Stressing Over the Praxis II

[ImagineerM]

Hey everyone!

So I'm totally stressing out! It is my last semester of classes -- I've been working on my bachelors degree in Middle School Education studying to teach both Social Studies and Language Arts. I'm scheduled to Student Teach in the Sping.

I am a very good student, I have a 3.969 GPA, but I am incredibly nervous about the Praxis II -- which I take this weekend. I have to take 3 tests:

MS Social Studies -- 0089
MS Language Arts -- 0049
and the PLT -- 0523

I'm doing this on Saturday! I'm really stressing out..

any words of advice or suggestions? I despise standardized testing.

Everyone keeps telling me I'll do fine, but that makes me even more nervous...know what I mean?

Would love some thoughts and suggestions, especially from you teachers out there!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Disney4Drew]

Hey everyone!

So I'm totally stressing out! It is my last semester of classes -- I've been working on my bachelors degree in Middle School Education studying to teach both Social Studies and Language Arts. I'm scheduled to Student Teach in the Sping.

I am a very good student, I have a 3.969 GPA, but I am incredibly nervous about the Praxis II -- which I take this weekend. I have to take 3 tests:

MS Social Studies -- 0089
MS Language Arts -- 0049
and the PLT -- 0523

I'm doing this on Saturday! I'm really stressing out..

any words of advice or suggestions? I despise standardized testing.

Everyone keeps telling me I'll do fine, but that makes me even more nervous...know what I mean?

Would love some thoughts and suggestions, especially from you teachers out there!

Cheers,
Josh

Just breathe, try to relax and apply what you know! I took the Praxis II for my undergrad and did just fine! It's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

I feel your pain, though! I'm getting my master's and have to take the special ed components of the Praxis II on Saturday! Good thoughts for both of us!

 

[mirthmaiden]

I just took Praxis II in September, but in elementary ed. I also was nervous but I scored in the top 15% nationally with no prep before the test. My test was really a lot like the Praxis I, just a bit more in depth. If you've taken all your content teaching classes, and I assume you have since you're getting ready to student teach, you should do fine. Don't stress!

 

[MushyMushy]

Sounds like you'll be there all day!

Let me give you a few tips about the PLT because I think that'll be the most difficult since it's in essay form. When I took the test, about half the people in the room didn't finish. I assume you've been studying from a Praxis guide, which is a must. One thing with the essays, break it all down so you know how much time to devote to each question and stick to it. Don't worry about writing a well-written essay, just make sure you say what you want to say briefly and to the point. Oh, and read over Harry Wong's The First Days of School if you have a copy. I wrote most of my essays based on his ideas and I ended up getting a certificate of excellence on the PLT.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great.

 

[Disney4Drew]

Sounds like you'll be there all day!

Let me give you a few tips about the PLT because I think that'll be the most difficult since it's in essay form. When I took the test, about half the people in the room didn't finish. I assume you've been studying from a Praxis guide, which is a must. One thing with the essays, break it all down so you know how much time to devote to each question and stick to it. Don't worry about writing a well-written essay, just make sure you say what you want to say briefly and to the point. Oh, and read over Harry Wong's The First Days of School if you have a copy. I wrote most of my essays based on his ideas and I ended up getting a certificate of excellence on the PLT.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great.

I have to admit I didn't study one bit and still scored within two points of the top score on both parts I took. And Mushy, I actually hate the fill in the dots portions more than the writing! Those things are set up to confuse you!

 

[ImagineerM]

Yeah..I've been studying from the Middle School Praxis guide for SS and LA. I've been less worried about the PLT...plan to go over that guide this week.

What bugs me is my professors keep laughing off my concerns saying they'd be shocked if I didn't ace it....the one professor told me I was "the smartest guy they've had in this program and I shouldn't think twice about it." ugh...that does nothing but stress me out!

Sigh...anywho. Any suggestions on online things to study or freshen up on? This cannot be over soon enough.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Cindy B]

I'm taking the Praxis II as well on Saturday. However, I'm only doing 00014 Elem Ed content knowledge.

I found a book on Amazon which had practice exam plus I got out tons of content books from the library in science and social studies. I've been taking practice tests out the wazoo!

 

[tae1218]

Add me to list of people getting ready to take the Praxis II test on Saturday. I am taking Elementary Ed Content Area and El Ed Curriculum Instruction. I have a study guide that I have been using to help prepare but I am still a nervous wreck. I can't wait to get them over with!

 

[ImagineerM]

We should totally start a Praxis II survival and support thread! Sounds like November 17th has quite a few of us stressed out!

I can't say it loud enough...I HATE STANDARDIZED TESTS!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[mirthmaiden]

We should totally start a Praxis II survival and support thread! Sounds like November 17th has quite a few of us stressed out!

I can't say it loud enough...I HATE STANDARDIZED TESTS!

Cheers,
Josh

Amen to that. I'm glad I've done all 4 tests. Now, if I can just get through student teaching ...

 

[ImagineerM]

oh goodness...yeah, student teaching....good times!

My colleges education department has been taking their sweet time getting our placements done for student teaching...I'm dying to know where I will be next semester!

