by Marco Villanueva

STAAR in grades 3 to 5: what parents should know


Math manipulatives and a workbook, photo made with AI

STAAR is the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. In elementary school, children take reading and math tests from third grade, and science in fifth grade.

How to help without stress

  • Keep it normal: a good night’s sleep and breakfast matter more than cramming.
  • Practice reading a question twice and underlining what it asks.
  • Ask the teacher which skills to practice at home.

Our STAAR Ready Bootcamp is six calm Saturday sessions for grades 3 to 5.

Demo website: Juniper Learning Studio is fictitious. Check the Texas Education Agency for official STAAR information.

by Denise Carter

Five ten-minute reading habits for busy evenings


A cozy reading nook with children's books, photo made with AI

You do not need an hour. Ten minutes a day, most days, makes a real difference for early readers.

  1. Read it again. Re-reading a favorite book builds fluency and confidence.
  2. Take turns. You read a page, they read a page.
  3. Point and ask. “What do you think happens next?”
  4. Read everything. Cereal boxes, street signs, menus.
  5. Let them choose. Comics and joke books count.

Not sure where your child is? Book a free assessment.

Demo website: Juniper Learning Studio is fictitious.