Thanks! Honestly, the help you guys gave me on the math really made a difference. I can't be specific about test questions, but the information you provided came in very handy.
general knowledge HI guys, I was advised to post my question here. In a few months I will be taking the general knowledge test. I would like to know can someone assist me in which text to purchase to prepare myself for the test. Thanks
Look through the posts on this thread and on related threads to find out what you have to know. I believe there's a document online that lays out the basics. You'll find recommendations for books and useful Web sites in this subforum and on the Multiple Subject Tests forum - again, teacher tests do tend to cover pretty similar concepts, and sometimes the different approaches to those concepts that different tests take can help the test taker learn to be flexible with the material.
Suggestion: Study Group I couldn't help but notice that we are nervous and up in the air regarding taking the SAE K-6. I have done really well during my content courses, especially my Social Studies course, and noticed that we, as students, do better studying together. I'm suggesting a Study Group and possibly a meeting place and time online for this test and to conintue this for those who will be taking this exam in the nearby and distant future. It wouldn't hurt. I am willing to start this group myself. Is anyone interested?
Study Group Thank you TeacherGroupie. I noticed that on Yahoo under their Education & School (?) link they already have formed a study group, however, I found a way to make a new study under that cateogory. I don't think that MSN has a way to form a group - I will look into it further. Please anyone let me know if you are interested, otherwise I will not form it.
Competencies from what website? I have to take this test soon and I know nothing about it. I am subbing at an elementary school (2nd grade) and the principal wants me to take the exam so she can hire me on full-time. I am a non-education major so I am new to all the teaching terminology. So what website did you go to to help you with test preps and test questions? I would love to view some sample questions to see what I need to know. The principal did direct me to the xam site for study guides but I am skeptical about purchasing them if they don't really help. My sis took the Los Angeles test and she said it was easy, but she was a education major of course. I don't know about Florida? Can anyone help me do to the right places for help with getting study materials, etc.
xuan - these are the competencies with tons of additional info added by some folks at one of the Florida education schools. http://www.ftcek6.education.ucf.edu/ As far as sample questions, these practice tests and study guides are well worth $5.62 to download. I suspect that is what your teacher was suggesting: http://www.cefe.usf.edu/orderguides.aspx Keep in mind that approximately 60% is a passing grade - you don't have to ace the test. Good luck Joyce
Book for this test. Xuan, I previously mentioned in an earlier post that there's this book coming out in May for the Subject Area Exam K-6. You can preorder it on Amazon.com and it's titled The Best Test Prep: Subject Area Exam K-6. It is only $18.25 I believe. The SAE K-6, which I will be taking in July, is based on factual knowledge that you will need to use in your field (teaching). You should study the basics of math, science, art, and learn their concepts. You should also study dates, events, and names that contribute to history. In addition, look into studying and learning Phonics and Phonics instruction (I love it after reading about it!) especially since you have a second grade class that could use it. Just think of all the general subjects that you learned in elementary school and deepen your studies into them (further your studies). That is basically what the SAE K-6 is. I'm open for help, or if close by, developing a study group either in person or in a chatroom somewhere. I just need to know if you're interested.
Okay Adria. I will be opening a study group somewhere soon. I am located in Broward County as well. If you are close by and want to create a study group in person, let me know as well. I will post when and where I have created a study group.
FTCE Study Group I have created a study group based for all three tests (SAE, GK, & Prof. Ed. Test). Please email me your email address so I can invite those of you who would like to join. My email address is cindyw625@hotmail.com. It's located under Yahoo and you need a Yahoo account (free) to join. My approval is not needed to join- I kept it open for future use and just incase I end up teaching soon (fingers crossed) I may not have the time to approve everyone. Please be considerate of others and use this for the purpose of having an online study group. I will start the first time for the study group to start based on availabilities. Thank you! Cindy
Additional Note: This group doesn't open up a window or have an ongoing open chatroom. It requires to download Yahoo messenger to open up a screen and talk to multiple people.
