preparing for the west-b: feeling confident, finishing strong!
TRANSCRIPT
Today’s Agenda
•Strategies to prepare for the West-B• Practical• Social• Timeline
•Reducing anxiety• Psychological• Practical • Dealing with “what
if’s?”
Practical Strategies: Increase Comfort with the
Content• Know the test objectives • Determine the meaning of
words or phrases in context• Meaning of words using
context clues, syntax, and structural analysis
• Recognize common use of misused words (two/to/too)
• Determine the meaning of figurative/colloquial language in reading
• Identify synonyms or antonyms for words in a reading section
What Tools Can You Use
•Time! Every day something toward the test!
•Review basic textbooks• Eighth grade level•GED test book
•Teacher test books from other states• Praxis-1• TExES
How To Study the Study Guides
• Read directions closely!• Preview section headings• Think of specific questions• Read the chapter
thoroughly• Reflect on the examples—
relate them to your own background/experiences
• Recite and check your understanding
• Review questions—can you answer them without referring to the text?
Studying by Section: Math
•Math section• Flash cards about the
meanings•Write your own math
problems/stories• Look up sample math
tests at the 8th grade level
• Find a teen-ager with a Mohawk
Studying by Section: Writing
•Writing section• Fluency and quality of
discussion• Organization, logical
sequence of ideas• Developing the
argument• Word choice, sentence
structure• Correct mechanics i.e.,
spelling, capitalization, punctuation
Studying by Section: Writing
What are the characteristics of a good friend? In an essay read by a general audience of educated adults, explain
your ideas about what makes someone a good friend. Include details
to support your views.
Some people believe that voter turnout in local, sate, and federal elections would increase if
election day were a national holiday, while others disagree that this would help significantly. In an essay read by a general audience of educated
adults, express your opinion on this issue. Defend your position with reasoned arguments and
supporting examples.
Studying by Section: Reading
Read and comprehend idea
and supporting details
Predict outcomes, draw conclusions
Identify sequence of steps or events Select solutions
Analyze the writer’s stated or implied
purpose
Critical thinking i.e., fallacies, credibility,
facts/opinionsWriter’s purpose
Apply graphs, charts, tables to
reading selections
Studying by Section: Reading
•Reading section• Start reading!• Talk about your
reading to others• Read something and
then ask someone else to read it and then discuss
•Write your own questions
From Those Who Have Done It…“Sign up for the writing sub-test separately.”
“The test is at about the 8th grade level.”
“I made the same mistake of taking all subtests in one day and couldn’t complete the writing part.”
“The reading part and multiple –choice part are mostly common sense.”
“Study the sample answers and the scores that were given in the study guide.”
http://www.pedagonet.com/books/studyguides.htm
Know What to Expect
• Test 8:30 – 1:30
• Four ½ hours long
• Can go to the bathroom
• No food or drink
Take Control of Your Test!
• Look at test questions first• Mark a skipped question to
return to it later• Choose a section to
complete first• Confidence booster• Make sure you skip on the
answer document• Try to eliminate incorrect
answers
• No penalty for incorrect answers; selecting something is better than nothing
• Read thoroughly!• Can read once as an
overview• Once with questions• Work backward—quickly
scan, then review questions, looking for answers in passage
Take Control of Your Body
•Dealing with physical symptoms • Deep breathing• Visualization•Heavy hitter:
Cognitive reciting• Affirmations
Take Control of Your Body
•Fuel your efforts: • Get enough cumulative
sleep• May be too nervous to
sleep the night before• Protein, protein,
protein• Caffeine and/or sugar
only if it doesn’t cause a delayed free-fall
Deal with What If’s?
•What if you don’t pass?• 16 times!!!!• Re-offered certain number of
times per year• You don’t have to ace it, only
pass it•Most people DO end up
passing•No reflection of you as a
teacher•Masses of people struggle with
tests• Help YOUR future students