3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers across Texas can expect BIG changes on the STAAR Reading Test starting in the spring of 2023 and beyond.
What kind of changes are going to be made? TEA has released some information on the topic, but everything is NOT set in stone.
All NEW items will count toward students’ overall score starting in 2023, so it is important to understand what is on the new STAAR reading test.
This is what we know so far:
Multiple Choice Questions
The STAAR Reading test will contain no more than 75% multiple choice questions. These are traditional one answer multiple choice questions that we typically see on STAAR tests. A variety new types of questions have been proposed. For example, some of the questions could be multi select or drag and drop.
In addition to the reading comprehension questions, there will be multiple choice revise and edit questions similar to what was on the STAAR Writing Test.
If you’re wondering what strategies students should use on revise and edit questions, check out the strategies in my blog post: Revise and Edit Strategies
Short Answer
The new STAAR Reading test will contain a short answer question for third, fourth, and fifth graders. However, these short answer questions will be scored differently than multiple choice questions.
Students will be required to read a passage and respond to an open-ended question.
They will need to use evidence from the passage to support their answer.
Therefore, it is important to teach students strategies for answering constructed response questions: STAAR Reading Constructed Response Strategies. One way you can do this is start by incorporating short answer questions in your class read alouds and guided reading lessons.
When practicing short answer questions, be sure that students are writing in complete sentences and supporting their answers with evidence from the reading passage.
Long Response Question
In addition to short answer questions, there will be one long response essay question. This response question will be scored 0-5 by two different people. The total points can be up to 10.
TEA has released examples of long response questions and responses. It appears that to receive all 5 points, students must have 5 developed paragraphs using evidence from the passage to support their answer.
In order to practice, I have been adding a long response question to novels we have been reading in my 4th grade class.
Check out these STAAR reading question stems that you can use with any novel or guided reading book:
Cross Curricular
The informational passages on the new STAAR Reading test will be cross curricular.
TEA stated that it is important for teachers to focus on teaching the curriculum rather than teaching reading strategies.
When students open their STAAR Reading test, they will need to activate prior knowledge from social studies and science lessons. This will help them better understand the nonfiction passages and answer the comprehension questions.
Using STAAR question stems throughout the year in your daily reading and social studies lessons will help students get used to that type of questioning.
Leave your name and email below for your FREE list of STAAR Reading question stems and student question task cards.
Online Testing
School districts across the state have been slowly having their students take the STAAR test online.
By the spring of 2023, it will no longer be a choice. All Texas students will have to take the STAAR test online.
Luckily, TEA has put out interim tests, practice questions, and opportunities for students to practice with the tools that are available on the online STAAR Reading test.
The number one tool for the STAAR Reading online test has to be the embedded dictionary. Teachers must have students practice using this feature.
Putting it all together
Change can be overwhelming, but luckily with the information given to us ahead of time, we can ensure that our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be reading the new STAAR Reading Test.
I created a brand new resource aligned to the NEW STAAR Reading Test. The informational passages align to the Social Studies TEKS while the reading and revise and edit questions align to the ELA TEKS.
Each passage includes four multiple choice reading comprehension questions, one short answer question, and four multiple choice revise and edit questions.
4th Grade- Texas Reading and Revise & Edit Passages MEGA Bundle
5th Grade- Famous American Reading & Revise and Passages MEGA Bundle
This STAAR Resource BUNDLE includes everything new or veteran 4th and 5th grade teachers need to prepare their students for the NEW STAAR Reading Test.
Learn more about these STAAR Reading Resources in my STAAR Reading Resource Bundle Blog.
