If you are considering enrolling your student in a STAAR prep course, Varsity Tutors offers private STAAR classes that may help them improve their study skills. The STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) exams are taken by all students grades 3-12 to determine what they are learning and whether they are ready for the academic rigors of the next grade level. Standardized tests can feel daunting, so a STAAR class can help build your student's confidence as exam day approaches!
One of the first things discussed in a typical STAAR course is the structure and content of the exams your student is preparing for. If you aren't sure what they should go over during STAAR prep class sessions, the chart below provides a breakdown of the STAAR schedule by grade level:
| STAAR Test | Grade Level or Course |
| Reading | Grades 3-8 |
| Math | Grades 3-8 |
| Writing | Grades 4 and 7 |
| Science | Grades 5 and 8 |
| Social Studies | Grade 8 |
| EOC (end of course) | Algebra I, US History, Biology, English I, English II |
The beauty of private STAAR prep classes is that they are flexible enough to adapt to any student's needs. For instance, let's say that your student is in Grade 8. They have four STAAR tests on their plate this year: Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. A typical STAAR course might spend equal time on all four subjects, but most students are stronger in one or more than the others. Spending an equal amount of time on everything isn't the optimal solution in most cases.
Let's add that your student excels in reading comprehension, so you're not really worried about the Reading STAAR. Strong reading comprehension skills also make Social Studies easier, so that one is probably fine too. It looks like this hypothetical student might be best served by concentrating on the Math and Science STAAR exams, with maybe a little bit of review for the other two, during their STAAR courses. Of course, sessions could also focus on Reading and Social Studies in the opposite scenario.
Once you know which exams your student should concentrate on, STAAR prep courses might go over the specific contents of those tests. Returning to the example above, the following graphic breaks down the concepts on the Grade 8 Math STAAR exam:
STAAR Grade 8 Math Topics
- Numerical Representations and Relationships
- Computations and Algebraic Relationships
- Geometry and Measurement
- Data Analysis and Personal Financial Literacy
Again, working with a private instructor allows students to concentrate on any subject. If your student has strong algebraic skills but has a harder time with geometry, their instructor might provide extra geometry practice problems for more experience. A private instructor may also be able to incorporate your student's interests to make studying more engaging. For example, financial literacy can seem dry as a standalone topic, but framing it as saving for a video game may make it more interesting.
We also try to make STAAR test prep as convenient as possible. Our Live Learning Platform allows your student to meet with their instructor online, taking the hassle out of private STAAR prep courses. We also do our best to match every student with an instructor who meets your scheduling needs. After all, no kid should have to compromise sports, hobbies, or even relaxation time just to study for a test.
If you're ready to learn more about our STAAR classes, contact Varsity Tutors today for more information. Educational Directors are currently standing by to address any questions you have!
Meghana: Houston STAAR course instructor
Howdy! My name is Meghana, and I am a BS/MD program student and President's Endowed Scholar at Texas A&M University studying neuroscience/biology and English. I enjoy helping my students with the SAT and ACT, English grammar, literature, writing, and AP subjects, especially in the sciences. Please feel free to message me for more info or to schedule a session. Thank you!
Education & Certification
- The Texas AM University System Office - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- CogAT
- ACT
- STAAR EOC
- +78 subjects
Madeline: Houston STAAR course instructor
...biomolecular engineering. I have spent a lot of time around children and I have spent a good amount of time teaching as well. I want all students that I tutor to feel comfortable when I am tutoring them and I believe all students have the ability to improve. I am very comfortable teaching all subjects for grades up to 9th grade and, when dealing with high school courses, I love to tutor most math and...
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelors, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- Advanced Placement
- ACT
- SAT
- +117 subjects
Jane (Elizabeth): Houston STAAR course instructor
...seven-year-old learn to play with other children or helping a high school freshman learn to make a solid argument, I value the impact I make on others through teaching. I began my professional life as a tutor six years ago, and have taught a variety of subjects, including time management, reading, writing, history and SAT and AP preparation. In lessons, I focus on teaching my students how to learn efficiently and think critically. My students...
