TExES- The Last Obstacle in the way of Becoming a Certified Teacher

I took the TExES Generalist Exam this past Friday and am so glad to have it behind me! Well, I will technically find out if I passed next week, but I certainly have high hopes! It was so stressful! It took me 3 hours and 58 minutes. I constantly wondered whether the test was measuring my knowledge or my endurance. For those of you taking this test in the future make sure to bring a granola bar and some water; they saved me 2 hours in.

The TExES is such an interesting exam because all subject areas (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Health, Art, and Music) are covered extensively. Literally, any fact from these subjects since the beginning of time is fair game. This makes it so challenging and quite obnoxious because it is the only test, other than the PPR, standing in the way of becoming certified to teach. Being as how we absolutely need to get Super Star teachers in the classroom to turn our failing education system around, it is critical we choose the best and smartest way to study for this exam and get it over with. Therefore, I'm really interested in talking to anyone who has taken the exam so please feel free to share studying tips here on my blog.

I studied quite a bit for this test. However, it seems there is really no way to be fully prepared for a test that has an infinite amount of potential content. Most of us don't have the luxury of dedicating months to sitting down and studying for this exam. Most of us have jobs, are going to school, and are always on the go. How then can we study more effectively?

I think I have found the ultimate solution to this, but first let me share with you how I studied. I bought a few different books which all came in the same format: hundreds of pages filled with information in the front and a practice test in the back. The first go around, I read all of the information in the front and then took the test afterwards. This is exactly how these books are intended to be used. I thought it was helpful, but it was extremely time consuming and I became way too dependent on referencing the text each time I was stumped by a question. Again, with such limited time to sit down and study from a heavy book, this didn't seem to make the most sense. I decided when diving into the second book I'd jump right into the practice questions and only use the front of the book to review content specific to questions I got wrong. I liked this much better because it was a much more effective use of my time and I quickly knew the areas I needed to brush up on. It was also great because I was able to test myself on content from all subject areas in a brief amount of time. It became perfectly clear to me that the more practice tests I took, the better prepared I would be.

I then took it upon myself to begin writing my own test questions typical of those seen on the exam. I actually had some friends join me in this process to create a study bank we could all utilize. You'd be surprised at how fun it actually was to do this. What’s exciting about this test is that we have all learned the material at some point in our early education, now it’s just a matter of recalling all of those specific facts we have long forgotten. Who can still remember the names of all the Native American tribes, where they were from, and what they were known for? I know I couldn't until I began writing these questions! Well, I'll let everyone know if my studying philosophy worked out next week and I will deliver a further update on my solution to how we can study more effectively.

Til' then, Buggin' out!

I elect Ms. Nikki Smith for Mentor of the Year

On my first day of Field Experience III I walked into Sigler Elementary in Plano and immediately knew I was going to love the school.  It was completely brand new.  High ceilings, open classrooms, friendly staff... it felt perfect.  I was then lucky enough to be paired with the most wonderful 1st grade teacher around, Ms. Nikki Smith.

One of my most memorable moments in her classroom was during a science lesson on interactions.  Ms. Smith presented a slideshow full of pictures of diverse people and animals and asked the students to make observations based on what they saw. From observing Ms. Smith's class on a regular basis, I was used to responses that were very creative and out of the ordinary, so naturally, my expectations were very high.  However, that day, a young student named Macie simply blew me away.

The picture was of a colorful frog on a limb, set with a black background.  In response to this photo, Macie raised her hand and nonchalantly stated "The frog must be nocturnal because he is awake at night." Wow!  I was amazed and felt so proud!  I am CERTAIN that I did not know what nocturnal meant when I was in 1st grade.  Ms. Smith's class is filled with the brightest, sweetest, and most energetic children I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with.

Today was my last day of Field Experience at Sigler Elementary and I realized more than ever how much I love Ms. Smith and her students.  I actually failed to mention to Ms. Smith that today would be my last day because in all honesty, I wasn't even aware.  So, as I began to make my way to say my goodbyes, I broke the sad news to Ms. Smith.  She immediately rose from her seat and gave me the tightest, most sincere hug and told her class to come line up to give Ms. Christina a hug goodbye, because today is her last day.

I hugged them all and whispered in their ears that I believed in them and would miss them so much.  They all shouted "We will miss you!"  Some cried, and one even carried me! I couldn't believe how much it hurt inside to walk away from that classroom, and I know that even though Field Experience is now over, I will continually visit Ms. Smith's 1st grade class as long as she lets me.

I also got an invite to their end of the year party!! :)  Buggin' out!

Way to go Maine!

I am so glad to see that some schools are headed in the right direction.  This is awesome! Way to go Maine!  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/09/maine-ipad2-kindergarten_n_846948.html

Buggin' out!

