STAAR Review - 8th

Here are some of the stations from our 8th grade TAKS/STAAR review. This was set up in our school's gym, and the teachers and pre-ap students ran the stations. We had a morning group of kids and an afternoon group. Feel free to shoot Stephanie an email if you want all the stations or more information about how it worked. We loved it!

Think Fast! Quick Engagers

Man, do these kids have a hard time sitting down for 45 minutes. We have a couple of standard things that can be incorporated into any lesson and it keeps them on their toes.

1. STAND UP AND SPEAK:

I use this one a lot in the last five minutes of class, but it also works as a transition. It is perfect to review new material from the day.

- All students stand up next to their desks and push in chairs.

- I ask questions based on what we have done for the day OR I ask students to provide facts about what they've learned.

- I call on the first student's hand I see go up, and if they get it right or give me an accurate fact, they may sit down (this is great when you really get to know your students and can call on them in an order you think is best depending on ability levels)

- Nobody leaves the room until all students are in their seats

Stand Up and Speak works really well in between activities or if you are finished teaching and they are about to start on a worksheet. As soon as they give their fact, they can sit down and get started on the assignment.

1B. **** Another thing I like to do when they are working on the same old, boring worksheet and they are like, about to fall asleep is have them go up to the board and write a fact. I can send them up in order of their abilities.

I usually have four people up to the board at a time. Students can only write something if it is not already on the board, and they write their name. Those are the only rules. If something is incorrect, I can have them fix it without causing a disruption to the class. And if I want to challenge a student, I have them go up towards the end. Then they have to read everything on the board and write something new.

Many times we will do this during the class and end with STAND UP AND SPEAK. That way, the answers to the questions are behind me on the board.

2. POST-IT FACTS:

Making Worksheets A Little More Exciting...

Full Day Activities

Here are some activities that take up an entire class period.

1. ACTIVITY CHECKLIST:

Students in groups of three or four (one checklist per group).

It was easier to allow them to choose groups so that everyone was more inclined to do

their part.

All students must have an activity complete in order for teacher to initial.

Great for getting them to complete "busy work"

I always had a board activity involved with this and some cutting/gluing into spiral

Activity checklists are great when you have a bunch of stuff you need them to do that they might not be so excited about. Very little teacher prep required and they can get so much done in one class. I always took as a quiz grade. No grading required, just checked signatures.

2. FIND SOMEONE WHO...:

There are many different ways this can be set up for your class. Here are some examples that worked for us.

A great way to introduce the idea is as a beginning of the year "Get to know you" activity. Then the kids are used to doing it and it is a smooth transition into content material.