In this article, we’ll share key STAAR Prep recommendations to help you maximize instructional time and support student success. You can watch STAAR Prep with Exploros for a detailed walkthrough or find the tips in the article below:
Review Vocabulary
Each unit begins with a vocabulary experience. Understanding historical terms and other fundamental vocabulary is critical for STAAR.
Reviewing vocabulary is critical to STAAR success and the Vocabulary experiences in each unit are a good place to start.
Assign/Reassign Unit Reviews — STAAR 2.0 Practice Tests
Each unit ends with a unit review, which is actually made up of past-year STAAR questions. These reviews are a great way to refresh students on key content from any given unit. Some districts have conveyed a strategy of reassigning unit reviews based on student scores — if certain students are still struggling on a particular review, review the challenging question topics and reassign until students improve above a target threshold.
Unit Reviews contain STAAR 2.0 question types including multiple choice, multipart multiple choice, multiple select, inline choice, hot text (highlight text), hot spot, and drag and drop.
Broader Content Review
This review table (below) for the 8th Grade U.S. History Course contains a list of experiences that contain Readiness Standards and Skills important for STAAR. The list also contains the vocabulary and unit review experiences.
The table likely contains more lessons than you can review, but use the TEKS listed in the table to narrow the focus, concentrating on TEKS that your students find challenging. You may know this from past-year STAAR and benchmark or interim testing. You can also use the Student Learning Report to look at class and student TEKS coverage and comprehension with Exploros.
Use this table in a few different ways:
Reassign learning experiences from the table as self-paced work and have students do (or redo) the experiences to refresh their content knowledge. In some cases, scene 4 (Elaborate) work may not be necessary, so if you want students to by-pass the Elaborate section to shorten the review, tell them to post "skip" for each response prompt and move through the scene until they get to the exit quiz. Review results and address problem areas as needed.
Review past work in these or other learning experiences. If students have already completed U.S. History learning experiences, have them review their past work by looking in their Ended Experiences and revisiting the lessons.
Review key graphic organizers and quizzes from past work. To review critical skills, some districts have students review the graphic organizers they have developed throughout the body of their U.S. History coursework within Exploros. Many of these graphic organizers frame key concepts, compare and contrast, and demonstrate other skills and content knowledge important for STAAR success.
TABLE: Suggested Experiences to Review for 8th Grade U.S. History STAAR
Unit | Experience | TEKS |
Exploration and Colonization | Exploration and Colonization: Vocabulary | 30A |
| European Exploration of the Americas | 2A, 29BCD |
| The Geography of the Early Colonies | 2A, 10ABC, 11AB, 29C |
| Representative Government | 1B, 3AB, 15A, 29AB, 30A |
| The New England Colonies and Religious Freedom | 1AB, 2AB, 3AC, 15E, 23A |
| Exploration and Colonization: Review | 2AB, 3ABC, 10B, 11A, 12B, 15E, 23A, 25A, 29BCH |
American Revolution | American Revolution: Vocabulary | 30A |
| New Taxes in the Colonies | 4A, 29BCD, 30A |
| The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and Concord | 1A, 4C, 26AB, 29ADEF |
| The Declaration of Independence | 1AB, 15C, 19A, 29AB |
| American Revolution: Review | 1A, 4ABC, 15C, 19A, 20AB, 22B, 29AB |
Constitution | Constitution: Vocabulary | 30A |
| The Articles of Confederation | 1A, 6A, 15B, 29B |
| Drafting and Signing the Constitution | 1AB, 4BD, 21C, 22B, 29B |
| Principles of the American Government | 15CD, 29B |
| The Bill of Rights | 1A, 15AC, 17A, 19B, 21BC, 25C, 29ABE, 30A |
