1. Get out a pen or pencil and a highlighter.

2. Pick a partner with whom YOU CAN WORK SUCCESSFULLY.

3. Get out any additional reading supports you find beneficial (index card, reading guide, etc.)

4. Wait for further instructions.

Preparing to Ride the Carousel

1. Before reading the text, review the “Connect to Text” column of the chart I give you.

2. Read the text once to yourself. 3. Read the text a second time with

your partner, this time connecting to the text by highlighting, writing notes, asking questions, etc.

Riding the Carousel

1. Take your text and your STAAR Carousel Review sheet and position yourselves in front of any poster. Face the teacher, not the poster.

2. When the music begins, start rotating around the carousel. Keep moving until the music stops.

3. When the music stops, read the question on your poster and pick the BEST answer by placing a POST-IT Note next to the answer.

4. Don’t be afraid to pick an answer others have not IF YOU CAN BACK IT UP WITH TEXT EVIDENCE.

Which sentence expresses a turning point in the story?

A. I looked at the students and gave them a thumbs-up.B. I wasn’t the one who was complaining anymore.C. It sounded like a great classroom to spend time in.D. Just six weeks ago I had been the envy of my middle school peers.

CW: Which of these is the BEST summary and WHY?

A. Chloe is assigned to mentor in a first grade class, and Maneya is assigned to a fourth grade class. At first, Chloe thinks teaching first graders will be easy, but she soon finds out that it is not as easy as she thought. Her friend has success in fourth grade, while Chloe struggles in first grade.

B. Chloe and her friend are both assigned to mentor in elementary classrooms. Her friend is quickly successful with her students, but Chloe struggles with her mentorship. Eventually, Chloe learns she has to adapt to the procedures of a first grade classroom to succeed.

1. Pick a partner with whom YOU CAN WORK SUCCESSFULLY.

2. Get out a pen or pencil and a highlighter.

3. Get out any additional reading supports you find beneficial (index card, reading guide, etc.)

4. Wait for further instructions.

Preparing for March Madness!

1. Read the text once to yourself. 2. Read the text a second time with

your partner, this time connecting to the text by highlighting, writing notes, asking questions, etc.

Make the Shot!1. Read the question and select the BEST answer. 2. Write your names on the paper and smash it into

a paper ball.3. When the whistle blows, ONE player takes their

“ball” and runs to the foul shot line.4. When the ref says “Shoot,” try to make the shot.5. One paper ball will be pulled from the basket,

and if it has the correct answer, that team wins tickets.

CW: What is the central message the author presents in this selection? Explain your answer.

A. It is satisfying to watch others succeed.B. Receiving negative comments leads to a lack

of confidence.C. Being dedicated can help one obtain a

seemingly impossible goal.D. It is tempting to quit when situations become

difficult.

1. Pick a partner with whom YOU CAN WORK SUCCESSFULLY.

2. Get out a pen or pencil and a highlighter.

3. Get out any additional reading supports you find beneficial (index card, reading guide, etc.)

4. Wait for further instructions.

Preparing for Four Corners

1. Read the text once to yourself. 2. Read the text a second time with

your partner, this time connecting to the text by highlighting, writing notes, asking questions, etc.

3. Write your name on a piece of paper and put it in the bag.

Four Corners

1. Locate the A, B, C, and D corners of the room.2. When the question is projected, read it and

discuss it with your partner. 3. Get up and go to the corner that represents

the BEST answer. 4. If your name is selected from the bag, you

must explain your answer to earn a ticket.

1 Which statement about education does this article best support?

• A Schools should adapt to local conditions.

• B Schools should give students time off.• C Smaller class sizes are better for

instruction.• D Students prefer attending classes with

friends.

2 The organization of paragraphs 2 through 4 contributes to the author’s main idea by —

• F describing school boats from their flat bottoms to their waterproof roofs

• G explaining how school boats came to be• H comparing school boats with other types of

boats • J highlighting the effects school boats have

had on people

“It was difficult for my parents to send me to school, but now all the facilities are in the village. I have started planning for my daughter’s future education. I want to see her become a doctor or engineer.” This quotation shows that —

• A Rezwan’s efforts have improved educational conditions for future generations

• B Farida thinks that there are enough facilities in her village to serve all the children

• C Rezwan believes that his school boats will create many doctors and engineers

• D Farida’s own difficulties in attending school cause her to be doubtful about her daughter’s education

As used in paragraph 2, what does the word periodic mean?

•F Regularly occurring•G Unexpected•H Previous• J Seldom repeated

5 Which sentence from the article best supports the claim that Rezwan’s boats have successfully addressed

a problem in Bangladesh?• A The purpose of the organization is to help the people

of Bangladesh receive an education and also to bring technology and an improved quality of life to poor people in remote areas of the country.

