SMART
Test Taking Strategies
Paired Passages
Genres
STAAR Day
100

What does SMART stand for?

S- Scan and Predict

M- Map out Text Features

A- Add notes as you read

R- Return to the passage for evidence

T- Try out all answers


Daily Double!!!! What is the most important par of SMART?

100

What should you do to your question?

Underline/circle important words.

100

What is a paired passage?

A paired passage has two selections, could be the same genre or different, over the same topic. Each selection has its own set of questions and then questions that apply to both selections.

100

What is the purpose of subheading/subtitles?

To help you easily locate specific information and to give you a preview of what that section is about.

100

If you are overwhelmed and need to focus, what can you do?

Take a break, breathe, eat your snacks, take a drink, etc.

200

What is the correct way to add notes?

Add notes as needed, this is a quick "brain dump"

200

What should you do if you get stuck on a question?

Mark the question (use a question mark, star, circle it, etc.) and come back to it later!

200

After you read your first selection, what do you do?

Answer the questions that go with JUST the first selection.

200

What genre would you see a stanza in?

Poetry!

Daily Double!

Why is poetry organized this way?

200

Bathroom rules?

Only one person can go at a time, so be courteous to others. Also, there may be a line, this will take time away from your testing.  

300

What are 4 examples of text features?

Title, subtitles, pictures, captions, graphs, maps, headings, charts, paragraph numbers, line numbers, etc.

300

What should I do with my answer choices? (2 parts)

Eliminate obvious wrong answers.

Discuss with myself why each answer is incorrect or correct.

300

After you read your second selection, what do you do?

Answer the questions that go with JUST the second selection.

300

What are stage directions?

Directions read but not said aloud. These tell the actors what actions or expression to perform. They also tell the reader what is going on.

300

How long do you have for STAAR and what does this mean for you?

4 hours. You need to be aware of time, do not go too fast or too slow. Pay attention to time warnings.

400

Why do we use SMART?

To help us slow down, choose the correct answer, improve our scores, etc.

400

What do I do if I am second guessing myself?

Go with your first choice unless you can absolutely prove another answer. Trust yourself!

400

Do I have to use SMART on both selections and all of the questions that follow?

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

400

What do we use to summarize a fictional selection?

SWBST

400

What are the rules for snacks/drinks?

Eat/drink them whenever you need. Be quiet with them. Be careful with water, if you spill on your test you CANNOT get another one. You only get one water bottle, use it wisely.

500

Do I have to use SMART? It's boring and takes too long....

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YESYES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES 

500

What is one BIG thing I can do to improve my score?

SMART, with a big emphasis on R.

500

What do I use when answering questions over both selections?

Checks/X


Daily Double! 

Describe how this system works and how an answer would be correct.

500

In an argumentative text, how do you know what side they are on? Be specific.

The claim. 

500

What is the most important thing on STAAR day?

Giving your best effort and having a positive attitude.

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