Country Reports

Well, we just collected reports from students on a country. Some of these were only ok. I mean some kids just handed in with a type written page or two.

Then some other students went out and turned in awesome work. They had really good looking presentation folder printing. They had graphs. They had pictures. They had everything.

I hate to say it. I do not think I ever turned in such good looking reports like I received today. I had the simple cover sheet.

Now I need to get to grading these things.

Other Schools

One thing about education and taking a class with other student teachers is I hear from others. There is one woman who is working at a catholic school. She considers this type of education to be a catholic gifts to the world.

When looking at history the catholics did maintain education through the middle ages as the monastery became the center of education. This is good. though we did get many priests out of the whole deal.

I am glad that the high education traditions survives to this day.

Saying thanks

When teaching, or anywhere else for that matter, it is nice to show gratitude. I had been sending cards. One of the things I found out is that not everyone checks their mail everyday. So I need a new solution of printable greeting cards. This way I can survive in the r-world instead of the e-world.

Now I can just leave a card in the mailbox or somewhere. It is amazing how much a card can change people. So when I need to reach someone or maybe just to say, a small thanks . . . cards are soooooo helpful.

Lunch Time

Being a student teacher is a weird position. When you go out to lunch with the other teachers . . . they all have business cards for the dish. You know the dish the one sitting there asking for a donation of the business card. The one where the you can place your business card and maybe get a free lunch.

Such a grrrrr. I do not have a card. No chance of winning a free lunch. Through who really needs the free lunch . . . me. Well soon enough I will have some cards to drop in the bucket.

Makes you want to scream.

Student teaching is hard. This is a warning to all of you out there who are thinking about it. You need to take care of yourself.

Exercise: okay this is MN and was -17 this morning so no exercise for me.

Sleep: Get it. However, we have to admit that having some Energy Pills does help when you have to keep moving.

Eat Well: eat your meals esp. breakfast. Lunch really helps too.

Take a day off: clear your calendar and get out and relax, watch a really dumb movie.

Relationships: if you are married take care of your spouse. Though they will have to know that this is a tough time. Dating - I would only recommend casual dating.

Breathe: yes stop and take a breath.

Time of Grief

One of the questions I have as a teacher is what do we do when something bad happens? This was shown to me this week as a student in the lower grades, her grandfather died.

Now, I do not know the student at all. However, what if one of my students grandparent died? Should I look for flowers, or sympathy gifts or cards or what. If it was a parent I would go to the viewing and send a card for sure. However what about a grandparent.

This bothers me because it is not covered in any of the teaching books. Not covered in classes. I would like to know.

Teacher Jailed for Computer Use

This is really important for teachers and teachers to be.


Teacher goes to jail for computers

Remembering

When wanting to teach and be successful, I remember back to high school. I wonder how much Mr. Burns shook his head. He was my graphic arts teacher. I really enjoyed the class. We took pictures, developed photos, did business card printing, printed notepads and many other fun items.

The bad news is that most of what I learned in that class is now dated.

Anyone can now do publishing and printing. We all have digital cameras and programs that can edit pictures. We can even print the business cards with the right paper. So I wonder . . . is that class still there?

Do you look like a pro?

I cannot believe that it happened again. Why is it that teachers seem to have the least professional business cards out there. I was talking with someone and asked for an email address (for professional purposes) and he gave me some half way thrown together card.

Let’s be blunt. Teachers are pros, they are highly trained, work hard and deserve good looking and professional business cards!

Well, I hope that teachers can have some . . . if for no other reason then to thrown in the bowl for a free lunch.

Teaching and Learning

I am currently at the start of student teaching. So far this is not to hard. However, I started teaching rather quickly. I have learned more about Canada as we are going though Canada. I was surprised about the area of Nunavat and seeing how differing the area is with all the tundra and subarctic area. I have to think that the Inuit may want to have Orlando Rental right about now. Right now it is -22 with a -50 windchill all I can say is Buuuuurrrrrrrrrr.

I am always amazed at how much I learn while teaching.

