STAAR TOUR 2024

STAAR REVIEW-Reading and Writing

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Theme-Lesson-Message-Morale

• Must not contain names

• Must be a complete sentence

• Must apply to everyone

Multiple Choice

Kara chose a difficult piece to play for the piano recital.

She practiced everyday after school even when her friends called to see if she could hang out. Despite all that practice, she was still having trouble playing the piece. Kara thought about switching to an easier piece, but instead she decided to double her practice time.

The night of her recital she was the last one to play. When Kara began playing , her fingers danced across the keyboard.

What is the most likely theme of the story?

• Kara practiced a lot and played well.

• It takes a lot of practice to play the piano.

• Persistence pays off.

Multiple Choice

Mara's family lived next to a grumpy old lady who was always yelling at them for something. However, one day she saw Mrs. Olsen drop a bag of groceries. Mara helped her pick them up. After that day, Mrs. Olsen started inviting her over more often to help out. Sometimes Mrs. Olsen would invite her to stay for tea. As the years passed, Mara eventually moved away to college, but she still managed to stop by and visit her not so grumpy neighbor.

What lesson is the author most likely trying to prove?

• Sometimes people are grumpy and need a friend.

• It's best to treat others with kindness.

• Mara is very kind person.

Multiple Choice

Mr. Tuttle was teaching his students the importance of eating healthy. He lectured to them about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and staying away from junk food. However, one day his students spotted him at the mall's food court eating a corndog. After seeing this, his students wondered why he would teach them things he didn't believe. One of them said, "I was going to order a salad, but after seeing that- I'm ordering pizza and a soda."

What is the main message of the story?

• Actions speak louder than words.

• Eating healthy is not really that important.

• Mr. Tuttle should eat at home.

Context Clues

Are clues that can be found within the sentence or paragraph. We can use them to help us figure out a word we don't know the meaning to.

Multiple Choice

Ben ate three pieces of cake and two scoops for ice cream. An hour later, his stomach felt queasy and he decided to lie down for awhile.

In the first paragraph, what does the word queasy mean?

• better

• sick

• well

• empty

Multiple Choice

Darla preferred her black boots because they matched more of her outfits.

In the paragraph above, the word preferred means-

• would rather have

• washed

• does not want

• loved

reading comprehension

Multiple Choice

Sam woke up and saw the sun shining in the sky. He packed his swimming suit, a towel, a beach ball, and his sandals in his bag. Then, he went to the kitchen and made a sack lunch.

Sam is most likely going to ___________________.

• the beach

• school

• the mall

Multiple Choice

My family went to the circus. We saw the funny clowns. We watched the lion act. We ate a lot of treats and popcorn. This story is about __________.

• eating treats and popcorn

• clowns

• going to the circus

Multiple Choice

It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson. Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down.

What is the main idea?

• Dessert is supposed to come last.

• The students had a backward day.

• It is hard to do things backward.

• Students failed their tests.

​How do you make an inference?

​You take clues from the text and your background knowledge to make an educated guess on what will happen.

​How do you know a question is an inferencing question?

• ​Which idea is best expressed?

• ​The author wrote this most likely to

• ​The reader can conclude that

• ​Which sentence best explains

• ​What does this sentence suggest

• ​Which idea is supported

​Remember the answer will not be in the text. You will have to infer!

Multiple Choice

Splat! " Oh, rats!" thought Katie as she stooped to clean up the gooey mess.

"I hope we have another one. " She looked in the fridge and pulled out the carton. "One Left! Breakfast wasn't ruined after all."

What do you infer Katie cleaned up?

• Milk

• Pancakes

• Eggs

• Butter

Multiple Choice

The scout leader looked at the dark cloudy sky and muttered something under his breath. Then he looked at the map. "Let's get moving." He called to the group of tired boys. "The faster the better."

Why do you think the scout leader started rushing the boys?