| Constitutional Amendments and Democratic Rights | 15D, 16AB, 29BG |
| Constitution: Review | 1B, 4D, 15ABCD, 16A, 17A, 18A, 19BC, 25AC, 29ABCD, 30A |
Early Republic | Early Republic: Vocabulary | 30A |
| George Washington: Setting Up a New Republic | 1A, 5A, 22A, 29BD |
| Washington’s Foreign Policy | 1A, 5ACE, 20A, 29ABDE |
| Origins of Political Parties | 5BC, 10C, 14A, 17A, 21A, 29BCD, 30A |
| The Monroe Doctrine | 5AE, 6B, 20A, 29ABD |
| Early Republic: Review | 1A, 5ACDE, 6A, 11B, 18B, 22A, 29BC |
Age of Jackson | Age of Jackson: Vocabulary | 30A |
| Age of Jackson: Overview | 1A, 5F, 29BCEG, |
| States' Rights | 1A, 5B, 7AD, 8B, 17B, 21A, 29ABE, 30AB |
| Age of Jackson: Review | 5FG, 10A, 17B, 18A, 23C, 29ABC |
Westward Expansion | Westward Expansion: Vocabulary | 30A |
| Moving Westward | 1A, 11B, 27ABC, 28A, 29 |
| Manifest Destiny | 1A, 6B, 23ACD, 25A, 26A, 29BG, 30A |
| The U.S.-Mexican War | 6BC, 10A, 29DEG |
| Westward Expansion: Review | 6BC, 10BC, 11AB, 12A, 17B, 23CD, 27C, 29BC |
Reform and Culture | Reform and Culture: Vocabulary | 30AC |
| The Reform Movement’s Impact on Health and Education | 1A, 23E, 24B, 25B, 29B, 30A |
| The Abolitionist Movement | 1A, 7BC, 22B, 24A, 25B, 29ABD, 30ABC |
| Reform and Culture: Review | 10A, 22B, 24AB, 25B, 26AB, 29BCD |
Industrialization | Industrialization: Vocabulary | 30A |
| The Impact of the Industrial Revolution | 13B, 23B, 27ABC, 28B, 29BD |
| The Economy of the Northern States | 12AC, 13B, 14B, 23B, 27ABC, 28B, 29ABC, 30AB |
| Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution | 13B, 14B, 23BE, 24B, 28B, 29ABCDH, 30A |
| The Economy of the Southern States | 12ABC, 27ABC, 28A, 29ABG |
| Industrialization: Review | 10BC, 11B, 12BC, 13B, 14AB, 23ADE, 27ABC, 28AB, 29BCH |
Civil War | Civil War: Vocabulary | 30A |
| Conflicts over Slavery | 7CD, 8B, 21AC, 24A, 29BCD |
| The Outbreak of the Civil War | 1B, 8BC, 10AC, 29ABCG |
| Key Battles of the Civil War | 8C, 10AC, 29ABC, 30C |
| Civil War: Review | 7BC, 8ABCD, 10C, 11B, 12AC, 17B, 21C, 22B, 23E, 29BCD |
Reconstruction | Reconstruction: Vocabulary | 1A, 30A |
| Early Reconstruction | 1A, 9C, 29ABD |
| Radical Reconstruction | 1A, 7B, 9AC, 16B, 29AB |
| The Challenges of Reconstruction | 1A, 9ABC, 16B, 22B, 23D, 29AB, 30A |
| Reconstruction: Review | 1A, 9ABC, 16AB, 18A, 26B, 29BC |
TABLE: Suggested Experiences to Review for 11th Grade U.S. History STAAR End of Course Exam
Unit | Experience | TEKS |
Foundations of U.S. History | Studying U.S. History | 2A, 2B, 21A, 21B, 28A, 29C |
| Foundations of U.S. History: Review | 1A, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 13B, 18C, 18D, 21A, 22C, 23A, 24C, 25C, 27A, 28A |
Gilded Age | Gilded Age: Vocabulary | 29B |
| The Transcontinental Railroad | 3B, 14A, 15A, 15B, 26A, 27A, 28A, 28B |
| Developing the Western Frontier | 3A, 3B, 12A, 13A, 15A, 28A, 28B, 28F, 29C, 30B |
| Social Issues of the Gilded Age | 2A, 3A, 3B, 3C, 15C, 20A, 23A, 28A, 28B |
| Gilded Age: Review | 2A, 3A, 3B, 3C, 13A, 13B, 15A, 15B, 23A, 25B, 26A, 27A, 28A, 28B |
Progressive Era | Progressive Era: Vocabulary | 28B, 29B, 30A |
| The Melting Pot | 2A, 3C, 6A, 13B, 25C, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A, 29B, 30A, 30B |
| Urbanization | 3C, 13A, 14A, 14B, 26A, 28A, 28B, 28C, 29A, 29B, 29D, 30B |
| Women’s Suffrage | 5A, 5B, 6A, 9A, 9C, 22A, 22B, 25A, 25C, 25D, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A, 29B, 30A |
| Progressive Government Reforms | 3A, 5A, 5C, 20B, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29B |
| Progressive Era: Review | 2A, 3B, 5A, 5B, 14B, 15B, 21A, 22A, 22B, 25A, 25C, 25D |
Rise of a World Power | Rise of a World Power: Vocabulary | 28B, 29B, 30A |
| U.S. Expansionism and the Panama Canal | 2B, 4A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 17A, 28A, 28B, 30B |
| The United States Enters World War I | 2B, 4A, 4C, 4F, 18B, 28A, 28B, 28E |
| The U.S. Homefront During World War I | 2B, 3C, 4A, 4C, 4F, 6A, 15D, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29B |
