praxis anyone?

[msstefano]

Hello, I have never taken a teaching job, and now that my kids have kids, I feel I can devote myself to teaching, and offer alot to my art students. My certificate is current, I have done alot of sustitute teaching and feel confident in the classroom...I just feel a little intimidated taking the required praxis test. I know there is study guide available, a review would be appreciated, and once into a job, you have 3 years to pass it. I just would love to know how others have experienced the test...? My DIL's sister is a real smart new history teacher and has failed it 5 times....! How can I best prepare? I don't want this to stop me.......
praises........................................... .......................

[SS Rocks!]

I have taken and passed the following three PRAXIS exams...
-Citizenship Education (basically social studies sans psych/soc)
-Social Studies
-Middle School Math

Each time I left the testing area, I have felt like I failed horribly. Some of the questions for social studies are really obscure. For example, the one I recall asked which president said "the business of America is business".

I purchased the middle school math practice book and found it to be quite helpful. I can't speak for how helpful the others are.

Best of luck to you. :clap:

[msstefano]

what about the PRAXIS PLT? i found out this is the only one i need to take. PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING AND TEACHING. i understand there is alot of written essay...? anyone taken it?

[hweber]

I took the PLT twice- the first time I did not finish it. There were 4 case scenarios, each with at least 2 questions, sometimes four, and 28 multiple choice questions. There are several study guides on-line. The big thing to remember is to bullet your extended responses. I have take 5 praxis tests, plt, reading K-12, middle school science, middle school social studies, elementary content knowledge for my generalist. Google praxis plt study guide and you should find lots of help. Someone is making $$$ from us!!

[Adrienne]

The weird thing about the Praxis is there is no "failing" or "passing" grade. It all depends on when you take it, and the grades of everyone else who took it on that same day with you. So you could be with a bunch of geniuses one day and a bunch of idiots the next.

I didn't use any kind of study materials for the Social Studies portion and even though I called my husband right after I took the test, crying, positive I had completely bombed it, I passed! So I guess there was that second group that day, lol!

For the English portion I did get the study guide they offered on the Praxis website and I definately found it helpful.

Not sure if this helped, but I didn't know that part about how they decide who's passing until afterwards. Doesn't make much sense to me, but there you go.

Good luck!

[msstefano]

thanks everyone for responses. it sounds about what i thought...
i don't have a date yet.l....kristine

[hweber]

Each state determines the passing score for each test, so even though your paper might say, not passed, you still have to take it over to achieve the score that the state requires.

[merrynl]

I have taken the General Science, Chemistry, and PLT. I'm taking the Earth Space Science one on Saturday. I would have to say that the PLT was the hardest, just because it was hard to get all that read and writtin in the 2 hours allotted. When I looked around when 5 minutes left was announced, there was only one person besides me (out of 35) who had finished writing. That's one I'd definitely suggest getting a practice book/test for. If nothing else, just so you can practice to see how long you can spend on each part and still finish. This is especially important if you're not a quick test taker.

As far as the other subject tests, I think whether you need a review book or not depends on how comfortable you are with the subject. I didn't get books for the science tests... I had a MS in chemistry before I took the chemistry test. It wasn't bad at all for me. But others I talked to thought it (and other science tests) were absolutely horrible. If you're nervous, get the books. It can't hurt to study! MIght at least put your mind at ease a bit.

[engteach219]

All I can say is...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!
I bought the Practice Exam/Study Guide from ETS and I bought one from Cliff Notes. I highly recommend getting your hands on as many practice exams as possible, and taking and re-taking those tests. It will really help. They provide a study guide with those booklets, and it gives you all the info. you will need to know. I made outlines and notecards containing all of the information. YOU MUST prepare! As for the PLT, I practiced those in my teaching classes. I can say that I have talked to a LOT of people who wouldn't study and therefore could not pass.
good luck to you!