Honestly, if you cover the TEKS and throw in a few thinking strategies, there is no reason anyone can not pass this test. It's a miniml skills test, and I dont get why scores are not higher. I cover the curriculum and simply format some of the lessons to look like TAKS. Once they see how easy TAKS really is, its easy to get kids to believe they can pass. Do I teach to the test, no way. Do I prepare them for it? Absolutely. I teach like I coach. I teach them the fundamentals, I teach them to think and use the fundamentals. I look at Test day like game day. Time for the kids to put their knowledge to use. Perosnally, I don't care for high stakes test for kids.