• B In all, these boats help educate close to 90,000 families in Bangladesh.

• C Each boat was built to accommodate between 30 and 35students.

• D Students study using solar lamps that are charged during the day at stations near the river.

6 The reader can conclude that Rezwan believes that—

• F educating children is easier than educating adults • G floating schools cannot compete with traditional

schools

• H developing technology skills is a necessity in today’s world

• J choosing a career is a difficult decision

CW: Which of these explains the message conveyed by the photographs

in the story? Explain your answer.

A. Students are engaged in learning on school boats.

B. The school boats can be used in both sunny and rainy weather.

C. The school boats float down the river to pick up students.

1. Pick a partner with whom YOU CAN WORK SUCCESSFULLY.

2. Get out a pen or pencil and a highlighter.

3. Get out any additional reading supports you find beneficial (index card, reading guide, etc.)

4. Wait for further instructions.

Preparing for Slap Down

1. Read the text once to yourself. 2. Read the text a second time with

your partner, this time connecting to the text by highlighting, writing notes, asking questions, etc.

3. Write A, B, C, and D on the index card IN LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. (One letter per card)

SLAP DOWN RULES

• Round 1 looks for WORST ANSWER• Round 2 looks for BEST WRONG

ANSWER• Round 3 looks for CORRECT ANSWER• Don’t change your card once it’s

down.

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 5 in the section “Rocks from Space”?

A To explain why scientists are interested in studying meteoritesB To demonstrate how technology can be used to help robots find meteorites C To show that a few people hunt for meteorites every summer D To describe how a meteorite falls from space onto an ice field

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 5 in the section “Rocks from Space”?

D To describe how a meteorite falls from space onto an ice field

The author structures paragraphs 9 and 10 so that they —

F show that Nomad has been searching for meteorites for a long timeG explain the changes that were made to Nomad before it could be used at the South PoleH report early successes Nomad had while meteorite hunting in South America J emphasize the difficulties Nomad might encounter while being used in Antarctica

The author structures paragraphs 9 and 10 so that they —

G explain the changes that were made to Nomad before it could be used at the South Pole

Antarctica is a good place to search for meteorites because —

A natural events in Antarctica make it possible for meteorites to be noticed easily B the weather conditions in Antarctica keep people from visiting the area C meteorites land in Antarctica more often than in other areas D a robot can easily travel on the ice-covered land in Antarctica

Antarctica is a good place to search for meteorites because —

A natural events in Antarctica make it possible for meteorites to be noticed easily

remote \ri-ımot\oadj 1. unlikely to happen 2. located far away 3. not directly involved 4. controlled from a distance

Which definition best fits the way the word remote is used in paragraph 9?

F Definition1G Definition2H Definition3J Definition4

remote \ri-ımot\oadj 1. unlikely to happen 2. located far away 3. not directly involved 4. controlled from a distance

Which definition best fits the way the word remote is used in paragraph 9?

G Definition2

The reader can conclude that conditions in Antarctica make it important for both Nomad

and the researchers to —

A search for buried meteorites B stay inside heated tents C look for ordinary rocks D be prepared for the climate

The reader can conclude that conditions in Antarctica make it important for both Nomad

and the researchers to —

D be prepared for the climate

Which evidence does Tyree give to support the claim that Nomad is a unique robot?

F Nomad is equipped with a way to communicate with humans.G Nomad has the ability to differentiate between objects that appear identical.H Nomad needs to be assembled after reaching its destination.J Nomad is used to helping scientists do their work.

Which evidence does Tyree give to support the claim that Nomad is a unique robot?

G Nomad has the ability to differentiate between objects that appear identical.

The photograph after paragraph 17 helps readers—

F understand how Nomad is controlled G see the process Nomad uses to locate meteoritesH gain perspective about Nomad’s sizeJ see how Nomad was programmed to relay information

The photograph after paragraph 17 helps readers—

H gain perspective about Nomad’s size

CW: Which is the better summary of the selection and why?

A. Several scientists in Antarctica used a robot named Nomad. The scientists got the robot to start searching for meteorites in the ice fields. Antarctica was different from Pennsylvania, where Nomad was first tested, and changes needed to be made to the robot’s software and sensors.

B. A group of scientists went to Antarctica as part of a project for NASA. The scientists worked to reassemble Nomad, an advanced robot, after it had been flown in by helicopter from the coast. With the robot’s help, the scientists searched for and identified several meteorites on the ice fields.

CW: Which is the better summary of the selection and why?

B. A group of scientists went to Antarctica as part of a project for NASA. The scientists worked to reassemble Nomad, an advanced robot, after it had been flown in by helicopter from the coast. With the robot’s help, the scientists searched for and identified several meteorites on the ice fields.