► About STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books
► Order STAAR MASTER Online
► Introductory Price List and Printable Order Form
► STAAR MASTER Practice Tests - Just Released!
► Download STAAR MASTER Samples
► STAAR Test Dates
► STAAR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
► Our Hassle-Free Unconditional Guarantee
► Research References
Reading • Mathematics • Writing
Social Studies • Science
Grades 3–8
Credible.
Developed based on TEA test blueprints.
Our product development process is based on the highest integrity standards. To create the new STAAR MASTER® books, we used information provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) about the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™), including the documents and updates listed below.
Authentic.
Reflects key characteristics of STAAR.
Increased rigor. Items included in the STAAR MASTER books assess skills at a greater depth and level of cognitive complexity. Each item is identified by its level of cognitive complexity (low, moderate, high), with the majority of questions in each book falling within the moderate-high range.
Emphasis on readiness standards considered critical for success at a grade level. Items included in the STAAR MASTER books mirror the correct balance of readiness and supporting standards to provide meaningful, authentic practice for the STAAR.
More open-ended (griddable) items in math and science. STAAR MASTER math and science books include more griddable items so students can derive answers independently.
Assessment of process skills within context in math, science, and social studies. STAAR MASTER books reflect this important change. For example, most items in the math books assess both a knowledge skill and a process skill, with both skills identified for each item.
Fresh.
Includes brand-new material & strategies.
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Brand-new material in all books
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Range of topics to interest students
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Clear identification of tested skills
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Repeated practice in a variety of contexts
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Master list of standards and expectations
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Correlation charts for selected subjects
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Suggested teaching strategies
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Bibliography of research references
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Complete answer keys
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Clear, consistent layout
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Introductory Price List and Order Options
Order STAAR MASTER Online
Download STAAR MASTER Order Form for Fax and Mail Orders
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STAAR MASTER Practice Tests
Great for benchmark or formative assessments!
STAAR MASTER Practice Tests follow the blueprints for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR test). With this comprehensive resource:
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student focus on mastery of all required skills
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students build test-taking confidence
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teachers easily address all the STAAR-eligible TEKS
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teachers ensure depth of understanding based on built-in complexity levels
Highlights-
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Reflect the kinds of items students might encounter on the actual STAAR
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Broad range of topics and ideas of interest to students
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Practice items focus on eligible TEKS-based standards
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Items labeled for easy identification of the TEKS-based reporting category, standard, and expectations
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Repeated practice for students in variety of contexts
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"Griddable response" items (math), which reflect the format used randomly throughout the actual STAAR assessment
Teacher Guide (included free with your order) -
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Overview of Practice Test and key characteristics of the STAAR program
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Description of STAAR MASTER complexity levels
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Master list of STAAR-eligible standards and expectations
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Complete answer key (with corresponding complexity levels for the items)
AVAILABLE NOW!
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Reading, Grades 3-8
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Reading STAAR MASTER Practice Test Samples
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Math, Grades 3-8
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Math STAAR MASTER Practice Test Samples
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Writing, Grades 4 & 7
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Writing STAAR MASTER Practice Test Samples
Order your STAAR MASTER Practice Tests today!
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Download Detailed Sample Booklets
For more than 22 years, ECS has provided the most on-target materials when you need them. We promise our commitment will endure with the STAAR MASTER series.
Grade 3 Samples:
Grade 4 Samples:
Grade 5 Samples
Grade 6 Samples
Grade 7 Samples
Grade 8 Samples
STAAR MASTER Practice Test Samples
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Reading, Grades 3-8
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Reading Practice Test Samples
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Math, Grades 3-8
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Math Practice Test Samples
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Writing, Grades 4 & 7
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Writing Practice Test Samples
Thank you for your interest in the new STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books and Practice Tests. The ECS product development team worked diligently on this new series. To give you a general idea of the content and format of the STAAR MASTER books, we have uploaded sample pages for 3rd-8th grade above.
The format of the new STAAR MASTER books will be similar to the format of the new test. STAAR MASTER books will be just as great as the TAKS MASTER® books that your students have been using.
STAAR MASTER books will include all new reading passages, math problems, and writing activities. If you liked our very popular TAKS MASTER books, you will love the STAAR MASTER books.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
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STAAR Test Dates
The following chart outlines the upcoming STAAR Test dates for the 2011-2012 school year.
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Test Date(s) |
Subjects |
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March 26 |
English I Writing
English III Writing |
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March 27 |
Grade 4 Writing (English & Spanish) Day 1
Grade 7 Writing Day 1
Grade 5 Math (English & Spanish)
Grade 8 Math
English I Reading
English III Reading |
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March 28 |
Grade 4 Writing (English & Spanish) Day 2
Grade 7 Writing Day 2
Grade 5 Reading (English & Spanish)
Grade 8 Reading
English II Writing |
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March 29 |
English II Reading |
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March 30 |
All make-up sessions for assessments scheduled to be administered from Mar 26–29, 2012, must be completed by this date.
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April 24 |
Grades 3–4 Math (English & Spanish)
Grades 6–7 Math |
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April 25 |
Grades 3–4 Reading (English & Spanish)
Grades 6–7 Reading |
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April 26 |
Grade 5 Science (English & Spanish)
Grade 8 Science |
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April 27 |
Grade 8 Social Studies |
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April 28 |
All make-up sessions for assessments scheduled to be administered on Apr 23–27, 2012, must be completed by this date. |
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Assessment Window
May 7 - 18
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Algebra I
Biology
World Geography
Geometry
Chemistry
World History
Algebra II
Physics
U.S. History |
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May 19 |
All make-up sessions for assessments scheduled to be administered from May 7–18, 2012, must be completed by this date.
