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Post by ironcorgi on May 28, 2017 8:07:01 GMT -6
I have to take my Core and PPR certification test by November. I'm hoping to take the tests by mid July. Does anybody have any pointers when studying or a list of resource material? I'm in Texas, so I take the TExES. Oh, I am also certifying for K-6th.
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kclause
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Post by kclause on May 28, 2017 9:17:05 GMT -6
I was in PA when I took my k-6. I didn't go to any prep classes or buy any books, but I remember seeing them around and some of my friends did the class and/or bought the workbooks. There should definitely be a book or online resource for the test prep. Good luck!!!! Same. I remember my professor mentioning some libraries may have test prep copies. You could always check there before buying anything. |
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ironegg
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Post by ironegg on May 28, 2017 9:18:57 GMT -6
I've taken tests in NC and FL and both times I just ordered a study guide from Amazon and flipped through them. Good luck!
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Post by brassyclarinet on May 28, 2017 9:21:00 GMT -6
Took my Praxis tests in PA years ago, but didn't study for either. a the first was the general content test (math, history, writing, etc) and the second test was my specific content area. good luck!
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Post by copperboom on May 28, 2017 9:23:01 GMT -6
It's been a long time since I took the Texas exams, but I recall a good piece of advice, for the PPR, was to imagine the best case scenario in terms of school environment, admin, student background, etc. Basically, suspend reality.
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Post by heybulldog on May 28, 2017 9:24:37 GMT -6
Took my Praxis tests in PA years ago, but didn't study for either. a the first was the general content test (math, history, writing, etc) and the second test was my specific content area. good luck! Same here. |
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Post by brassyclarinet on May 28, 2017 9:28:49 GMT -6
Took my Praxis tests in PA years ago, but didn't study for either. a the first was the general content test (math, history, writing, etc) and the second test was my specific content area. good luck! Same here. I got my Level II cert good for 99 years now! I'm rolling high. ;-) |
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Post by helloerrbody on May 28, 2017 10:31:45 GMT -6
It's been a long time since I took the Texas exams, but I recall a good piece of advice, for the PPR, was to imagine the best case scenario in terms of school environment, admin, student background, etc. Basically, suspend reality. This is exactly what I was gonna say. I'm in TX and the PPR *should* be pretty easy as long as you remember to answer what would be best not what would actually probably doable. |
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Post by ironcorgi on May 28, 2017 12:19:07 GMT -6
It's been a long time since I took the Texas exams, but I recall a good piece of advice, for the PPR, was to imagine the best case scenario in terms of school environment, admin, student background, etc. Basically, suspend reality. My college required us to take the practice exams on the Certify Teacher website. I passed the PPR the first time I took the practice exam. So, I think I'll be okay when I take that exam. The core has me worried though. I'll look on Amazon and see if I can find a good study guide. Thanks for the advice everybody! My college professors told us to use the Certify Teacher website to study, but it's basically a set of 300 random questions that are shuffled around. Not very many of us found it helpful. |
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Post by petrichor on May 28, 2017 12:48:20 GMT -6
I'm not familiar with these tests but when I got my certification ~20 years ago I took Praxis I (3 general knowledge exams) and Praxis II (exam specific to certification area).
I don't know that it was necessary to study anything. For someone who has college coursework knowledge fresh in their brain I don't know what else you'd need to know.
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Post by billmurray on May 28, 2017 12:53:56 GMT -6
I'm Canadian but did my teaching degree in NY state and took the required exams there. I found some online prep materials that were helpful. I remember seeing prep courses being offered around campus (though I never took any). Best of luck to you and and Welcome to teaching!
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cnf
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Post by cnf on May 28, 2017 12:55:58 GMT -6
I had to take three different test for my certification (NY) and studied zero percent. Passed them all just fine. If you're in school and/or student teaching everything should be plenty fresh enough.
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on May 28, 2017 13:07:21 GMT -6
So I had to take the Praxis 1 for my art credential in PA and the cset here in CA for my special education credential. I bought the books, but what honestly helped me the most was watching Brain Pop videos. The cset tests you on general content knowledge in all academic areas that you would teach in k-8 grade. By watching these 2-5 minute videos on hundreds of topics it was like a crash course in all the basic subject areas. Plus I was able to clean and do housework or work out, while watching on my phone (or even just listening).
If the tests you have to take are something like a review of all the basic subject content, I'd recommend it.
