What type of reading materials should students engage with to prepare for the AZMerit?

Students should engage with a mix of fiction and non-fiction texts to prepare for the AZMerit because this diversity in reading materials helps develop a well-rounded literacy skill set. Reading fiction enhances comprehension skills, encourages critical thinking, and introduces students to multiple perspectives and themes. Non-fiction, on the other hand, provides factual information and teaches students to analyze real-world issues, follow arguments, and understand varied topics and writing styles.

Exposure to both types of texts ensures that students are not only familiar with narrative structures and literary devices but also gain practice with informational texts that require them to interpret data, understand main ideas, and synthesize information from various sources. This comprehensive approach is vital for performing well in assessments like the AZMerit, which often includes questions that assess both literary analysis and comprehension of non-fiction material.

Engaging solely with textbooks and instructional manuals, popular literature and novels, or articles and online blogs would limit exposure to different writing styles and content types, thereby not fully preparing students for the wide range of reading tasks they may encounter on the AZMerit test.