FTCE Elementary Education K-6 (REA) The Best Test Prep (FTCE Teacher Certification Test Prep) - Softcover

Price Davis Ed.D., Dr. Anita

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0738601462 ISBN 13: 9780738601465

Publisher: Research & Education Association, 2006

Synopsis

 
REA ... Real review, Real practice, Real results.
 
Take your teaching career to the head of the class.
FTCE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION K-6
For Florida Licensure
 
Are you prepared to excel on the FTCE? 
* Get to know the test, how it is scored, and much more.
* Set up a study schedule by following our flexible, results-driven timeline
* Take the Pretest to discover what you know and what you should know
* Use REA's advice to ready yourself for proper study and success
 
Sharpen your knowledge and skills
*  All five sections on the official exam are thoroughly reviewed: Language Arts; Mathematics; Social Science; Science and Technology; Music, Visual Arts, Physical Education, and Health
* Lessons reinforce necessary skills
* Key tutorials enhance specific abilities needed on the test
* Targeted drills increase comprehension and help organize study
 
Practice for real
* Create the closest experience to test-day conditions with the full-length Posttest practice tests
* Chart your progress with full and detailed explanations of all answers
* Boost confidence with test-taking strategies and experienced advice
 
Get to the head of the class!  Get certified!
 
REA books and software have proven to be the extra support teacher candidates need to pass their challenging test for state licensure. Our comprehensive study guides are teacher-recommended and written by educators who have mastered the test and the related program of study.
 
 
 

About this title

From the Back Cover

ARE YOU READY TO TEACH IN FLORIDA?
THEN USE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON THE MARKET TODAY.

FTCE Elementary Education K-6

The Most Complete Subject Review
Everything you need to know for the FTCE Elementary Education K-6 exam, prepared by a leading specialist in teacher education. Comprehensive review chapters completely align with FTCE competencies and cover all subjects and skills tested on the exam.

The Best Practice Exams Available
A diagnostic test and a full-length practice exam based on the official FTCE Elementary Education K-6 test – balanced to include every topic and type of question you can expect on the actual FTCE exam.

Total Explanations of Questions & Answers
Each practice exam comes with detailed feedback on every question. We don’t just say which answers are right – but explain why the others are wrong, so you’ll be prepared on test day!

Proven Test Prep Methods
REA’s focused FTCE Elementary Education content and practical advice have helped millions succeed on their exams. With our step-by-step plan, you can score high on the FTCE and get certified to teach in Florida!

Federal Guidelines for NCLB Compliance
You can expect that candidates with NCLB-compliant credentials will enjoy preferential status in hiring. This means you need to pass the FTCE. Maximize your exam performance and master the FTCE with the unrivaled certification expertise that only REA can offer.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

About This Book

REA's The Best Teachers' Test Preparation for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination: Elementary Education K-6 is a comprehensive guide designed to assist you in preparing to take the Florida Teacher Certification Examination required for teaching at the elementary level, kindergarten through grade 6. To enhance your chances of success in this important step toward your career as a teacher in Florida elementary schools, this test guide:
o Identifies some of the important information and its representation on the FTCE: K-6;
o summarizes the content for a quick review;
o provides sample questions in the actual test format;
o suggests tips and strategies for successfully completing standardized tests;
o presents an accurate and complete overview of the FTCE: K-6;
o provides two practice tests for rehearsal before the test date;
o replicates the format of the FTCE: K-6;
o represents the types and the levels of difficulty of the questions that appear on the test; and
o supplies the correct answer and detailed explanations for each question on the two practice tests; this enables you not only to identify correct answers but also to understand why they are correct and, just as important, why the other answers are incorrect.

The guide is a result of studying many resources. The editors considered the most recent test administrations, other test guides, and professional standards; they also researched information from the Florida Department of Education, professional journals, textbooks, and educators.
In addition to guiding your preparation for certification, recertification, out-of-field certification, or multiple certifications, this REA test prep is a valuable resource for college and university personnel and in-service trainers. They will find the book helpful as they construct help sessions and recommend resources for a test candidate. The guide may even suggest topics or content to include in a college course syllabus.

Although our book is intended to help you succeed on the FTCE: K-6, you should not consider it a replacement for any college course, a duplicate of the test, or a complete source of subject matter to master. Like knowledge itself, the FTCE: K-6 can change.

This book includes the best test preparation materials based on the latest information available from test administrators. The number and distribution of questions can vary from test to test. Accordingly, prospective examinees should pay strict attention to their strengths and weaknesses and not depend on specific proportions of any subject areas appearing on the actual exam.

About the Test

Who Must Take the FTCE: K-6?
Individuals take the FTCE: K-6 to obtain a temporary certificate (nonrenewable and valid for three school years) or a professional certificate (Florida's highest educator certificate, renewable and valid for five school years). To obtain either certificate, a prospective teacher must demonstrate mastery of subject matter knowledge, as indicated by a passing score on the FTCE: K-6.

