Define & Decode
A question asks: “Which statement is NOT supported by the passage?”
A student selects the most accurate statement.
👉 What mistake did the student make?
Ignored the word NOT and chose a correct instead of incorrect answer.
A student eliminates only one answer choice before guessing.
👉 Why is this ineffective?
It does not significantly increase probability (still 75% chance wrong).
A student highlights an entire passage.
👉 Why is this ineffective?
It removes focus—highlighting should isolate key information only.
A student selects an answer without checking it against the question.
👉 What critical step was missed?
Verifying that the answer actually matches the question.
A student spends 5 minutes on one question.
👉 What should they have done?
Mark it and move on.
A student underlines numbers in a math problem but ignores the verb “compare.”
👉 Why is this a problem?
The student missed the task (comparing), not just calculating.
Two answers seem correct, but one is more precise.
👉 What should the student do next?
Compare both closely and identify which is MOST correct.
A student uses a calculator on every problem.
👉 What is the strategic error?
Over-reliance slows pacing and may be unnecessary.
A student finds evidence for their answer but ignores conflicting evidence.
👉 What error is this?
Looking for proof you’re right
Only seeing what supports your answer
A student answers easy questions last.
👉 Why is this inefficient?
It wastes time and risks missing guaranteed points.
A question asks about “structure,” but a student focuses on vocabulary definitions.
👉 What strategy breakdown occurred?
Misidentified the skill being assessed.
A student keeps an answer because “it sounds right.”
👉 What should they have done instead?
Look for evidence and eliminate based on incorrectness.
A student uses scratch paper but writes randomly.
👉 What should they have done instead?
Organize notes strategically (models, steps, key info).
A student changes an answer without new evidence.
👉 What is the risk?
Changing correct answers to incorrect ones.
A student changes an answer without new evidence.
👉 What is the risk?
Changing correct answers to incorrect ones.
A student defines all unfamiliar words but still answers incorrectly.
👉 What step likely did they skip?
Determining what the question is actually asking (skill focus).
A student eliminates an answer because it is unfamiliar.
👉 Why is this flawed reasoning?
Difficulty or unfamiliarity does not equal incorrectness.
A student does not use the strikethrough tool.
👉 How does this impact performance?
“It makes your brain work harder and can make you second-guess your answers.”
A student finishes early and submits immediately.
👉 What should they have done?
Review flagged questions and check for errors.
A student finishes early and submits immediately.
👉 What should they have done?
Review flagged questions and check for errors.
Why is identifying the skill of a question more important than just understanding the content?
Because STAAR assesses how to apply knowledge, not just recall it.
Explain why eliminating extreme answer choices (e.g., ALWAYS, NEVER) is often effective but not always guaranteed.
Extreme language is often incorrect, but must still be verified against evidence.
Explain how combining multiple tools (highlighting + notes + elimination) improves accuracy.
It reinforces thinking through multiple strategies.
Explain why taking short mental breaks can improve performance on difficult questions.
It resets focus and allows the brain to reprocess information more effectively.
“It gives your brain a break so it can work better.”
A student never goes back to check their answers. What should they be doing instead?
They should check their thinking and make sure their answers make sense.