Familiarize yourself with the format and content of the reading portion of the TAKS by viewing past TAKS reading exams available on the website of the Texas Education Agency. Like most reading tests, the TAKS tests skills through posing main idea questions, asking students to identify facts or opinion or asking questions about the tone or purpose of a passage. Know how information is tested in order to aid students in recognizing what a question is asking and how to approach a reading passage.
Use reading from all the content areas with your students. The TAKS includes reading passages from math, science, social studies and literature. Help students become comfortable with reading from all of the content areas by periodically introducing reading materials from one of the content areas, being sure that the materials are age-appropriate.
Give sample TAKS reading tests. The Texas Education Agency releases past TAKS examinations and posts them on its website for use by educators and parents. Download past examinations, administer the test to students under regular testing conditions and grade the tests to assess student progress.
Teach test-taking skills. Students must employ good test-taking skills -- for example, previewing questions before reading a passage and eliminating wrong choices to improve chances of choosing the correct answer -- to be successful on the TAKS reading test. Teach specific test-taking skills by introducing the tips while teaching reading content or when reviewing sample test results
Use commercially prepared materials and resources that are designed to teach TAKS or similar reading test skills.