Education & Certification
- Rice University - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SAT
- PSAT
- SAT Math
- +26 subjects
Christopher: Houston STAAR course instructor
...years, I was involved in the founding and management of a program tutoring youth who had classroom troubles or learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADD. My friendly personality, quick-critical thinking skills and ability to adapt to various learning styles allow me to create innovative ways for the student to learn the information without being overwhelmed. I can break down complex concepts so that they can be pieced together and understood, not just memorized. I...
Education & Certification
- The Johns Hopkins University - Bachelor in Arts, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- English
- Science
- Elementary School Math
- +26 subjects
Jeremy: Houston STAAR course instructor
...abroad semester in Maastricht, Netherlands. In Maastricht, I studied both for the classes taught by Baylor professors and the Maastricht University professors. I was introduced to the European culture in my free time. I visited many placesBerlin, Munich, Paris, Barcelona, Interlaken, Florence, and London. I marveled at the unique building structures, food, and customs each place had. I was impressed by the different histories of each country I toured. I believe medicine is a challenging...
Education & Certification
- Baylor University - Bachelor of Science, Biology minor Prehealth
- University of North Texas Health Science Center - Master of Science, Health Management and Policy
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- SAT
- +50 subjects
Andy: Houston STAAR course instructor
...studies subjects and math. I started my teaching career as a U.S history and AP Human Geography teacher at Harmony School of Science at Houston, Texas, and at Harmony Science Academy at Houston. I accumulated the rest of my teaching experience in various learning centers and international programs in China teaching AP U.S World History, SAT, and TOEFL courses. For the past five years, I had been teaching middle school math in Texas and Virginia....
Education & Certification
- Unversity of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, History
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus - Masters, History
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SAT
- ACT
- TOEFL
- +45 subjects
Ashley: Houston STAAR course instructor
...scores. For almost a decade, I have been training students to think systemically and to explain their problem-solving processes. As a former Kaplan Test Prep teacher, I learned to encourage students to 'think like a test-maker' designing their own test questions. I assist students in strengthening their analytical skills and reviewing test taking strategies for specific problem types. I also guide students in synthesizing facts, formulas, and concepts to solve problems accurately and efficiently.
Education & Certification
- Prairie View A M University - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
- American University - Master of Arts, Special Education
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- GED
- ACT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- +16 subjects
Anne: Houston STAAR course instructor
I am a middle school choir teacher, professional classically-trained singer, volleyball enthusiast and referee, avid baker, and animal caretaker. I am passionate about singing, teaching, always learning, and helping young people realize their potential. I'm great at math, reading, and especially all things voice and music theory!
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music Teacher Education
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- ISEE
- ACT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- +81 subjects
Michelle: Houston STAAR course instructor
...non-linguistic representations (visual icons or analogies). I find that sometimes the wall that keeps someone from understanding can easily be overcome by changing the perspective. I am a Houston native certified to teach general elementary and secondary history. I taught TAKS prep and second grade in Cy-Fair ISD and currently work as a substitute in Klein. I earned a BA in the Humanities from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. My studies focused on the...
Education & Certification
- Brigham Young University - Bachelor in Arts, Humanities
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- Social Studies
- French
- European History
- +24 subjects
Brian: Houston STAAR course instructor
...Math. It only needs time, and that is time for practice and making sure that you can understand the skill behind the questions. Mastering of the steps in order to solve a question comes from the time, the practice and the patience that you will give the process. Skills and Concepts are easy to master as long as one is willing to acquire and retain so that one can recall if presented with a similar...
Education & Certification
- Egerton University, Kenya - Bachelors, Pure Mathematics
- American College of Education - Masters, Educational Technology
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SHSAT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- ACT
- +54 subjects
Zach: Houston STAAR course instructor
...tutor for students from primary school to college, and I have worked as a test prep instructor for a major test prep company. As a student, I have learned from amazing professors at both UTSA and UT Austin and have earned a BSA in Biology with two minors: psychology and business. I graduated in December of 2015 with High Honors. A core component of my education has been taught through research; thousands of hours of...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Biology, Cert. Psy
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- CLEP
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- ISEE
- +91 subjects
Alex: Houston STAAR course instructor
Young, friendly, engaging career teacher with eight years of experience in the public school system. I pride myself in going above and beyond to help my students learn and build positive relationships.