• They were going to be late for dinner

• It was going to rain

• They were going to miss their ride that was waiting for them

• The sun was about to cause it to be too hot for them to stay out much longer

Multiple Choice

Miriam was afraid to tell her parents that she lost her key to the back door of the house.

"It's okay, Miriam," her brother said. "We will get a new door. Or we can just stop using that door altogether."

"But that will be just as inconvenient," Miriam said. "Can't we just make a new key at the hardware store?"

• Miriam's brother was angry that she lost the key.

• Miriam figured out an easy solution to the lost key.

• Miriam and her brother don't agree on anything.

Multiple Choice

Snow was falling again. Every puzzle was put together, every book was read, and the refrigerator was covered in artwork. Buddy and William were bored. They couldn't go out and play in the snow because they were both sick. Even though school might be canceled tomorrow, they were ready to go back to school.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?

• they were sick
• it was snowing again
• they were bored and ready to go back to school
• the refrigerator was covered in artwork, and the puzzles were put together

Multiple Choice

Students sat in the cafeteria talking loudly. It was lunch time at Green Elementary, and the lunch room was full. The noise and the smell of grilled cheese filled the air. In the corner sat Rudy and Jacob. They were making their daily lunch trades.
"I'll give you my cheese crackers for your pretzels," said Jacob.
"Okay, I'll give you my vanilla pudding for your sugar cookies," said Rudy.
"Deal!" said Jacob.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?

• Jacob and Rudy trade food at lunch
• Rudy wanted Jacob's sugar cookies
• Jacob had cheese crackers and wanted pretzels
• Students were talking loudly during lunch at Green Elementary

Multiple Choice

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.
• It is also fun to look for shells.
• Some people simply like to sunbathe.
• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Authors Purpose

6th Reading

Multiple Choice

What are the three reasons we write?
(Authors purpose for writing)

• Persuade, Inform, Electrify
• Perform, Infer, Entertain
• Persuade, Inform, Educate
• Persuade, Inform, Entertain

Authors Purpose

Poll

Check all that apply:

What are the reason's an author would write something?

• To Persuade

• To Inform

• To Explain

• To Entertain

• To Bore You

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose?

• to explain

• to persuade

• to describe

• to inform

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the author's purpose for writing this text?

• to persuade

• to explain

• to describe

• to entertain

Multiple Choice

Tomorrow is Jill's birthday. She is excited because she gets to pick where she will eat dinner. Will it be Mexican food at the Big Enchilada House? Or will it be fried chicken at the Chicken Shack, or a big cheeseburger at Al's Hamburger Palace. She just couldn't decide. Then there was always the Pizza Shop with that great pepperoni pizza. How would she ever decide? Maybe she would just flip a coin.

The Summary of this passage is:

• Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.

• Jill loves Mexican food.

• The Pizza Shop has the best pizza in town.

• Jill will choose a place by flipping a coin.

Multiple Choice

Jimmy and his friends went hiking. They set up their camp in an open space in the woods. The boys set up their tents and immediately went to gather wood to make a campfire. Jimmy, Artie, and John walked through the trees to gather the wood that was on the ground. The sun began to go down behind the trees and Jimmy realized he had forgotten his flashlight in his backpack. The boys hurried so they could find enough wood quickly and make it back to camp before dark. With arms full of firewood, the boys jogged back to the camping space and set the wood down next to the firepit.

Identify the SOMEBODY in the passage.

Who is the MAIN CHARACTER in the passage?

• Jimmy and his friends

• Artie

• Jimmy

• John

Multiple Choice

Jimmy and his friends went hiking. They set up their camp in an open space in the woods. The boys set up their tents and immediately went to gather wood to make a campfire. Jimmy, Artie, and John walked through the trees to gather the wood that was on the ground. The sun began to go down behind the trees and Jimmy realized he had forgotten his flashlight in his backpack. The boys hurried so they could find enough wood quickly and make it back to camp before dark. With arms full of firewood, the boys jogged back to the camping space and set the wood down next to the firepit.