People taking the test include (1) individuals seeking initial teacher certification in Florida, (2) educators with temporary certificates who want professional certificates, and (3) educators who are making changes in their teaching career. You are eligible to take the test if you are:
o enrolled in a college or university teacher preparation program at the bachelor's or master's degree level,
o teaching with provisional certification, or
o making a change in your teaching career.

What If I Do Not Pass the Test?
If you do not achieve a passing score on the FTCE: K-6, you should not panic! Instead, as a serious test taker, plan to retake the test after waiting at least 31 days. The waiting period enables you to do additional work to improve your score on the next test. Remember, a low score on the FTCE is not an ­indication that you should change your plans about a teaching career.

Who Designs the Test?
The Florida Department of Education develops and administers the FTCE: K-6. The test reflects modifications the Florida Legislature has made to the program of testing required for teacher candidates, who must demonstrate mastery of subject matter in areas covered by the certification.
A committee developed the FTCE: K-6. The specialists on the committee came from within the state and included teachers, supervisors, and college faculty with expertise in the content areas. Recommendations by professional organizations, content area experts, and teachers' unions assisted in the selection of committee members.

The committee identified the information for inclusion on the FTCE: K-6 and validated the content. To develop the test, the committee used reviews of the literature, surveys of and interviews with teachers, pilot tests, and their own expertise. They designed and implemented a validation process to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.

When Should I Take the FTCE: K-6?
Most candidates for teacher certification take the test just before or after graduation. Some institutions have rules about the dates by which students must have taken and passed the examination. Consult the rules of the college where you are enrolled to determine if any stipulations exist.

The Florida Department of Education establishes the tests you must take for certification and the deadlines by which you must complete the tests for certification purposes. For instance, if you have a temporary certificate, it is good for only three years; if you do not take and pass the required FTCE: K-6 within the period that the Florida­ State Department sets, your certificate can lapse.

Typically, there are four or five administrations of the FTCE: K-6 during the academic year, usually on a Saturday,­ at several locations throughout the state of Florida. However, the state often plans four or five supplemental test dates to accommodate test takers whose schedules might conflict with the typical testing schedule because of religious obligations, for instance. In addition, a test candidate who has a disability and cannot take the test under standard testing conditions can request special accommodations. A disabled test taker needs to check with the Florida Department of Education about rules for requesting special arrangements.

Several Web sites, phone numbers, and addresses help you stay up-to-date with information about the FTCE: K-6. You can contact the Florida Department of Education as follows:
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Phone: (850) 488-8198 or (813) 974-2400
Web site: http://www.fldoe.org/

In addition, these Web sites provide useful information:
The FTCE Home Page: http://www.firn.edu/doe/sas/ftcehome.htm
Certification Examinations for Florida Educators: http://www.cefe.usf.edu/

Is There a Registration Fee?
To take the FTCE: K-6, you must pay a registration fee. Payment must be by personal check, money order, cashier's check, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Cash is not accepted. For information on the current test rules, regulations, and fees, contact the Florida Department of Education or go to the Web sites listed above.

How to Use This Book
The following sections outline ways you can use this study guide and take the practice tests to help you prepare for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination: K-6.

How Do I Begin Studying?
1. Review the organization of this test preparation guide.
2. Follow the "FTCE: K-6 Study Schedule" presented at the end of this chapter. The schedule is for a seven-week independent study program, but you can condense or expand the schedule according to the time you have available.
3. Take the Diagnostic Test.
4. Score the Diagnostic Test according to the directions in the section of this chapter titled "Scoring the FTCE: K-6."
5. Review the section of this chapter titled "Format of the FTCE: K-6," which provides the format of items on the sample test and a replica of the real test.
6. Review the suggestions for test taking presented later in this chapter.
7. Pay attention to the information about the competencies and skills, content, and topics on the test.
8. Spend time reviewing those topics that seem to warrant more study.
9. Take the Practice Test and study those competencies that your test scores indicate need more review.
10. Follow the suggestions presented later in this chapter for the day before and the day of the test.

Thoroughly studying the subject area reviews in Chapters 2 through 6 of this guide will reinforce the basic skills you need to do well on the exam. Taking the practice tests under timed, simulated testing conditions will help you become familiar with the format of the FTCE: K-6 and the procedures involved in taking the actual test.

When Should I Start Studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the FTCE: K-6. (Actually, you started preparing when you began your first college course and internship.) The earlier you begin using this guide, however, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not the most effective way to study; it does not give you the time you need to think about the content, review the competencies, and practice the test. It is ­important, however, to review the material one last time the night before the test administration.

