A TEK-a-Day: STAAR Texas Test Prep Made Easy! *Freebie!
Wondering if this resource has been updated for the new assessed curriculum guides and question types for the 2023 STAAR test? IT HAS!
As an instructional coach, I spent a lot of time trying to find good quality resources for my teachers to use when teaching literacy.
Sometimes this was easy and fun! Mentor texts! Classroom libraries! Sometimes this wasn’t so fun. STAAR reading test prep. Yuck.
The most important things we do aren’t test prep, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at the reports released from the state!
One resource my Texas educators frequently asked for, but weren’t able to find, was a test prep resource that would allow them to teach test prep a little at a time, rather than a huge, long, horrendous, boring passage.
They wanted a short passage to use each week, and then different types of questions each day.
One question a day, they said!
That’ll help us reinforce the skills without drilling and killing, and spending so much of our time on test prep!
I searched high and low but couldn’t really find exactly what we were looking for.
So I decided to make it. And so the TEK-a-Day Test Prep was born!
Please know that I didn’t create this product so you could spend more time on test prep. I created so you could spend less, better quality time on test prep.
I’ve really worked hard to ensure that this resource is TEKS and test-aligned. My pet peeve is when untested TEKS are included in a reading passage, or when the test prep materials sold by big companies don’t match what kids will actually see on the day of their test. We should teach widely, of course, but if we’re preparing them for something high-stakes, shouldn’t our materials be accurate?
What does TEKS stand for?
TEKS stands for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. They’re Texas’ state standards developed by the Texas Education Agency! The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills outline the skills students should master by the end of each grade level or course. The TEK-a-Day Test Prep provides a unique way to incorporate these standards into test prep instruction.
A TEK-a-Day: Texas Test Prep Made Easy!
Here’s what’s in the resource. If you’re like my teachers, it’s exactly what you’ve been looking for!
Short Genre-aligned Texts & Daily Tek-aligned questions
Each week has one short text – a half-page text – in different genres that are tested in that grade. In each 1st nine weeks unit for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, I start the first nine weeks with literary genres (fiction, drama, poetry, and literary nonfiction), and in the second nine weeks I add informational genres (expository, argumentative, persuasive, and embedded procedural).
This is a sample of what is included in one nine-week unit for fourth grade!
For each text, there are five questions: one for each day of the week. Monday is a word study question (context clues, affixes/root words, and dictionary definitions where applicable). The other days spiral TEKS tested on the state test. If it’s not tested, I didn’t include it. The purpose is to focus test-taking skills on the kinds of questions kids will see.
I used a variety of question stems and ensured that all assessed TEKS in Reporting Category 1 are included throughout the year!
I’ve also added in the different question types they’ll see on the redesigned STAAR test, including hot text, short constructed responses, multi-select questions, and multipart questions.
Each nine weeks adds a new layer to what kids are asked to do in preparation for their test. The third and fourth nine weeks include questions in the connections style – questions where the kids compare the readings from the previous two weeks.
In order to make this an all-inclusive test prep resource, I also added in academic vocabulary.
The word wall includes vocabulary that is generic to reading (summary, infer, support), and genre-specific vocabulary (main character, cause-and-effect, cast, props).
Word wall cards are included and a vocabulary guide explains when each word is introduced so you can build a word wall by genre.
To support kids making connections to texts, I also included writing extensions and recommended
readings to continue the learning.
These recommended books are thematically or topically connected, and it can be as easy as checking some out from the library and leaving them on a book display for interested readers!
The writing responses are from a variety of modes of writing – all of them supported in the TEKS. They make great Extended Constructed Response practice for the Writing component of the ELA test!
It’s also a great way to keep those kids who finish quickly engaged.
Answer Keys & TEKS
Data TrackersAnswer keys are included for everything, and they include the TEK/SE coding as well, so you can track student data and see how they’re doing in each area!
The student answer sheet is easy for kids to use to record their responses for all nine weeks on one page!
To help you track student data, there’s a data tracker in printable and digital format (editable PDF),
So many teachers have to provide a large print version to their students, and I know from personal experience that this can be very time-consuming, and sometimes difficult, depending on the formatting of the document. So I included large-print versions of the passages for each week. This should save you some time!
Teacher pages are also included that explain how to use the program and all of its resources.
If you download the preview file for each bundle on TpT, it will share exactly what is included in the entire bundle, as well as a TEKS alignment guide to help you with year-long planning. Want a sneak peak? Enter your email address to get two free weeks from third, fourth, and fifth grade! You can try it out with your kids for free! This free download includes…
Third Grade: two passages plus comparing questions
Fourth Grade: two selections plus comparing questions
Fifth Grade: two selections plus comparing questions
It’s three weeks of lessons for each grade! It’s one of my biggest free downloads. Grab it below!
I know this resource will help you spend less-but-better test prep time with your kids. Best part? They’re aligned to the 2023 TEKS and question types in the assessed curriculum guides! Hit all of the tested TEKS with this resource!
Will you be updating this resource with the new TEKS that will be implemented this year? Also, is there a reason it is titled TEK instead of TEKS (to include the skills portion of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)? Thank you so much!
Brooke, I'm so sorry! I just saw this comment. I actually did update the complete resource on TpT with the new TEKS! And there's no reason it's called TEK-a-Day instead of TEKS-a-Day aside from that it sounded better to my ears even though I know it's not correct. That is a terrible reason, I know, and I am kind of regretting it! Thank you, Chrissy
Wondering if this resource has been updated for the new assessed curriculum guides and question types for the 2023 STAAR test? IT HAS!
What does TEK stand for?
TEKS stands for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills – they're our state standards in Texas!
I so wish you had a 6-8 version of this! This is a great resource.
Thank you! The 6-8 TEKS aren't currently my area of expertise, but maybe I'll be able to add that to my skills someday!
I wish you had a 6th grade version!
Will you be updating this resource with the new TEKS that will be implemented this year? Also, is there a reason it is titled TEK instead of TEKS (to include the skills portion of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)? Thank you so much!
Brooke,
I'm so sorry! I just saw this comment. I actually did update the complete resource on TpT with the new TEKS! And there's no reason it's called TEK-a-Day instead of TEKS-a-Day aside from that it sounded better to my ears even though I know it's not correct. That is a terrible reason, I know, and I am kind of regretting it! Thank you,
Chrissy