Jorge & Alexa Narvaez

I recorded this at SXSW this year.  Could this father and daughter be any cuter?  I hope they continue singing together for a VERY long time! Buggin' out! :)

The Future of Learning through Mobile Devices

Check out this great blog post by The Future of Education!

http://blog.futureofed.org/index.php/2011/04/04/mobile-learning-just-makes-sense/

Stay tuned for an upcoming glog on the phenomenal session The Future of Education had at SXSW!  I'll make you feel better about missing it and share all the highlights.

Buggin' out!

Online Bulletin Boards

If you haven't yet, you must check out glogster.com.  It is a tool that essentially allows you to make online bulletin boards.  Think about bulletin boards in elementary schools.  They are powerful and relay important messages in colorful and meaningful ways.  Why do we use them?  We use them to engage students and teach concepts using visuals and minimal text.  This method makes learning fun for students and easy to comprehend.

Now, with glogster we can easily create these bulletin boards online.  I have recently began attending forums and panels on education and technology.  My glogs will represent the highlights discussed during these question and answer sessions and be provided for all to see! Enjoy!

One of my favorite panels this year at SXSW was Designing Stuff Kids Will Love and Use
Buggin' Out!

Geoffrey Canada and Margaret Spellings

I just attended an amazing question and answer session by Geoffrey Canada and Margaret Spellings at SMU.  This forum is a part of the SMU Tate Lecture Series.

Check out this glog to see how education in America needs to change!
Education Advocates

Buggin' out!

A bumper sticker with purpose

Buggin' out

What is your teaching philosophy?

A friend of mine seeking a teaching position recently had her first interview.  One of the questions she found most difficult was "What is your teaching philosophy?"  Wide-eyed I wondered how I would respond to such a question myself.

I certainly like that this question is asked of prospective teachers. It requires that a person decides quickly what is most important to him or her when it comes to making the greatest impact on students in a meaningful way.  How will you address all types of learners?  How will you ensure that every student learns to the best of his or her capabilities?  How will you help struggling students achieve their goals and how will you challenge those that are more advanced than your average learners?  All of these questions should be considered in developing a teaching philosophy.

You can see that narrowing this down into just a few sentences for an interview can be difficult, as a more direct and concise response would be most effective.  Regurgitating all the knowledge you have on teaching methodologies may be tempting.   However, I feel if I were an interviewer, a convoluted and lengthy response may lead me to believe that this person knows a great deal about teaching, but I'd wonder, where is his or her passion?

In Master's programs, such as the one I am currently in at SMU, we are taught to be exceptional teachers and leaders in our field.  We are taught everything we need to know about teaching and are given ample opportunity to apply what we have learned in real classrooms.  Without a doubt in my mind, every teacher SMU produces, is among the best.  Still, there is only so much one can learn in school.  School provides the resources we need to become experts in our field, but it is up to us to take time to self reflect and discover what we care most about.  Many believe teaching is a calling, it is not something learned.  Others believe the opposite.  Regardless of which side you are on, it is important to realize what drives and inspires you most.  Finding that core passion will make you happiest and your work will be a direct reflection of how much you care. Buggin' out!

Thank you Mom!

My wonderful mother surprised me with this adorable little ladybug I had intentions of keeping forever.  Well, those intentions were short-lived and she was DELICIOUS! Buggin' out!

Meet the Ladybug

Good afternoon everyone! I am in Austin, TX wrapping up my first SXSW experience. I participated fully during SXSW Interactive and am now dabbling in SXSW Music. This has been an absolutely amazing experience and I have met so many great people.

Before I go on and share with you all that I learned this past week, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am from Laredo, a small border town in Texas. If you are immediately thinking about the dangers occurring across the border in Mexico, I don't blame you. For me though, Laredo is home and I can say with complete honesty that I have never felt unsafe there. I had the most terrific upbringing a girl could ask for, full of limitless opportunities and amazing friends and family. After graduating from J.B. Alexander High School I attended CU Boulder and studied Psychology and Italian. If you have not visited Boulder, you must. It is one of the most beautiful and serene places I have ever been.

Upon graduation in 2009 Laredo was deemed the largest US city without a bookstore; it was heartbreaking. Education has always been a passion of mine and at this point, I decided I needed to make a difference in children's lives. Now, I am a Masters student at SMU in Dallas studying education. With my Masters degree, I will also leave the program a certified teacher. This brings me to my newest challenge today. Stay tuned to find out what that challenge is specifically and what I'm doing to take control. Buggin' out! :)

Ladybug Blog is on the air!

Here are the necessary links to contribute to Ladybug Apps' very first project! Glad to have you on board!
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