 medium cups
= large cups
Large cups + 56= small cups
There are 220 small cups
164
+56
220

20. How can you Help with Math…
Study facts at least 20 minutes a night (memorization)
Check over homework for accuracy (show the work)
While working independently, pace yourself (approximately 4 minutes per question)

21. STAAR Olympics Incentives: Raffles (end of the week) Recess
Ice cream sundae Party
(Mock STAAR 75% passing)
Pizza-Fun House
(April STAAR: 80% passing)

22. Day of the Test
How will the classroom look?
There will be no visuals to aid students. All posters, word walls, and even the calendar will be covered or removed.

23. Day of the Test Facilitate and monitor
What is the teacher’s role in the classroom?
Facilitate and monitor
Make sure students are working independently
Keep test materials secure

24. Day of the Test What is the student’s role?
They are to use strategies learned in class.
They are to work quietly and do their best.
They have 4 hours to complete the test.
When 4 hours have passed, we will collect all tests even if a student is not finished.

25. What can my child do when he/she is finished?
Day of the Test
What can my child do when he/she is finished?
Read a book.
Stay quiet so others still
working can do their best.

26. Questions???

27. Dates to remember: April 21st - Math STAAR test
April 22nd - Reading STAAR test

28. Please complete The short survey Thank you for coming!