Since the 2022 STAAR redesign, aka STAAR 2.0, a noted increase in complexity has emerged. Students are asked to think and solve in ways that even cause some adults to pause. Rather than more drill and test prep, a more nuanced approach is needed to ensure student success. Each year's test brings new surprises, and it's necessary for us to equip them with better tools to make sense of the problems. Process standards Instead of prepping them based on what the test looked like l

This post specifically looks at how formulas can be used solve problems involving linear relationships, including the form y = mx + b. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Formulas Formulas account for around 38% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These formulas are applied to solve problems related to volume, surface area, triangles, similar shapes, linear relationships, and finances. The main function of a formula is to understand the relationship between quantit

This post specifically looks at how formulas can be used solve problems involving simple and compound interest. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Formulas Formulas account for around 38% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These formulas are applied to solve problems related to volume, surface area, triangles, similar shapes, linear relationships, and finances. The main function of a formula is to understand the relationship between quantities. In fourth grade, s

This post specifically looks at how formulas can be used solve problems involving similar shapes and the Pythagorean Theorem. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Formulas Formulas account for around 38% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These formulas are applied to solve problems related to volume, surface area, triangles, similar shapes, linear relationships, and finances. The main function of a formula is to understand the relationship between quantities. In f

This post specifically looks at how formulas can be used solve problems involving volume and surface area. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Formulas Formulas account for around 38% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These formulas are applied to solve problems related to volume, surface area, triangles, similar shapes, linear relationships, and finances. The main function of a formula is to understand the relationship between quantities. In fourth grade, studen

This post specifically looks at how algebraic reasoning can be used to translate problem situations to algebraic representations. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Algebraic Reasoning Algebraic reasoning accounts for around 27% of each 8th grade STAAR test. This thinking does not use a visible tool but instead relies on applying algebraic concepts to expressions, equations, and inequalities. The main function of algebraic reasoning is to identify algebraic

This post specifically looks at how algebraic reasoning can be used to solve problems related to rigid transformations and dilations. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Algebraic Reasoning Algebraic reasoning accounts for around 27% of each 8th grade STAAR test. This thinking does not use a visible tool but instead relies on applying algebraic concepts to expressions, equations, and inequalities. The main function of algebraic reasoning is to identify algebr

This post specifically looks at how algebraic reasoning can be used to solve two-step equations and inequalities. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Algebraic Reasoning Algebraic reasoning accounts for around 27% of each 8th grade STAAR test. This thinking does not use a visible tool but instead relies on applying algebraic concepts to expressions, equations, and inequalities. The main function of algebraic reasoning is to identify algebraic relationships in

This post specifically looks at how number lines can be used solve problems involving proportional relationships. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Number Lines Number lines account for around 14% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These number lines are applied to solve problems related to rates, ordering numbers, similar shapes, and direct variation. The main function of a number line is to solve problems involving rates, direct variation and proportionality,

This post specifically looks at how number lines can be used solve problems involving ordering rational and irrational numbers. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Number Lines Number lines account for around 14% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These number lines are applied to solve problems related to rates, ordering numbers, similar shapes, and direct variation. The main function of a number line is to solve problems involving rates, direct variation and pro

This post specifically looks at how number lines can be used solve problems involving rates. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here. Number Lines Number lines account for around 14% of each 8th grade STAAR test. These number lines are applied to solve problems related to rates, ordering numbers, similar shapes, and direct variation. The main function of a number line is to solve problems involving rates, direct variation and proportionality, and to visualize orde

The 2024 8th Grade Math STAAR continued both statewide online testing and several new item types. Using a modified version of the...

This post explores some ideas for reviewing concepts for TEKS 8.5I. write an equation in the form y = mx + b to model a linear...

This post explores some ideas for reviewing concepts for TEKS 8.8C. model and solve one-variable equations with variables on both sides...

The 2023 8th Grade Math STAAR introduced statewide online testing and several new item types. Using a modified version of the statewide...

This post explains and gives practice opportunities related to TEKS 8.12G: estimate the cost of a two-year and four-year college education, including family contribution, and devise a periodic savings plan for accumulating the money needed to contribute to the total cost of attendance for at least the first year of college Instruction Students build on their previous knowledge of saving for college and use it to calculate the cost needed for multiple years of attendance. STAA

This post explains and give practice opportunities related to TEKS 8.12E analyze situations to determine if they represent financially...

This post explains and give practice opportunities related to TEKS 8.12E identify and explain the advantages and disadvantages of...

This post explains and gives practice opportunities related to TEKS 8.12D: calculate and compare simple interest and compound interest earnings Instruction Students learn how to calculate different kinds of interest and compare how they affect amounts. STAAR Practice Between 2016 and 2025 (including redesign practice), this readiness standard has been tested 20 times on the STAAR test. Videos explaining the problems can be found below. If you'd rather take a quiz over these q

This post explains and gives practice opportunities related to TEKS 8.12C explain how small amounts of money invested regularly, including money saved for college and retirement, grow over time Instruction Students learn how interest helps money increase over long periods of time. STAAR Practice Between 2016 and 2025, this supporting standard has been tested 2 times on the STAAR test. The videos explaining the problems can be found below. If you'd rather take a quiz over thes