STUDY MATERIAL

Monday 14 January 2019

How to Get a Teaching Job in Texas

Do you want to teach in Texas? Here is a quick explanation of how to land your dream teaching job!

In order to teach in Texas, you must be certified. To get certified, you either get a degree in education and get certified through your college, or you get a degree in something else and do alternative certification.

Two Options:

1. Earn your degree in education and get certified through your college
2. Earn a degree in any field and get certified through alternative certification

Both routes have the same requirements:

1. Complete required coursework
2. Complete mandatory observation hours
3. Pass TExES exams, including the PPR EC-12
4. Complete your field experience (either 12 weeks of student or clinical teaching, or a one year internship)

If you choose alternative certification, you can be hired by a school district after you pass your exam. The sooner you pass, the better! We sell great digital study guides and sample tests at www.coresubjects.net

*After you pass your exam, apply as much as possible! Deliver your resume in person to schools and district offices. Attend job fairs and go to interviews. Send a thank you letter after the interview expressing your interest in the job. Network as much as possible. Consider substitute teaching to get your foot in the door.

Saturday 5 January 2019

What Happens If I Don't Pass the Core Subjects EC-6 Exam?

The Core Subjects EC-6 exam is challenging! According to the State Board for Educator Certification website, the initial pass rate for the Core Subjects EC-6 exam is only 54.5%.

If you have taken it and not passed, you are in good company!

Important Information About Re-Taking the Core Subjects EC-6:

*You must wait 45 days to re-take the exam
*You only have 5 attempts to pass the test
*If you failed two or more sections (Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts and Reading and the Science of Teaching Reading, and Fine Arts), then you should re-take the ENTIRE exam. You may skip the questions in the sections you already passed. If you take an individual subject exam, like Math, it counts as one of your attempts. That is why you should re-take the entire exam if you failed two or more sections. Otherwise, if you take Math and Science after failing the entire exam, you will have used three attempts. However, if you re-take the entire exam, that is only two attempts.
*Buy a good study guide and read the entire sections you need to pass. Make notes and flash cards, and use meta-cognitive strategies to check your understanding.
*Take released STAAR tests and when you miss questions, look up more information about those topics and concepts.
*Take sample tests that are for sale at www.coresubjects.net When you miss questions, look up information about those concepts in your study guide. We also offer a comprehensive study guide at the same site.

Free Sample of New Reading Comprehension Test Questions

Hi,

We are updating our Sample Reading Comprehension Test for the BTLPT. Below we posted a free excerpt! To purchase the full version of the sample test, visit texeshelp.blostpot.com or coresubjects.net

Excerpto de “Versos Sencillos” por José Martí
II
Yo sé de Egipto y Nigricia,
Y de Persia y Xenophonte;
Y prefiero la caricia
Del aire fresco del monte.

Yo sé de las historias viejas
Del hombre y de sus rencillas;
Y prefiero las abejas
Volando en las campanillas.

Yo sé del canto del viento
En las ramas vocingleras:
Nadie me diga que miento,
Que lo prefiero de versa.

Yo sé de un gamo aterrado
Que vuelve al redil, y expira, -
Y de un corazón cansado
Que muere oscuro y sin ira.

25. ¿Qué quiere decir el autor cuando dice “Yo sé de Egipto y Negricia?”
A. Quiere decir que él sabe de la geografía.
B. Quiere decir que entiende la historia.
C. Quiere decir que conoce países y ciudades desarrollados.
D. Quiere decir que a él le gusta el campo y la ciudad.

26. ¿Qué significa la frase “prefiere la caricia del aire fresco?”
A. Que a él no le gusta la contaminación del aire en las ciudades.
B. Que le gusta el cariño que siente en el campo.
C. Que prefiere la comida natural.
D. Que prefiere vivir en el campo en vez de una ciudad.

27. Cuál palabra tiene el significado más semejante a la palabra “rencillas?”
A. Orgullo
B. Rencor
C. Salud
D. Dinero

28. ¿Cuál palabra describe el tono de los dos primeros párrafos?
A. Alegría
B. Orgullo
C. Nostalgia
D. Rencilla

29. El tercer párrafo demuestra que:
A. El autor tiene una conexión con la naturaleza.
B. Al autor le gusta canta.
C. El autor se va a morir de agotamiento
D. Al autor no le gusta la ciudad.

