Looking for info from teachers

[aprilvaca04]

I am looking for any information regarding Praxis testing that is needed to be certified to teach in some states. Are they like taking the SATS?

 

[MM27]

This site should be helpful. Put in your state and see what the requirements are. Praxis general knowledge test is a little of everything. I would suggest getting a Praxis review book with sample tests. I don't think you can really study for it, but the review tests are helpful to see what to expect. Good luck.
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=48c05ee3d74f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&WT.ac=Praxis+Brochure+and+Front+Door

 

[Patricia]

It depends on the Praxis that you are taking. NJ requires the Praxis specific to the content area for Middle School and HS level. I took the HS and Middle School English. I would agree that you cannot study for the literature, but there were some items that studying would offer assistance in passing, i.e, grammar, plot analysis. It was a long test and certainly not fun, but that may be because it had been some time since I took tests of that nature. My daughter took the HS Math Praxis during her jr. year in college and she said it was tough, but she did very well. Just a necessary evil. Good Luck!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

It's different in every state. I graduated from PA and had to take 7 Praxis tests to become certified. Since I live in NJ, I also had to become certified in that state and only had to take one.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Thanks for the info. It's actually for my daughter who is a HS senior but is very interested in becoming a 7th grade History teacher here in Maine. She would have to take the praxis 1 and 2. She is having anxiety over this as she doesn't always do well with standardized testing. We have been assured at both colleges that she is thinking of going to that they have ways for all the students to be successful. I was just looking to see if there was anythng out there that might make things easier and she could be better prepared.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Thanks for the info. It's actually for my daughter who is a HS senior but is very interested in becoming a 7th grade History teacher here in Maine. She would have to take the praxis 1 and 2. She is having anxiety over this as she doesn't always do well with standardized testing. We have been assured at both colleges that she is thinking of going to that they have ways for all the students to be successful. I was just looking to see if there was anythng out there that might make things easier and she could be better prepared.

Oh tell her not to worry!! A lot can happen between HS senior year and the end of college, when she would take the test. Also, if you do not pass it, you can retake it! I'm sure there must be some sort of practice praxis you can get. She really should not let a little test stand in the way of her future goals.

Good luck to her!

 

[Inigo]

I had to take them to get certified several years ago, and was nervous.

I opened the very first test booklet when the testing started, and the very first question on my general education teaching licensing exam was, and I kid you not:

The guitar solo in rock music serves as:

The choices were something about giving the lead singer a break, and I can't remember the rest.

I found it completely stupid that a question like that was being asked on an elementary teacher licensing exam! What in the world did that question have to do with anything involved in teaching elementary school?

After that question, I stopped stressing for the rest of the exam. I figured that it couldn't be that difficult if that was the idiotic stuff they were asking about.

 

[xxliz28xx]

I will be taking the PLT and the Elem. Praxis this summer and my Early Childhood Praxis next year and I'm nervous as anything to take them! We had a workshop with sample tests and all my knowledge seemed to have left my brain! I hope it's not too bad!

 

[simba20]

Generally, when first getting into an education program in college, there is ageneral PRAXIS that one takes.

Then when one is nearly finished with their major and subject area, there is a subject/content specific PRAXIS that one takes for thier certification.

GA had this requirement, until they came up with their own state content area tests for certification. I was in an education program from 1999-2003, back when GA required PRAXIS tests. Now GA uses their own test called the GACE.

 

[simba20]

I had to take them to get certified several years ago, and was nervous.

I opened the very first test booklet when the testing started, and the very first question on my general education teaching licensing exam was, and I kid you not:

The guitar solo in rock music serves as:

The choices were something about giving the lead singer a break, and I can't remember the rest.

I found it completely stupid that a question like that was being asked on an elementary teacher licensing exam! What in the world did that question have to do with anything involved in teaching elementary school?

After that question, I stopped stressing for the rest of the exam. I figured that it couldn't be that difficult if that was the idiotic stuff they were asking about.

Hmm I don;t know what PRAXIS test you were taking, but when I took both content exams for Early Childhood (I have taken three ECE exams all together), they were content specific and had senarios to write about how one would teach x concept, what teaching strategies one would employ or an example showing how a student was answering math problems and to identify the mistake the student was making and how one would correct it. I wrote my hand off for those exams. And I still felt lost, like I didn;t know anything (I passed though, way above required marks).

 

[Kathi OD]

Maine's Department of Education's site redirects you to ETS's site.

According to ETS, to become certified in middle school history, your DD will have to take the following PRAXIS tests: PRAXIS I Reading, PRAXIS I Writing, & PRAXIS I Mathematics (many colleges/universities require these tests to be taken in order to gain acceptance into their teaching programs). Qualifying scores are 176 for the Reading and 175 for the Writing and Math sections. She will need a Composite score of 526 on those 3 sections with no single test score being more than 3 points less than the qualifying score.

She will also have to take Principles of Learning & Teaching (PLT): Grades 7-12 (with a qualifying score of at least 162) and Middle School Social Studies (qualifying score 153).

It would be to her benefit to also take the Secondary Social Studies test - Social Studies: Content Knowledge (qualifying score 157), as most districts will be looking for someone who is willing to teach 7-12, rather than just one specific grade. She'll need to be flexible, especially if she is looking to teach social studies.

Here is a link to the page. You'll see that there is a PDF link for some of the tests so that she (and you) can get an idea of what the questions on the test are like.

http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/...nnel=71636c8ac0f93210VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

Those who are looking to take the PLT PRAXIS tests should know that the test is designed to find out the test taker's knowledge of sound educational practice and as such, there is not much attention paid to spelling, sentence structure, or grammar on the essay part of that particular test. Also, if the question asks for 3 examples and reasons, make sure to give 3 examples and reasons. Giving 3 examples and no reasons will not give you full credit. Neither will giving 2 examples with 2 reasons. You don't have to give long answers, bulleted lists, if they are correct, are given just as much credit as ten paragraphs.

 

[Inigo]

Hmm I don;t know what PRAXIS test you were taking, but when I took both content exams for Early Childhood (I have taken three ECE exams all together), they were content specific and had senarios to write about how one would teach x concept, what teaching strategies one would employ or an example showing how a student was answering math problems and to identify the mistake the student was making and how one would correct it. I wrote my hand off for those exams. And I still felt lost, like I didn;t know anything (I passed though, way above required marks).

It was for an elementary education license AFTER I finished my certification coursework.

It was rediculous! (I can never spell that word)

 

[aprilvaca04]

Thanks for all the great information. I will definitely be passing it on to her. One of the schools that she has been accepted to has them take the first series of PRAXIS in Novemeber so she's hoping to just get a feel for it. She is really passionate about becoming a teacher so I'm sure she will be okay.Having a learning disability herself yet never missing the honor roll shows what her perserverance has let her accomplish. (proud mom bragging moment I know )They are known to be an excellent teaching school so I am sure they will have all the tools she needs to be successful.