Finished Praxis

With all the Praxis tests finished. And now finally with all the scores received, I am ready for a break and I am thinking of taking a vacation and maybe find some of the Orlando Villas that are available.

When I look back at all the tests that I have done I am amazed.

Praxis 0941 US and World History
Praxis 0930 Governments
Praxis 0081 Social Science General
Praxis 0084 Pedagogy for Social Science
The PPLT

One of things I really learned is that the 84 and the PPLT require a lot of writing. They really need to make a computer based testing.

Praxis 84 Social Studies

Praxis 84 thoughts for those who have not taken the test.

Buy the study guide

This test is just like the study guide. I mean exactly like it. The topics vary however, are just as broad as the study guide.

When I walked in I had planned on doing American History and Government. I ended up doing World History and Economics.

I know last testing they had for American History,
"Civil Rights Movement"
This time it was "Reform Movements of 1870-1910"

So you know those will not be on the test again anytime soon.

Many people have complained about the one hour time period being to short. It took me about 40 minutes to do the test, however, I know much about the Russian Revolution (World History) and the stock market.

The economics section took me about 15 minutes to do.

I took 5 minutes to think of the topics and gather thoughts and make notes. I then took about 15 minutes to write the answers.

This left twenty minutes. I reread my answers, changed a few things and clarified a few things.

I then had 11 minutes left.
Went to get a drink of water. 10 minutes

Reread my answers again.

6 minutes left.

Since I was the only test taker in the room, I told the proctor I was done. She read the directions, collected the test and we walked out chatting as we left.

I feel that I did well on the test.

I did not do any special studying of the test other than reading the ETS Study guide, now for sale on Amazon marketplace.

I do not think there is anything extra I could do to actually study for this test. Either you know it or you do not. I would have croaked if the World History was on China and have no clue what I would have done for history.

Well these are my thinks on the test.

Crossposted on my Praxis Blog

Student Teaching

Or as called by WGU . . . Demonstration Teaching.

This has bee fun so far. Odd to hear how people are doing.

Most student teachers observe the first week or so. They will work themselves in and help in the classroom.

I have heard of people starting to teach after the first week full time.

Me ? i was teaching day one starting at 7th period.

Praxis 0941 US and World History

The 0941 Test is a long test, like all the Praxis tests, and requires a solid understanding of both US and World History.

There is a study guide in the files section at the bottom of the files section.


With this test there are no short-cuts.

There are many many resources for the student

I like the Spark Notes published by Barnes and Noble. You can read them online for free.

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/


The digital history link is a good source

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

Make sure you read the textbook and as I recall there are some quizzes:

http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_craig_herwrldciv_6/0,6520,367152-,00.html


Here is a basic timeline with a couple of quizzes

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/a0001198.html

Here is an online text for some world history

http://www.bartleby.com/67/

BASIC PRAXIS TIPS
When taking the Praxis tests take your time. Remember that you can write in the book, do so. Mark down questions that you are unsure of. Go back and check those question. Remember most questions you can eliminate answers, usually you can get the answer down to a 50-50 guess.

I found that I had enough time to go back through and recheck all the answers (except the 081). When I went through a second time I marked all the questions as:

Correct
50-50
No Clue

These numbers can give you some reassurance that you did okay. See some of my other posts as to ways that they may score these tests.

Thoughts on Praxis 0930 Government

Sort of . . .

1. Remember and understand the basics of Marx. <- I had three questions on Marx and they were pretty obvious.

2. Read the wikipedia articles on the EU and Parliamentary systems. Two or three questions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union

3. Use the Thinkwell. I used ONLY the thinkwell and no books.

REALLY IMPORTANT:
4. Read http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/0930.pdf

When you read this document carefully you will notice that 52% of the test is about

"United States Government: Federal,
State, and Local Institutions"

Think of that . . . over 1/2 the test on this one section.

This 52% correlates to mostly Disc 5 on ThinkWell. The study guide in the links or file section lists where each item is.

I went over this 52% at least three times. I did the rest of it once. I passed the test without much problem. Do not get hung up on the all the court cases. Know Maybury v. Madison and Brown v. Topeka BOE. I had a basic idea on the rest.