Format of the FTCE: K-6
The FTCE: K-6 requires all morning and most of the afternoon to complete; test takers get a lunch break between the two parts. At the start of the test, you will receive two test booklets: one for the morning test (about 135 minutes) and one for the afternoon test (125 minutes). The total test-taking time is, therefore, 260 minutes (4 hours, 20 minutes); adding the tutorial time and the lunch break, the total examination period is 330 minutes. The FTCE: K-6 is the only subject area test that you cannot take on the same day as another test, for instance the Professional Education Test.

You should have plenty of time to complete the FTCE: K-6 during the examination period, but you will need to be aware of the amount of time you spend on each question. You do not want to find you have run out of time before you finish all the questions. Although speed is not very important, a steady pace is necessary when answering the questions. Using the practice tests will help you set your pace.

Each of the roughly 223 questions has four answer options: A, B, C, and D. Test takers will receive answer sheets on which they will mark their responses by filling in the "bubbles." Individual test items require levels of thinking, ranging from simple recall to evaluation, analysis, and problem solving. The questions, however, are all in multiple-choice format. To complete the FTCE: K-6 in the allotted 260 minutes, you should allow yourself about one minute for each test question.

Format of Questions on the FTCE: K-6
There are several types of questions on the FTCE: K-6. The types are (1) scenario; (2) direct question, command, and sentence completion; (3) graphs and maps; (4) graphics; and (5) word problems. Following are definitions of each type of question and examples for practice.

1. Scenario. You must examine a case study, scenario, or problem and answer the question, diagnose the problem, or suggest the best course of action from the provided options.
i. A student describes an analysis of a recent presidential address for the class. The teacher replies, "You have provided us with a most interesting way of looking at this issue!"
The teacher is using
(A) simple positive response.
(B) negative response.
(C) redirect.
(D) academic praise.
ii. While waiting for students to formulate their responses to a question, a student blurts out an answer. The teacher should
(A) ignore the answer entirely.
(B) respond immediately to the student's answer.
(C) silently acknowledge the student's response and address the response after someone else has answered the question.
(D) move on to another question without comment.

2. Direct question, sentence completion, and command. The examinee must choose the option that best answers the question, best completes the sentence, or best responds to the command given. With the direct question, there is actually a question mark as punctuation in the question stem. The examinee answers the question.
iii. Which of the following is a trait of effective professional development?
(A) A continuous plan of lifelong learning
(B) Activities developed solely by the principal
(C) A one-hour stand-alone workshop
(D) A totally theory-based program
iv. What is one way of incorporating nonperformers into a discussion?
(A) Ask a student to respond to a previous student's statement.
(B) Name a student to answer a question.
(C) Only call on students with their hands raised.
(D) Allow off-topic conversations.

3. With the sentence completion, there is a portion of the sentence omitted. The test-taker chooses the best answer to finish the statement declaratory sentence.
v. Teachers convey emotion through
(A) body language, eye contact, and verbal cues.
(B) verbal contact and cues.
(C) voice levels.
(D) the way they listen.
4. With the command, the word you is understood. The test-taker is given a direction to follow.
vi. Identify the type of traditional literature that serves to explain why a phenomena or phenomenon occur(s).
(A) Fable
(B) Fairy tale
(C) Myth
(D) Legend
5. Graph or map. Identify or interpret a graph or map by choosing the response that best answers the question.
vii. The following graph shows sales totals for each region of the state in thousands of dollars; the graph shows the totals by yearly quarters.
The region with the largest total sales for the year is
(A) the east.
(B) the north.
(C) the west.
(D) the south.

6. Graphics. Choose the response that best answers a question about a number line, a geometric figure, a chart, a graph of lines or curves, or a table-but not the typical maps and graphs of the previous question type.
viii. Troubled by what seems to be an increase in gang-type activity among increasingly younger children, Bill wants to find out what his students think and know about gangs. He wants to learn the most he can about the students' thinking on this topic in the least amount of time. He wants all students to have the chance to share what they think and know, yet he also wants to maximize interaction among students. The students will spend the entire morning reading, talking, and writing a group report about this subject. Which of the following seating arrangements would best help Bill meet his objectives?
(A) The upper-left diagram
(B) The lower-left diagram
(C) The upper-right diagram
(D) The lower-right diagram

7. Word problem. Apply mathematical principles to solve a real-world problem.
ix. Examine the following addition problems worked by an elementary school student. Analyze what error pattern the student's work is exhibiting. If the student worked the problem 88 ± 39 using the error pattern exhibited here, what answer would the student give?
74 35 67 56
+ 56 + 92 + 18 + 97
1,210 127 715 1,413
(A) 127 (C) 51
(B) 131 (D) 1,117

Answers
i.Academic praise (D) is composed of specific­ statements that give information about the value of the object or about its implications. A simple positive response (A) does not provide any information other than the praise, such as the example, "That's a good ­answer!" There is nothing negative (B) about the teacher's response. A redirect (C) occurs when a ...

About this edition

• Publisher: Research & Education Association
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0738601462
• ISBN 13: 9780738601465
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384