Data Drives Success
Teach to the test, but not THAT way.
Practice makes perfect!!
Don't wait till STAAR time to expose the students to formal testing, and testing in general. Just as a sports team practices hard and uses game time to showcase their abilities and hard work, so should students! Give them weekly or bi-weekly assessments, formal or informal, so when it's time to "put up or shut up", the kids will not feel the pressure to succeed.