ALL STAAR Rehearsals for "STAAR -cessful" Students and Misc. STAAR Kick Off

If you have ever taught and helped grades who are held to standardized testing standards, you know the pressure for the students and the teachers. As I've listened to my sweet intervention kids since Spring Break, it has become my passion and mission to provide the best last minute possible lessons possible along with motivation and novelty. As much as testing is an academic race, it is also a stamina and emotional race. So the last 2 weeks before our BIG round of testing, we've transformed our room a little. It has become a Hollywood Theater with STAAR Rehearsals.

The last minute practice for reading has encountered some mind boggling skills. So we have began a 5 minute warm up activity. Each time they come for a visit, they have 5 minutes to do one of their poster activities. At the end of the week, we highlight and great answers and discuss the answers. The first day was filled with a few tears and anxiety. The days to follow were filled with excitement and knocking down the door to come in and try one.

Third Grade Gallery Walk Warm-Up (excuse the quick thrown together posters)

Fourth Grade Red Carpet Walk

The best part is that this simple little activity and decoration has been a blast for the kids, has created big smiles, created confidence and let them enjoy the last few days of practice.

Knock STAAR Out of the Park was the theme for our 5th graders before the big reading test. We had a baseball theme celebration with cookies and creating individualized STAAR trading cards.

Up this week is a small Reading Camp for Third and Fourth Grade for last minute practice along with the possibility of a Pep Rally. How do you motivate and encourage kids the last few weeks before standardized testing?