Texas TAKS Grade 8 Reading

SUCCEEDING ON THE TAKSGRADE 8 READING ABOUT THIS BOOK This book provides excellent preparation for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)Grade 8 Reading. Inside you will find exercises that are designed to provide students with targeted instruction, practice, and strategiesall of it with a single-minded focus: success on the TAKS. We have also made every effort to make the book easy to read and navigate. This book is divided into several parts. The first section is a PRETEST, which is half the length of an actual TAKS test and introduces students to some of the sections on the actual test, including a narrative selection with 12 multiple-choice questions paired selection (a biography and a narrative selection), with 12 multiple-choice questions Following the pretest is a lesson section, which teaches students about the different types of TAKS questions on the reading test, step by step. A full-length POSTTEST, which follows the lessons, includes detailed explanations of all answers. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK FOR STUDENTS: To make getting through the book as easy as possible, weve included icons shown on the next page that highlight sections like lessons, questions, and answers. Youll find that our practice tests are very much like the actual TAKS youll encounter on test day. The best way to prepare for a test is to practice, so weve included drills with answers throughout the book, and our two practice tests include detailed answers. FOR PARENTS: Texas has created grade-appropriate objectives that are listed in the table in this introduction. Students need to meet these objectives as measured by the TAKS. Our book will help your child review for the TAKS and prepare for the Reading exam. It includes review sections, drills, and two practice exams complete with explanations to help your child focus on the areas he/she needs to work on to help master the test. FOR TEACHERS: No doubt, you are already familiar with the TAKS and its format. Begin by assigning students the pretest. An answer key and detailed explanations follow the pretest. Then work through each of the lessons in succession. When students have completed the subject review, they should move on to the posttest. Answers and answer explanations follow the posttest. WHY STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE TAKS In 1999, the 76th Texas Legislature mandated that the TAKS be administered beginning in the 20022003 school year. The broad objectives of the TAKS are "umbrella" statements for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that students must attain. Each of the four TAKS objectives applies to several TEKS student expectations. This book is designed to apply to both the broad TAKS and the individual TEKS student expectations. WHAT'S ON THE TAKS Reading Selections Reading selections on the TAKS target a culturally diverse audience. Four kinds of selections appear on the Grade 8 TAKS: 1. Narrative selections, which are fictional stories presented with a clear progression of events. Letters or diary entries, as well as stories, may represent narrative writing. 2. Expository (informative) selections, which provide information about noteworthy people and/or events or explain topics related to content areas such as science, social studies, art, or music. 3. Mixed selections, which combine two types of writing into a single passage. A mixed selection might include both factual information and invented dialogue. 4. Paired selections, which are two selections designed to be read together. Paired selections have a common theme. Selections in Grade 8 are approximately 700 to 1,000 words. Paragraphs within passages are numbered to aid the student in finding information. Reading Questions All questions of the Grade 8 TAKS Reading are multiple-choResearch and Education Association Staff is the author of 'Texas TAKS Grade 8 Reading', published 2005 under ISBN 9780738600970 and ISBN 0738600970.