Identify the WANTED in the passage.

What did the main characters WANT in the passage?

• they wanted the sun to go down

• they wanted to return to the camping space

• they wanted to find firewood

• they wanted to set up their tents

Multiple Choice

Jimmy and his friends went hiking. They set up their camp in an open space in the woods. The boys set up their tents and immediately went to gather wood to make a campfire. Jimmy, Artie, and John walked through the trees to gather the wood that was on the ground. The sun began to go down behind the trees and Jimmy realized he had forgotten his flashlight in his backpack. The boys hurried so they could find enough wood quickly and make it back to camp before dark. With arms full of firewood, the boys jogged back to the camping space and set the wood down next to the firepit.

Identify the BUT in the passage.

What is the PROBLEM in the passage?

• but they fell in the river

• but they couldn't find any wood

• but it was getting dark and they forgot a flashlight

• but they got lost in the woods

Multiple Choice

Jimmy and his friends went hiking. They set up their camp in an open space in the woods. The boys set up their tents and immediately went to gather wood to make a campfire. Jimmy, Artie, and John walked through the trees to gather the wood that was on the ground. The sun began to go down behind the trees and Jimmy realized he had forgotten his flashlight in his backpack. The boys hurried so they could find enough wood quickly and make it back to camp before dark. With arms full of firewood, the boys jogged back to the camping space and set the wood down next to the firepit.

Identify the SO in the passage.

How did they try to SOLVE THE PROBLEM in the passage?

• the boys hurried and found wood quickly

• the boys decided not to build a fire

• the boys went to the store and bought firewood

• the boys went back to the camp to get the flashlight

Multiple Choice

Jimmy and his friends went hiking. They set up their camp in an open space in the woods. The boys set up their tents and immediately went to gather wood to make a campfire. Jimmy, Artie, and John walked through the trees to gather the wood that was on the ground. The sun began to go down behind the trees and Jimmy realized he had forgotten his flashlight in his backpack. The boys hurried so they could find enough wood quickly and make it back to camp before dark. With arms full of firewood, the boys jogged back to the camping space and set the wood down next to the firepit.

Identify the THEN in the passage.

What happened at the END of the passage?

• the boys hurried and found wood

• the boys waited until morning

• the boys decided to just go home

• the boys got back to the camp before it got dark

Simple & Compound Sentences

A simple sentence contains one subject and one predicate and forms a complete thought.

It may have a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.

• Ex. Kayla had lunch at the museum.

• Ex. Brian and Zoie read and study books.

A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences. They are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or by a semicolon.

• Coordinating conjunctions are FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but or, yet, so)

• Compound sentences have two complete subjects and two complete predicates.

  • Ex. Darlene took the day off school, but her doctor’s appointment was canceled.

  • Ex. The ghost frightened Luca, and he ran away in tears.

Multiple Choice

Makayla needs to go to the store, so we will have milk for cereal.

• simple sentence

• compound sentence

Multiple Choice

Bella and Chloe prepped and made dinner for everyone.

• simple sentence

• compound sentence

Multiple Choice

Instead of driving, Ariana and Christian walked to school.

• simple sentence

• compound sentence

Multiple Choice

Clifford ordered a large coffee, but he accidentally grabbed the small one.

• simple sentence

• compound sentence

Multiple Choice

Read the group of words below. How could you change it to make it a compound sentence?

It’s cold in the winter, it’s hot in the summer.

• add a comma after “cold”

• take out the comma after “winter”

• add the word “and” after the comma

• add the word “months” after summer

Multiple Choice

How can these sentences be combined to form a compound sentence with the correct punctuation?

I don’t want to do the dishes. I want to take out the garbage.

• I don’t want to do the dishes, I want to take out the garbage.

• I don’t want to do the dishes, take out the garbage.

• I don’t want to do the dishes, but I want to take out the garbage.

• But I want to take out the garbage.