Teaching reading skills vs. teaching to a test. Now that I'm teaching on a testing grade; this is a constant struggle for me. In the wake of our first eye-opening benchmark test, I've realized (as much as I hate it) we're going to have to do some test prep! So, I'm working with my amazing team to dissect our state madated standardized test, and come up with some STAAR-esque questions to go along with our authentic literature. My kids love read alouds, and I refuse to deprive them of that--in lieu of workbooks with passages. Those workbooks will have their place in our room; they are great practice BUT our kids also need to hear real stories, and be able to apply the skills and strategies we teach them to actual books! *step off soap box*
What we've come up with are the same type 3-4 questions for 4-5 different stories each week. Each question will be aligned with one of our state standards, and is modeled after the same verbage used on our STAAR test. We want our kids to get used to the confusing ways these questions are asked....so they will be able to show what they know! We will rotate books and questions each day, and by the end of the week our kids should be familiar with the questions, and the best strategies to use in order to answer them.
Click the pic for a free download of our first round of questions for the Uglified Duck by Willy Claflin.
What about y'all? What do you use to help your kids get ready for their "big test?"
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STAAR-questions-5th-grade-TEKS-aligned-The-Uglified-Duck-922127Click the pic to download the free questions to go along with the Uglified Duck by Willy Claflin
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