Next week LCM students will be taking the end of the year STAAR exams for Algebra I, US History and Biology. The Bear Facts staff had the opportunity to learn more about what it is like to be one of the masterminds behind teaching STAAR materials when they interviewed US History teacher Michelle Courmier.

Q: How are you preparing for STAAR testing?

A: We are reviewing and working on vocabulary as well as going over sample questions.

Q: How long have you been administering STAAR exams?

A: Three years

Q: How have you been preparing your students for these tests?

A: We have spent all year learning the material, but we have only spent the last two weeks on review.

Q: What has been the biggest struggle in preparing the students for the STAAR tests?

A: Getting them used to the questions. STAAR’s questions tend to be over complicated, so we have to learn to read them.

Q: What STAAR tests are you administering?

A: Algebra, Biology, US History

Q: What advice would you give future STAAR test-takers?

A: Relax, you know the material. Remember that no matter the score you make on the test, it doesn’t determine how smart you are or what kind of student you are.