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor in Arts, Linguistics
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- ACT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- English Grammar and Syntax
- +39 subjects
Joshua: Houston STAAR course instructor
...5-13 in fundamental mathematics and English. I believe that education is one of the most important proponents of a successful future career, and especially, the foundations of any educational work are imperative to understand and grasp. Growing up, I have had extensive tutoring myself in SAT and ACT, so I am able to bring multiple perspectives on topics other than elementary and middle school math and English. I believe that the student is only as...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor of Science, Nutrition Sciences
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- REGENTS
- HSPT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- +43 subjects
Syed: Houston STAAR course instructor
I am currently a bioengineering major at the University of Houston - Honors College. I am also working as a Research Intern at Rice University's Center for Theoretical Biological Physics. I have tutored students of various ages from different backgrounds over the past four years. I enjoy disseminating knowledge to anyone who is ready to learn!
Education & Certification
- University of Houston - Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- ACT
- TEAS
- ISEE
- +117 subjects
Raymond: Houston STAAR course instructor
...ESL in a bilingual elementary school in Spain and tutored adults preparing for English exams. Most recently, I spent one year teaching in a private English academy in South Korea, and I have just recently moved back to Texas. I love being a tutor because it allows me to give personal attention to and completely focus on a single student, which traditional classroom teaching often does not. I believe that a solid education is necessary...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelors, English
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- Essay Editing
- Languages
- Spanish 3
- +14 subjects
Samad: Houston STAAR course instructor
Hello, my name is Samad Abbasi, I am a current student at the University of Houston majoring in Finance with a pre-med track. I have been a tutor for over 2 years with a priority focus on math fields.
Education & Certification
- University of Houston - Bachelor in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- ACT
- STAAR EOC
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- +23 subjects
Amanda: Houston STAAR course instructor
...first book "Full Disclosure" ; and tutored private clients from P-20. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English, Math, Reading, and History. I love helping students fill in the educational gaps in their areas of opportunity. I am a firm proponent of education being the foundation of life, especially for students of color and low socioeconomic backgrounds. In my spare time, I am a singer, gardener, designer both...
Education & Certification
- Southern University AM College - Bachelor of Education, Education
- Walden University - Doctor of Education, Education
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- Pre-Algebra
- College Chemistry
- Essay Editing
- +58 subjects
Jonathan: Houston STAAR course instructor
...Being able to see how the concepts taught apply to the things I see in nature and all around us has really made learning a life-long passion for me, and I love to help students gain that perspective. I am originally from Colorado but have enjoyed living in Texas for the past 6 years with my wife and two young children. We love to be outside and explore all that Texas has to offer, however,...
Education & Certification
- University of Northern Colorado - Bachelor of Science, Sports and Exercise Science
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SAT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- STAAR EOC
- +56 subjects
Anand: Houston STAAR course instructor
...the students dread. I can say without any shred of doubt in my mind that i believe in all of the above and live by these principles. When we enter a building we always do so at the first floor. Learning always starts from the foundation. Deficiencies in the foundation lead to issues later on. While teaching any skill I ensure that the student understands the concept underlying the skill easily. Once the concept is...
Education & Certification
- Regional Engineering College Allahabad India - Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering
- Bradley University - Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- PSAT
- SSAT
- TOEFL
- +35 subjects
Sam: Houston STAAR course instructor
I have taught middle school math and Algebra for the past three years. I understand how difficult math can be to learn. I am a very patient, easy going teacher who will do everything I can to make learning math fun.
Education & Certification
- Abilene Christian University - Bachelors, business marketing
Subject Expertise
- STAAR
- SAT
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra
- +8 subjects