Yesterday, May 27th, the Texas Senate passed their version of House Bill 4 (HB 4), known as the Committee Substitute for HB 4. This bill proposes major changes to how public school testing and accountability work in Texas—and it moves Texas one step closer to potentially replacing the STAAR test.
If you’re a Texas teacher or parent trying to keep up with all the talk about getting rid of the STAAR test, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of buzz right now about how testing and accountability might change in our state. But before we look ahead, it helps to
Texas educators have had a lot of change thrown at them in recent years when it comes to testing and accountability. Now, another big shift might be on the horizon: the possible replacement of the STAAR test as we know it with TX HB4. Below is a summary of what
ELA doesn’t have to feel dry or test-heavy — especially during back-to-school time when you’re trying to build buy-in and classroom culture. Students can practice real, grade-level reading and writing skills and have fun doing it. Here are four creative ways to make ELA fun and more engaging while still
If you’re a teacher prepping for back-to-school season, you’re probably thinking about systems that will keep your classroom running smoothly. One of the most powerful, low-effort tools you can have in your routine? A solid warm-up strategy. Psst… You might also know warm-ups by other names:Bell Ringers, Do Now, Quick
If you’ve ever felt like task cards were a thing of the past, I’m here to tell you — ELA Task Cards are far from over. In fact, they might just be the most underrated tool in your teacher toolbox — especially if you’re looking for ways to review key
Simple routines to work test-style practice into your week — without the stress Every year, students face a growing number of assessments — from district-level progress monitoring to major state tests like STAAR, FAST, CAASPP, and more. Each test may look different, but the types of questions students encounter are
You’re Not Alone Reading comprehension can be one of the trickiest skills for kids to master—and one of the hardest for parents to help with at home. If you’re wondering how to support your child without a background in education, you’re not alone. The good news? With a few clear
Critical Thinking Strategies to Outsmart Standardized Tests Standardized tests can feel overwhelming for students, not just because of the content but because of the way the questions are designed. Many test makers intentionally create tricky answer choices to assess whether students truly understand a concept or if they’ll fall for
Standardized tests are not just about content knowledge—they also assess how well students can navigate complex question structures and tricky test prep vocabulary. Even students who thoroughly understand the material can struggle if they don’t recognize key terms in the test questions. This is why teaching students how to decode