WELCOME TO4th GRADE

STAAR NIGHTWriting/Math/Reading

STAAR Writing

Writing Test

• Dates: March 30-31, 2015• 9 revision questions• 19 editing questions• Total 28 questions• 2 Compositions

How will Writing be tested?

• Assessment split evenly over two days• Day 1–First half of multiple-choice

questions and 1 prompt• Day 2–Second half of multiple-choice

questions and 1 prompt• The test will have a time limit-four hours

each day.

Composition

• Students will write two one-page compositions addressing different types of writing.– Personal Narrative: Write about important

personal experiences (TEKS−17A)– Expository: Create brief composition that

establishes a central idea in a topic sentence, contain a concluding statement, and include supporting sentences with simple facts, details, and explanations

(TEKS−18 A and i, ii, and iii)

Sample Questions:

What is the BEST way to combine sentences 9 and 10?A. After we finished planting, we had a tasty picnic at

a table we had set up under a tree.B. We finished planting, then we had a tasty picnic we

had set up under a tree.C. Finishing planting, we had a picnic at a table we

had set up under a tree that was tasty.D. We finished planting and had a tasty picnic it was at

a table we had set up under a tree.

Sample Questions

What is the correct way to write sentence 33?The shrimp swam after the clown fish, the coral cheered, waving its arms wildly.A. The shrimp swam after the clown fish, and the

coral cheered, it waved its arms wildly. B. The shrimp swam after the clown fish, and the

coral cheered. Waving its arms wildly.C. The shrimp swam after the clown fish. The

coral cheered, waving its arms wildly.

Sample Questions

What change, if any, should be made in sentence 20?A. Change striped to strippedB. Change said to saysC. Delete the quotation marks after the periodD. The sentence should not be changed.

STAAR Math

STAAR Information

• Date: April 21, 2015• Time Limit: 4 hours• Changes: The test will be more

rigorous with greater item complexity.

Types of Math Questions

• There are 48 total questions: 45 multiple choice and three griddable.

• There are 4 Reporting Categories• Category 1: Numerical Representations and

Relationships (12 questions)• Category 2: Computations and Algebraic

Relationships (16 questions)• Category 3: Geometry and Measurement

(15 questions)• Category 4: Data Analysis and Personal Financial

Literacy ( 5 questions)

Sample Questions1. Aaron purchased 2 bags of candy that cost $2.35 each. He then purchased 2 tickets to the concert that cost $15.50 each. He had $50 in his pocket before he bought the candy and the tickets. How much money does he have left?

3. Jamie purchased 26 bars of soap to donate to the local American Red Cross. Ashley donated 37 more bars of soap than Jamie and April donated 19 bars of soap. About how many total bars of soap did the three girls donate?

2. Micah was practicing tossing the football in his backyard with his brother Josh. Micah’s longest toss was 76 feet. His shortest toss was 53 feet. Josh’s longest toss was 13 times longer than Micah’s longest toss. How many feet was Josh’s longest toss?

4. Joseph bought 83 DVDs for a good price at the local video store. He chose 53 to keep for himself and gave the remaining DVDs to his 6 friends. If each friend received the same number of DVDs, how many DVDs did each friend receive?

Samples Questions Continued..• A.

• B.

• C.

• Look at the amounts of money above. In which of the amounts does the digit 1 represent the tenths place?

STAAR Reading

Reading

•Date: April 22, 2015•6 Stories•3100 Word Count •44 questions

Genres Assessed

Literary InformationalPoetry ExpositoryFiction ProceduralNonfiction BiographyDrama Autobiography

The Reading Test Will Emphasize:

• “Going beyond” a literal understanding; Critical thinking, not skills in isolation

• Making connections between different genres

• Fiction objective: Describe the interactions of characters, including their relationships and the changes they undergo

Sample Questions: Marvin’s parents looked at Marvin, first on TV, then on the stairs.What are Marvin’s parents most likely thinking right now?F. They hope Marvin will become a leader someday.G. They realize Marvin had wanted to tell them something important.H. They wish Marvin had asked the president a better question.J. They wonder why Marvin didn’t tell them about meeting the president.

Sample Questions:

Which words from paragraph 6 help the reader know the meaning of distinct?

A. Difficult for others to copyB. Made recordingsC. Mixed up the patternsD. Didn’t call back

Sample Questions:

Which of the following is the best summary of the section “Singing with Purpose”?A. Peter Narins is a scientist who studies frogs and frog calls. By

observing many frogs in nature, Narins has learned some interesting things about a species of frog in Puerto Rico.

B. The scientist Peter Narins studies frog calls. He records the calls, plays them back to other frogs, and observes the frogs’ responses. Narin has discovered different meanings in the frog calls.

C. Scientists study all kinds of things, including frog calls. One scientist who studies frog calls is Peter Narins. He is interested in learning about how frogs use their calls.

STAAR-A

• An online accommodated version of the STAAR test for students with identified disabilities who are receiving special education services or services under Section 504

• Same standards as STAAR• STAAR A provides embedded supports

designed to help students with disabilities access the content being assessed.

STAAR-A

• Online Tools: Answer eliminator, highlighter, eraser, pencil, notepad

• Accessibility Features: Text-to-Speech, zoom, color and contrast, place marker

• Embedded Accommodations: Pop-Ups, rollovers, blank graphic organizers, writing checklists

Visit the TEA website

www.tea.state.tx.us

For more information and updates and

Student Assessment page

Thank you for coming!