Product Description
BECOMING A MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN TEXAS helps students master the competencies that will be tested on the new Pedagogy and Professsional Responsibilities (PPR) Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES), but it is more than just a test preparation guide: it provides a comprehensive introduction to the core topics that every Texas middle school and high school teacher must be familiar with, including adolescent development, how to meet the needs of a c… More >>
Becoming a Middle School or High School Teacher in Texas
Tags: adolescent development, Becoming, competencies, High, high school teacher, Middle, pedagogy, ppr, School, Teacher, test preparation guide, Texas, texas examination of educator standards, texes
#1 by z hayes on April 25, 2010 - 7:07 pm
In preparing for the TEXES PPR, I used a couple of prep books, and of all of them, this was the most comprehensive in terms of information. It is also well-organized and addresses all four domains. Under each domain, the competencies are addressed, e.g.:
Domain I (Designing Instruction and Assessment to Promote Student Learning):
Competency 1
Competency 2
Competency 3
Competency 4
Domain II (Establishing a Positive Classroom Climate)
Competency 5
Competency 6
Domain III (Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment)
Competency 7
Competency 8
Competency 9
Competency 10
Domain IV (Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities)
Competency 11
Competency 12
Competency 13
Each chapter provides an in-depth discussion of key terms correlating with the domains and competencies. For example, Chapter 1 discusses the theories of growth and development as relating to middle school and high school students. Each chapter also ends with a summary of main ideas, a glossary, suggested activities, practice PPR questions, web links, and references. The theories and core competencies covered are extremely detailed, making this a must-have resource in preparing for the 4-8 and 8-12 PPR exam. I would advise allocating between 1-2 months in order to gain the maximum benefit from this book and in preparing for the PPR exam. The book can also be used as an invaluable resource for beginning middle school/ high school teachers and educators in general.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Delirium on April 25, 2010 - 7:28 pm
This book gives the most comprehensive preparatory review that I have seen. I am getting ready for TEXES, and I bought just about everything Amazon has on the subject. Most of the books provide a very brief summary of the competencies and go straight to the practice exams. Not this one! In fact, there is no practice exam anywhere in the book, but each chapter (organized based on competencies) has review questions at the end. Each competency is explained with application to middle and high school students. The book has definitions, examples, extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter and suggested activities that you can do in order to master the concepts. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I have been out of school for years, and I was looking to something that would give me a nice refresher course in Pedagogy. But I also wanted to have more in-depth, detailed explanation of terms and concepts, and I got it here.
Start with this book if you are getting ready for your TEXES, and then move on to the other study guides. This is your textbook!
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Stefanie Holiman on April 25, 2010 - 9:36 pm
If you are serious about becoming a great teacher, then you should read this book. It is not just a study prep but a great book on pedagogy, laws related to teaching, testing theories, development theories, discipline techniques….and so much more.
I just finished a Master’s degree in Education and I’m still learning so much from this book. It has complete and in-depth chapters on each of the 13 competencies and also a final chapter on test taking skills for the 4-8, 8-12 PPR test.
This is the kind of reference you can use even after you pass the test!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by D. R. MORRIS on April 25, 2010 - 10:31 pm
If you are in an alternative certification program, this is a MUST have to start your career as a teacher. Wong’s book is a must-have, as is this one. My first year of teaching, I used this book so frequently, it’s become a bible to me.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by A. Smith on April 26, 2010 - 12:29 am
This book is one of a very few that gives valuable information about the PPR TExES test for middle and high school teachers. It specifically deals with each of the 13 competencies and provides lots of samples and review questions. It’s definitely worth the investment, something I can’t say about most test-prep books. This one actually has information about good teaching, not just test info.
Rating: 4 / 5