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*STAAR test date information compiled from the TEA website (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=3635&menu_id=793).
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STAAR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Packs & Pricing
Q. Why are single copies of the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books not sold?
A. We do not have a series that is sold as single copies. The STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books are sold in packs (Mini Packs of 10, Small Packs of 20, Class Packs of 30, and School Packs of 40+). The packs are usually purchased by schools, not by individuals. They are also non-reproducible books. They are value-priced to provide one book per student.
Q. How are STAAR MASTER Teacher Guides sold?
A. A FREE Teacher Guide is included with each pack. For School Packs, an extra Teacher Guide will be included free for each additional 30 copies ordered.
Q. Can I share the STAAR MASTER materials with a teacher from another class?
A. As long as you are not breaking/violating the Copyright law. Note, these are not reproducible materials. They are value-priced to provide one book or practice test per student, even if divided between teachers or classrooms.
The Copyright statement in STAAR MASTER materials reads:
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
© by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers, or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Content
Q. Are the STAAR MASTER books the same as the old TAKS MASTER books with new covers?
A. No. STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books have all-new content. Teachers tell us that competitors have simply changed the covers on old materials. Rest assured, as you have come to expect, we developed all-new, challenging content to prepare your students for the rigor of STAAR.
Q. Do the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books have the same passages and practice items as the TAKS MASTER books?
A. No. STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books have all-new content. Teachers tell us other publishers have repackaged old material. We developed new content.
Q. Do you have Figure 19 in the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books?
A. Yes.
Q. Do the Writing books have writing prompts?
A. The Teacher Guide for the Grade 4 Student Practice Book for Writing currently contains the writing prompts. The prompts will be included in the actual Grade 4 Student Practice Books in upcoming reprints. The Grade 7 Student Practice Book contains the writing prompts in the actual book, not in the Teacher Guide.
Q. How are the STAAR MASTER Practice Tests different from the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books?
A. The Practice Tests are meant for assessment and not for teaching the TEKS standards. They may be used for diagnostic and prescriptive purposes. The Practice Tests are 24 to 32 pages long and do not contain as many questions per TEKS standard, whereas the Student Practice Books contain multiple questions to teach each TEKS standard.
Q. We’ve seen the sample, but how do we know what the entire book is like without seeing it?
A. We do not sample the entire book. We are sure that teachers will like the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books, so we offer a hassle-free guarantee.
Q. Is there an assessment at the end of the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Book for Math?
A. No. STAAR MASTER Practice Tests are available for assessment.
Q. Is there a pretest or diagnostic test with the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books?
A. No. STAAR MASTER Practice Tests are available to use as a pre-test and/or a diagnostic test.
Q. Will the STAAR MASTER Practice Test be enough to prepare students for the STAAR test?
A. The STAAR MASTER Practice Tests cannot substitute for the Student Practice Books. The Practice Tests are meant for assessment.
STAAR Test
Q. How do you know what is on the STAAR test?
A. In developing the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books, ECS relied on information and publications provided by the Texas Education Agency, including the following publications:
• Eligible Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all subjects and grade levels
• STAAR Blueprints for all subjects and grade levels
• 2011 Released Test Questions for all subjects and grade levels
• Assessing Process Skills for Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics
• Test Design Schematics (Reading, Grades 3–8 and Writing, Grades 4 and 7)
• Griddable Item Format for Science and Mathematics
Q. How do your books match up with the released samples?
A. ECS has used TEA’s released samples as a guide, along with the other information and publications provided by TEA.
Q. Will revisions be made once we all see the full exam?
A. ECS constantly reviews and revises its products. Any major changes revealed in the full exam will be addressed in future editions of our books or through supplements to the books.
Availability
Q. When will the Grade 8 Social Studies book be available?
A. August 2012.
Q. Do you have practice items online (web-based)?
A. Not yet.
Q. When will STAAR MASTER products be in teacher supply stores?
A. We do not have a definite publication date.
Q. Do you have STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books in Spanish for Writing?
A. STAAR MASTER Student Practice Books in Spanish for writing are not yet available.
Download and Print the STAAR FAQ
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Our Hassle-Free Unconditional Guarantee
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If for any reason a product does not meet your needs or expectations, we will be most happy to assist you with a quick, hassle-free exchange, credit, or refund. Simply contact our Customer Care Product Specialists for instructions and a return authorization number. All returns must be in resalable condition and returned within 30 days of receipt. Shipping/handling/insurance charges cannot be refunded. When you receive your order, please check it carefully to be sure it meets your satisfaction before applying school stamps, bar code labels, etc. Stamped or processed books cannot be returned.
Please note, STAAR MASTER Practice Tests are non-returnable.
If materials are sent back by UPS/FedEx, please use our street address: 2709 Bulverde Rd., Bulverde, TX 78163.
If your materials are returned by U.S. Postal Service, please use P.O. Box 440, Bulverde, TX 78163-0440.
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Research References
STAAR – A New Assessment Model: A Comparison of Assessment Attributes (TAKS to STAAR)
STAAR – Assessing Process Skills
STAAR – Eligible Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), Reading, Math, Writing, Social Studies, and Science, Grades 3–8
Test Design and Setting Student Performance Standards for STAAR, Grades 3–8
Blueprints for STAAR, Reading, Math, Writing, Social Studies, and Science, Grades 3–8
STAAR – Test Design Schematics, Reading and Writing, Grades 3-8; House Bill 3 Transition Plan
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Note: STAAR MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc. STAAR is a trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc. are not affiliated with or sponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas. TAKS MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
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