IMPORTANT DOWNLOADS!
|
Overview Powerpoint
(DOWNLOAD) |
|
Timing Strategies Word document (DOWNLOAD) |
|
Strategies for Constructed Responses (DOWNLOAD) |
| Dr.
Linda Webb Billman's Web Page
(DOWNLOAD) |
|
ETS General
Information & Study Tips for Praxis Exams |
|
HOME PAGE |
|
Let me know how this is helping (or not) and
provide suggestions and testimonials for others who are using this page..dlee@harding.edu
Some responses from
around the country:
"While cruising the
internet I came across your web site. It is the most informative one of
it's kind that I have found." --Rick, Jan., 2004
"Thanks so much. This is
absolutely fabulous. I spent money today buying a book to help with the
Praxis II, only to discover that it had nothing to do with the test for
Media Specialists. Your website and powerpoints were so great to jog my
memory of courses I had had and I know that I will be better prepared."
--Vivien, Dec., 2003
"The
single source of all my nightmares has been erased! I received
confirmation that I passed the PLT test on Christmas eve! Talk about
the best Christmas present ever! Thanks for all of your help with the
preparation." --Sherri, Dec., 2003
"I am an intervention
specialist at a career center in northcentral Ohio. I have been working
with career/tech teachers the past two years, trying to help
them take the PLT for grades 7-12.Your website is one of the best
resources I have found over the years for what they need. I also use an
Ed. Psych.
textbook for our reference material, but your list of sources and
Powerpoints have been an exceptional asset to me. Thank you so much for
your hard work--I
am hoping it will make the difference for some of the current 116
teachers I am working with." -- Cindy, Ohio, Feb., 2004
|
|
FORMAT
The PLT consists of 4 case
histories, each with 3 short-answer questions. There are 24 discrete multiple
choice questions in two sections of 12 questions each. Categories on the PLT:
|
Category |
Approximate Percentage of
Total Score |
| Students as Learners (multiple
choice) |
11% |
| Instruction and Assessment
(multiple choice) |
11% |
| Teacher Professionalism
(multiple choice) |
11% |
| Students as Learners (short
answer) |
22% |
| Instruction and Assessment
(short answer) |
22% |
| Communication Techniques (short
answer) |
11% |
| Teacher Professionalism (short
answer) |
11% |
The PLT will contain two types
of case histories -- document-based and narrative.
|
Document-based |
Narrative |
|
Set of three or more documents (e.g., lesson or unit plans, assignments,
student work, notes from observations, communications with parents or
counselors) |
Objective account of what happens in a classroom and focus on certain
issues, including information necessary to respond fully to the questions.
Some will be teacher-based (focusing on the teaching practice of one or
more teachers) and the others will be student-based (focusing on the
student's background, where appropriate, and the student's strengths and
weaknesses) |
The constructed response
(short answer) items are often the most challenging sections on this exam.
They are challenging because they require the candidate to read rather lengthy
cases quickly, synthesize and analyze information, and make evaluations and draw
conclusion on the material in the cases. It is not that they require lengthy
responses so much that they require concise, accurate, and substantive
responses. Unfortunately, this sometimes goes against intuition as well as
training.
 HEADS
UP! For specific strategy information, see Word document link
in left column.
HEADS
UP! For timing strategy,
see Word document in left column.
CONTENT
|
STUDENTS AS LEARNERS
(~ 35% of total score)
1.
Human Development
Be able to...
| Refer to theoretical
points as you discuss specific strategies or actions. |
| Refer to theorists
as you discuss specific strategies or actions. |
| Incorporate theories
into your answers as appropriate. |
Heads Up!
You do not have to treat theorists or
theories exhaustively. Don't explain the theories! Be careful not to
constantly "namedrop." The readers already know the theorists' names.
Incorporate. Incorporate. Incorporate.
| Piaget -- his
stages and their implications for teachers |
| Vygotsky --
zone of proximal development, scaffolding |
| Erikson -- stages and their implications for each level of school-age
children |
| Albert Bandura
-- social cognitive theory and observational learning |
| Abraham Maslow
-- hierarchy of needs (motivation) |
| Kohlberg -- stages and their implications for each level of
school-age children |
2. Diversity
Be able to...
| Consider and
integrate ethnicity and race with respect to actions. |
| Consider gender with
respect to actions. |
| Consider learning
abilities and disabilities with respect to actions. |
| Consider primary
language with respect to actions. |
Power Points...
|
INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT
(~ 35% of total score)
Be able to...
| Write parts of and
analyze unit and lesson plans. |
| Write learning
objectives. |
| Create assessments,
rubrics, and analyze them. |
| Create instructional
strategies and tell how and when you might use them. |
| Explain how and when
you might modify instruction for students. |
| Explain how you
would motivate students in certain situations. |
| Explain how you will
make goals and procedures clear to students. |
| Explain how you will
make content comprehensible to students. |
| Explain how you will
monitor students' understanding of content. |
| Demonstrate how you
would use instructional time wisely. |
| Explain how you will
extend students' thinking. |
Power Points...
Documents...
Heads Up!
Hot Topics: These will be helpful to include
as appropriate. They are the "hot
topics" that readers "look for"...
| Constructivism |
Multiple
Intelligences |
| Metacognition |
Alternative
Assessments |
| Bloom's Taxonomy |
Differentiated
Instruction |
| Readiness |
Inclusion |
| Schemata |
Least Restrictive
Environment |
| Transfer |
Modifications and
Accommodations |
| Zone of Proximal
Development (ZPD) |
Learning
Disabilities |
| Learning Styles |
Scaffolding |
|
|
COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
(~ 15% of total score)
Be able to...
| Communicate expectations to
students |
| Demonstrate
effective verbal and nonverbal communication |
| Demonstrate cultural
and gender differences in communication |
| Stimulate discussion
and responses in the classroom |
| Communicate
effectively with parents, colleagues, and administrators |
| Recognize and
comprehend different forms of communication |
Heads Up!
Communication with parents in which
you offer specific information as well as strategies parents can use is an
area that readers may want to see.
Slide Show...
Culture and Diversity in the Classroom
Web Site...
Lee's Links to Teaching & Learning and Foundation Topics
|
TEACHER
PROFESSIONALISM (~ 15% of the total score)
Be able to...
| Reflect on actions,
situations, and strategies and their implications. |
| Consider how you
might do something differently next time. |
| Consider the larger
community (parents, colleagues, etc.) |
Heads Up!
This requires you to think through
why you have done something as well as provide reasoning for why you
might do something different in the future. Also, in your answers, be
sure to include others, including agencies and institutions, who might play a role in the planning, instruction,
or assessment for the student or class.
Web Site...
Social and Cultural Issues in Education
|
Before you Go...
1. Plan and organize your time and the materials
you will need to review for the test. Save your textbooks, notes, handouts, etc.
These are invaluable as you prepare for the exam.
2. Pace yourself during the test. You will write
several constructed responses to the cases; watch your time and pace yourself.
Read all instructions carefully to be sure you are doing the exam correctly. For
example, does it count against you if you guess. READ INSTRUCTIONS.
3. Be prepared! The PRAXIS II PLT is a professional licensing exam, not a
second-rate "teacher test." Begin preparation early and approach the test with
a game plan! |
HELP FOR
TAKING THE PRAXIS I! I've found a web page that has free instant results
practice sets to prepare for the PRAXIS I! Take a look:
PRAXIS ON-LINE COURSE
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