30. ¿Cuál frase es un mandato negative?
A. “Del aire fresco del monte”
B. “Nadie me diga que miento”
C. “Que muere oscuro y sin ira”
D. “Que vuelve al redil”

31. ¿Cuál palabra es un sinónimo para gamo?
A. Partido
B. Juego
C. Ciervo
D. Paloma

32. “Las ramas vocingleras” es un ejemplo de:
A. Personificación
B. Símil
C. Metáfora
D. Onomatopeya

Answer Key:

25. C
26. D
27. B
28. C
29. A
30. B
31. C
32. A

Wednesday 2 January 2019

What Tests Do I Need to Be a Bilingual Teacher?

Some of the most common questions we receive are about what tests are required to teach Bilingual Education or Spanish (Spanish as a foreign/world language).

This post will clarify what is required to teach Bilingual Education.

*Core Subjects EC-6 or Core Subjects 4-8 (depending on the grade level to be taught)
*Bilingual Education Supplemental
*Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT)
*Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) EC-12

Now you probably need to know where to buy study material for these exams.

We offer an excellent study guide for the Core Subjects EC-6, Bilingual Education Supplemental, and BTLPT at www.coresubjects.net or at www.texeshelp.blogspot.com

If you are going to take the Core Subjects 4-8, we recommend the guide by www.passthetexes.com

For the PPR EC-12, we like the guide by REA, which is available on Amazon.

WE also offer tutoring for all of the exams listed above. Email Courtney at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com to set up a session.

Friday 28 December 2018

BTLPT Test Dates

The BTLPT will be offered again from December 31, 2018 until January 13, 2019. The scores will be released January 25. Keep in mind that job fairs start in March, so this is the perfect time to pass your exam. You may save 10 percent of BTLPT study material with the code EPP10. If you would like to schedule tutoring, email Courtney at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com Best of luck!

Thursday 6 December 2018

Getting a Job with Core Subjects EC-6

Are you studying for the Core Subjects EC-6 and want to get a job teaching elementary school? You might think you have to wait until the next school year to be hired. However, many districts hire in December and January. Houston ISD alone has over 100 teaching positions posted! Now is a great time to study and pass your test so you will be eligible for jobs.

One thing you should know is that a lot of people want to teach elementary school. As a result, it is important to make yourself as marketable as possible. Here are some ways you can maximize your chance of being hired:

*Substitute teach and build relationships at the schools. Get to know the teachers, administrators, and administrative assistants. Be sure to let them know you are studying for your exam and hope to be hired in that district as a teacher.

*After you pass the Core Subjects EC-6 exam, consider taking the ESL and/or Special Education exam to be eligible for more jobs, and to be more appealing as a candidate for "regular" elementary school jobs.

*Volunteer with children so you have that experience to list on your resume.

*Create a professional resume and educational philosophy.

*Once you pass your exam, apply everywhere. Hand deliver your resume to schools (unless they have a policy against it).

Friday 6 April 2018

Studying for the LOTE Pedagogy Section

Are you preparing for the LOTE Spanish 613 exam? Or any of the TExES LOTE (French, German, etc.)?

For most test takers, the most challenging portion is the pedagogy/instruction and assessment.

Even native speakers who attended school in Mexico, Spain, or other countries have failed this exam. Even though their Spanish is excellent, they did not learn the pedagogy section! We offer a digital course to help you prepare for the pedagogy section, as well as the lesson plan. You will learn about second language acquisition theories, instruction techniques, foreign language programs, and important people and concepts you need to know for the exam. This section is the same for all LOTE exams (French, Spanish, etc.), so you can benefit even if you are taking a different LOTE.

In addition, you will see an example of a lesson plan that would earn a perfect score, and have the opportunity to upload your own lesson plan and receive feedback on how to improve your score.

Interested? Enroll at campus.educadium.com/texeshelp/

We also offer phone tutoring, and in the 30 minute session we go over tips and strategies to help you make the most of your independent study time. We can also teach you where to put accent marks and explain concepts you do not understand about the pedagogy. Our tutor, Sandy, has passed the exam and is ready to help you!

STUDY MATERIAL