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Post by philly on May 28, 2017 13:10:49 GMT -6
I don't have much to add just wanted to wish you luck! I was a teacher for about ten years and it was a tough but truly rewarding career. If you ever need lesson plan help, hit me up. I saved most of my materials and would be happy to share 😊
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Post by copperboom on May 28, 2017 13:27:29 GMT -6
So I had to take the Praxis 1 for my art credential in PA and the cset here in CA for my special education credential. I bought the books, but what honestly helped me the most was watching Brain Pop videos. The cset tests you on general content knowledge in all academic areas that you would teach in k-8 grade. By watching these 2-5 minute videos on hundreds of topics it was like a crash course in all the basic subject areas. Plus I was able to clean and do housework or work out, while watching on my phone (or even just listening). If the tests you have to take are something like a review of all the basic subject content, I'd recommend it. This is a great idea. Another thought for the general content stuff is be honest with yourself about areas you know less about. I'm into reading and writing, so I spent some time reviewing science concepts. Brush up on Texas history, too. I remember being stumped by some of that. Mine even had music questions. I just chose and answer randomly :-) |
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on May 28, 2017 13:37:32 GMT -6
Physical education and music were on mine as well
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Post by brassyclarinet on May 28, 2017 17:50:07 GMT -6
I found a lot of it was common sense stuff.
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Post by ironcorgi on May 28, 2017 18:53:24 GMT -6
I'm not familiar with these tests but when I got my certification ~20 years ago I took Praxis I (3 general knowledge exams) and Praxis II (exam specific to certification area). I don't know that it was necessary to study anything. For someone who has college coursework knowledge fresh in their brain I don't know what else you'd need to know. Sadly, we have had some fairly poor teachers in our early literacy classes. One class in particular was spent taking thirty minutes to read one children's book and then letting us leave for the day. I've been in college since 2009, so a lot of the basics are pretty fuzzy. Texas also is extremely proud of its history, and most of the questions on the core relate to elementary and middle school Texas history. I wish I had completed school earlier so all of this would be fresh on my mind. Math, science, and fine arts were pretty easy for me. But I am struggling with the English section and the social studies section. I am appalled that I am struggling with the English section so bad because that has always been my favorite subject. But, I guess when you take early literacy classes that consist of reading a children's book (instead of discussing how children learn to read and the components of literacy), it shouldn't be that surprising. |
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Post by ironcorgi on May 28, 2017 18:54:36 GMT -6
So I had to take the Praxis 1 for my art credential in PA and the cset here in CA for my special education credential. I bought the books, but what honestly helped me the most was watching Brain Pop videos. The cset tests you on general content knowledge in all academic areas that you would teach in k-8 grade. By watching these 2-5 minute videos on hundreds of topics it was like a crash course in all the basic subject areas. Plus I was able to clean and do housework or work out, while watching on my phone (or even just listening). If the tests you have to take are something like a review of all the basic subject content, I'd recommend it. This is a great idea. Another thought for the general content stuff is be honest with yourself about areas you know less about. I'm into reading and writing, so I spent some time reviewing science concepts. Brush up on Texas history, too. I remember being stumped by some of that. Mine even had music questions. I just chose and answer randomly :-) The Texas history is definitely one of the challenging parts of the test for me! |
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Post by ironcorgi on May 28, 2017 18:58:29 GMT -6
And while we are on the subject, did anybody else have to become certified before student teaching?
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Post by copperboom on May 28, 2017 19:19:51 GMT -6
And while we are on the subject, did anybody else have to become certified before student teaching? Nope. My cohort had to sign up for tests before student teaching was over but we took them toward the end of student teaching. I missed ifnyouve already answered this, but are you going thru an alternative program, or post degree? |
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Post by shellbell on May 28, 2017 19:21:13 GMT -6
I've taken the tests for PA and NY, and I didn't study for any of them. There are test prep books -- I remember my college colleagues carrying them around for the Praxis.
I got super drunk before my last NY exam. Don't recommend that at all. (But I still passed.)
Good luck!
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Post by petrichor on May 28, 2017 19:29:59 GMT -6
And while we are on the subject, did anybody else have to become certified before student teaching? No. |
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ironegg
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Post by ironegg on May 28, 2017 20:53:17 GMT -6
And while we are on the subject, did anybody else have to become certified before student teaching? Nope. I took mine during my student teaching semester. |
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Post by mom2boys2 on May 29, 2017 18:21:40 GMT -6
I am certified in Texas as an 8-12 math teacher. I took my exams the summer before I student taught (which was the fall semester). My university made us take practice exams and score 80% before we were allowed to register. As others have already said, the PPR is what's ideal, not realistic. Basically my thought process was "what does the state of Texas want me to do, not what would I actually do?"
Sorry I can't help with your Core test. I took the 8-12 math and I'd rather take that then the PPR any day!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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