You could do a quick and dirty study group here, too: pick a topic, and somebody launch a thread about it. Or join the ongoing threads for CSET in areas that cover material you need to cover. The differences between teacher tests don't tend to be that deep.
It also gives you a bigger pool from which to fish for feedback and insights, between the people who are taking one or another of the CSET subtests on May 20 and the people who've already passed (or even passed the single subject tests) but hang out and make helpful contributions. Check out some of the threads and you'll see what I mean.
I should have added that, since you're talking about a multiple subject test, it would make sense to post (and lurk) on the Multiple Subject Tests subforum - it isn't just for CSET, really and truly.
Did you already open up the study group....I may be kinda late. Either way, please let me know. Thanks!
new member Hello All: I am new here but have been reading many post as I just took the FTCE K-6 exam but did not pass. I am taking it again in July to give myself plenty of time to study. I wanted to know from those of you who have taken the K-6 and the pre-K-3, which test was easier? I would not mind at all teaching pre-k-3 but I was just thinking that K-6 would give me more of a chance of getting a position here in Florida. Any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks for the advice and the post have been great. Also, just to add to someone else's post, there is finally a K-6 study guide coming out by Anita Price Davis the end of May. FTCE(REA)-The Best Teachers' Test Preparation, FTCE:K-6.
The K-3 is easier than the K-6. A few post back someone suggested a site from UCF I browsed the site and the information was great. I took the K-6 before and was not successful as I browsed the information and compared it with the test I realised that it is similiar. Good luck........
I am not sure yet what my actual score was. It just showed pass or fail. In the next couple of weeks I should receive the breakdown of my score in the mail. I did not allow myself enough time to study as I took the K-6 exam three weeks after I signed up for it. I knew I was not allowing myself time but I was just taking a chance and knew if I did not pass I would at least know what was ahead of me next time. I did buy the Praxis K-6 study guide but it did not seem to help much. Praxis has many case studies. Thanks for the pre-k information.
Now that you've got a sense of how the test works, you may find it better to study from materials that AREN'T specifically test prep. If history was an issue, for example, get hold of a good historical atlas - and use what you know of human nature to help you see patterns in history. The historical atlas could be very useful in an upper elementary classroom later, too. Similarly, if science is an issue, get hold of a good kids' science book - Usborne's Science Encyclopedia definitely qualifies - and also make a point of practicing the science hands-on. Make up your own questions as you go: that's always a really good way to study. Cruise among the postings on the Multiple Subject Tests subforum (which is where this thread belongs, actually) and you'll see other ideas for study, as well as some discussions that you might find useful.
In am taking the Prek-3rd test in July. Any advice from anyone who has taken it? Also, where can I find study material?
Hey guys - I had taken my FTCE K-6 in Feb and passed it. Although I had ordered the XAM book - I want to say that downloading the content from the FTCE site and googling the terminology will work too. The Social studies part was the most difficult for me.
I read this thread yesterday while I was preparing to take my FTCE today... It totally freaked me out... I wanted to post to say that someone with absolutely no ED background and not much studying can take and pass the test. My degree was in Theatre Arts. I haven't taken a math class or science class since my Sr. year in HS (97-98). I still passed. All I did was buy the xam book, read it, and take the practice test in the back. It totally is possible to do it. I just thought some words of encouragement might help some of you out there. p.s. Study the Language Arts section... all the methods... there's aLOT in there!
It would be interesting to figure out how closely X-AM's book for FTCE K-6 resembles its book for CSET-MS. Test prep book makers tend to do a certain amount of cutting and pasting to try to suit different segments of the market... sometimes the book that results is useful, and sometimes it has jarring gaps and overlaps.
The xam book had an insane lapse in info for the math section. The Language Arts section was actually wonderfully detailed.
It basically had a VERY light overview. The geometry section was the one that I found very sorely lacking. No info about the different styles of angles or how to find the area of different shapes... I totally thought my test was going down the tubes before my very eyes! So glad it's the last section. Good for the morale. If it was the first section then I'd have been SO negative the entire time!