I just wish I could wake up and it would be saturday night.....test over! lol

Best wishes to my fellow test takers.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm putting off taking those dumb praxis exams (need it for a teaching certificate...)

We have to take FOUR of them (elementary ed, the three subject ones and the SLP content specific one)

We were told not to study for the elementary ed one and the subject ones as we haven't had any true teaching courses

And well, the SLP content one clearly isn't written by the smartest SLPs (and they missed a factor called editing)

Ohyea and my ASHA certification exam (cant study for that one either... 6 years of knowledge go into one exam and it can cover ANYTHING)

Yay for those of us finishing up and going to our school placements in January

(soooooooo close, "I think I can, I think I can, I hate my program, I think I can, I have too much to do, I think I can...") It's sad, I'm excited for Thanksgiving break because it gives me "more hours in a day" to do school work.

Good luck Guys, let me know how it goes!

 

[Macca1111]

Just breathe, try to relax and apply what you know! I took the Praxis II for my undergrad and did just fine! It's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

It's a long and annoying test, but you'll make it though. People are not trying to pressure you when they say you will do fine (you're a perfectionist, aren't you?) If you think that way, you'll make it harder on yourself. Just go in and take the test, and don't worry about it. The worst case scenario is you have to take it again, and that happens to such a small minority of people that it's a good bet you'll pass on the first try. When I took it, I read though one of the sample guides but didn't really study, felt like I missed a lot of questions, and still scored in the top 10%. Everyone hates standardized tests (I myself hold the paranoid theory that they are soley a money-making scheme that the whole education system as been unfortuently backing) but you have to do it, and rather than psych yourself out this week, just take a little time to review what you think you need to, but mostly relax about it. Work smartly on test day, and it will be ok.

 

[Cindy B]

The beautiful thing about content knowledge 0014 is that you can bring a calculator for the math part.

I have to take four Praxis tests as well, but I am only doing one on Nov. 17th.


I will need to take a Special Education one, Middle School Language Arts and Middle School Social Studies.


I don't have to student teach until September--not January. My school requires the Praxis scores almost a year before student teaching. We cant do our last semester of the teaching program until we have passing Praxis II scores. I'm set to graduate in May-- I can't do that unless I pass the Praxis on Saturday.

I dont' have a Thanksgiving break.. just Thanksgiving day.

 

[mirthmaiden]

The beautiful thing about content knowledge 0014 is that you can bring a calculator for the math part.

I have to take four Praxis tests as well, but I am only doing one on Nov. 17th.


I will need to take a Special Education one, Middle School Language Arts and Middle School Social Studies.


I don't have to student teach until September--not January. My school requires the Praxis scores almost a year before student teaching. We cant do our last semester of the teaching program until we have passing Praxis II scores. I'm set to graduate in May-- I can't do that unless I pass the Praxis on Saturday.

I dont' have a Thanksgiving break.. just Thanksgiving day.

Yeah, I brought my calculator and I think I used it once, and that was for something I could've figured out easily without it. Don't stress the math. Seriously. If you've finished all your math classes, you'll be fine.

My school also requires Praxis II b/4 student teaching. I had to pay the extra fee for rush registration to take it in September so I could have my scores in time since I am student teaching in January.

It's a tricky mine field planning all this stuff correctly so it all falls into place when you want/need it to. I had to set $$$$ aside to cover my bills for basically this whole year. Although I'm doing some subbing right now, I'm also doing a 150-hour practicum (unpaid). That translates to about 7 weeks in the classroom. And of course student teaching is unpaid too That is the really tough part about becoming a teacher if you are older and have a family to support.

 

[Cindy B]

Yeah, I brought my calculator and I think I used it once, and that was for something I could've figured out easily without it. Don't stress the math. Seriously. If you've finished all your math classes, you'll be fine.

My school also requires Praxis II b/4 student teaching. I had to pay the extra fee for rush registration to take it in September so I could have my scores in time since I am student teaching in January.

It's a tricky mine field planning all this stuff correctly so it all falls into place when you want/need it to. I had to set $$$$ aside to cover my bills for basically this whole year. Although I'm doing some subbing right now, I'm also doing a 150-hour practicum (unpaid). That translates to about 7 weeks in the classroom. And of course student teaching is unpaid too That is the really tough part about becoming a teacher if you are older and have a family to support.

I'm doing a practicum as well as juggling 6 classes . I haven't subbed since September-- I really don't have time. I don't have a lot of money, but I can't stop school for work.

 

[ImagineerM]

Macca -- you hit the nail on the head...I think my perfectionist side has gotten the best of me.

I've been studying the ETS books and plan to review some basic fact type things as I go this week.

My fiancee and I are totally going out for drinks after this thing is over! lol

Although, I also agree, I think standardized tests are just a money making scheme!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[ImagineerM]

So we're appoaching the 12 hour mark before test time....I'm getting super nervous...thought I'd bump this up for some support group action.

Check in here if you're taking the Praxis tomorrow morning!

Send us some pixie dust!

Cheers,
Josh