| Rise of a World Power: Review | 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 12A, 15D, 18B, 18D, 22D, 23B, 25C, 28A, 28B |
Roaring Twenties | Roaring Twenties: Vocabulary | 2A, 28B, 29B, 30A |
| The Great Migration | 3C, 6A, 13A, 14A, 25A, 28A, 28B, 28C, 30A, 30B |
| The Harlem Renaissance | 2A, 5A, 6A, 24A, 24B, 24C, 25C, 28A, 28B, 28C, 29B |
| Prohibition and Repeal of the 18th Amendment | 2A, 2B, 4F, 5A, 6A, 28A, 28B, 29B |
| Roaring Twenties: Review | 2A, 5A, 6A, 6B, 10A, 10B, 10C, 13A, 13B, 16A, 18C, 18D, 23A, 24B, 25C, 26C, 27A, 28A, 28B |
The Great Depression | The Great Depression: Vocabulary | 28B, 29B, 30A |
| Causes of the Great Depression | 2A, 2B, 6A, 16B, 16C, 22B, 25A, 28A, 28B, 29B |
| The Dust Bowl | 2A, 2B, 6A, 12A, 13A, 16B, 16C, 28A, 28B, 28C, 29A, 29B, 30B, 31B |
| The Changing Role of Government | 2B, 7B, 16C, 16D, 18A, 18B, 19B, 28A, 28B, 29A, 30B |
| The Great Depression: Review | 2A, 12A, 14A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 18A, 18B, 19B, 28A, 28B, 29A, 30B |
World War II | World War II: Vocabulary | 28B, 29A, 29B |
| The Lead-Up to World War II | 2A, 2B, 7A, 7B, 28A, 28B, 29A, 30A |
| Pearl Harbor and U.S. Entry into the War | 2A, 2B, 7A, 7B, 7F, 17A, 24A, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A |
| Issues of World War II: The Holocaust | 7C, 7D, 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, 28E, 29A, 29B |
| The Aftermath of World War II | 1A, 2A, 2B, 7B, 8A, 28A, 28B, 30B |
| World War II: Review | 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7F, 7G, 17A, 22A, 23B, 26B |
Early Cold War | Cold War: Vocabulary | 28B, 29B |
| Soviet Aggression after WWII | 2A, 8A, 28A, 28B, 28E |
| The Korean War | 4A, 8C, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A, 30B |
| Postwar Prosperity | 14A, 17B, 24B, 26B, 27A, 28B, 28E, 29A |
| John F. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy | 8A, 28A, 28B, 28D, 30A |
| Early Cold War: Review | 1C, 2B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 14A, 17B, 17C, 18B, 19A, 22A, 23B, 24A, 24B, 26A, 26B, 28B, 30B |
Vietnam and the 1960s | The Vietnam War | 8E, 8F, 19A, 23B, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A |
| The Anti-War Movement | 8F, 20B, 24A, 24C, 28B, 28E, 29B |
| Vietnam and the 1960s: Review | 1C, 2B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 14A, 17B, 17C, 18B, 19A, 22A, 23B, 24A, 24B, 26A, 26B, 28A, 28B |
Civil Rights Movements | Civil Rights Movements: Vocabulary | 25A, 29B |
| Lyndon Johnson's Great Society | 9D, 9G, 9H, 17D, 28A, 28B, 29A, 29B |
| Supreme Court Decisions of the Civil Rights Era | 9D, 9J, 17D, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B, 23A, 25A, 25C, 28A, 28B, 29A |
| The Women’s Movement | 9C, 9D, 17D, 25A, 25C, 28A, 28B, 28E, 29A, 29B, 30A, 30B |
| Civil Rights Movement: Review | 9A, 9D, 9E, 9G, 9H, 9I, 17D, 20A, 22C, 23A, 25A, 28A, 28B |
1970s – End of the Cold War | Contemporary America: Vocabulary | 28B, 29B, 30A |
| The Politics of Energy and the Middle East | 10C, 17E, 28B, 28E, 30B |
| Ronald Reagan’s Presidency | 4B, 10B, 10C, 23A, 25A, 28B |
| The International Dominance of American Culture | 24A, 24C, 25C, 28A, 28E, 29A, 29B |
| 1970s-End of the Cold War: Review | 2B, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 11A, 11D, 12A, 13A, 13B, 14A, 14B, 17E, 18C, 18D, 22C, 23A, 24C, 25C, 26A, 27A, 28A, 28B, 29A |
1990s – 21st Century | Trade and the Domestic Issues Under Clinton | 17E, 18C, 23A, 28B, 28E, 29B |
| September 11, 2001 | 2B, 11A, 18B, 18D, 28B, 28E, 29A, 29B, 30B |
| George W. Bush’s Presidency | 11B, 12A, 19B, 28A, 28B, 28C, 29A, 30A |
| The Technology Revolution | 2A, 26A, 26C, 27A, 27B, 28B |
| 1990s-21st Century: Review I | 10A, 10B, 10C, 11A, 11C, 11D, 12A, 13A, 14A, 14B, 17E, 18C, 18D, 19B, 23A, 24C, 25C, 26A, 26C, 27A, 27B, 28B, 30B |
| 1990s-21st Century: Review II | 2B, 10A, 10C, 10E, 11A, 11D, 12A, 13A, 14A, 14B, 17E, 18C, 18D, 19B, 22C, 23A, 24C, 25C, 26A, 26C, 27A, 28B |