Excerpt
ABOUT THIS BOOK If youre looking to secure certification as an English teacher at any level, youll find that many states require one or another of the Praxis II English Language, Literature, and Composition Assessments (Test Codes 0041, 0042, 0043, and 0049). Think of this book as your toolkit to pass the test(s). It will help take the mystery and anxiety out of the testing process by equipping you not only with the nuts and bolts, but also, ultimately, with the confidence to succeed alongside your peers across the United States.
We at REA have put a lot of thinking into this, and the result is a book that pulls together all the critical information you need to know to pass the Praxis II English Language, Literature, and Composition tests. Let us help you fill in the blanksliterally and figuratively! We will provide you with the touchstones that will allow you to do your very best come test day and beyond. In this guide, REA offers our customarily in-depth, up-to-date, objective coverage, with test-specific modules devoted to targeted review and realistic practice exams complete with the kind of detail that makes a difference when youre coming down the homestretch in your preparation. We also include a quick-view answer key and competency-categorized progress chart to enable you to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. ABOUT THE PRAXIS SERIES
Praxis is Educational Testing Services (ETS) shorthand for Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers. The Praxis Series is a group of teacher licensing tests that ETS developed in concert with states across the nation. There are three categories of tests in the series: Praxis I, Praxis II, and Praxis III. Praxis I includes the paper-based Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) and the Praxis I Computer-Based Tests (CBT). Both versions cover essentially the same subject matter. These exams measure basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills and are often a requirement for admission to a teacher education program.
Praxis II embraces Subject Assessment/Specialty Area Tests, of which the Praxis II English Assessments (0041, 0042, 0043, and 0049) are a part. The Praxis II examinations cover the subject matter that students typically study in teacher education courses such as language acquisition, school curriculum, methods of teaching, and other professional development courses. In most teacher-training programs, students take these tests after having completed their classroom training, the course work, and practicum. The Praxis II English Assessments (0041, 0042, 0043, and 0049) cover the content areas of reading and language arts, literature, and composition and rhetoric. This study guide will deal with each of these broader content areas and with the subareas such as are found in English.
Who Takes the Test?
Most people who take the Praxis II English Assessments (0041, 0042, 0043, and/or 0049) are seeking initial licensure. Twenty-eight states require both the English Literature Content Knowledge (0041) and the Middle School English Language Arts (0049) tests to teach middle school English. Seven states require both the Secondary School Language Arts (0041) and the English Language Literature and Composition: Essays (0042) exams; two statesUtah and Arizonarequire three of the exams, although Utah notes that in some circumstances all four may be required and to check with the licensing authority. Six states require both the Secondary School Language Arts (0041) and the English Language Literature and Composition: Pedagogy (0043) tests to teach English and additionally require the Middle School English Language Arts (0049) test to teach middle school English. We concluded that there is a significant reason to include the 0041 and 0049 exams in the same book. And our decision to include the 0042 and 0043 exams is supported by the fact that 14 states require the 0041, the 0049, and either the 0042 or the 0043.
You should check with your states education agency to determine which Praxis examination(s) you should take; the ETS Praxis website (www.ets.org/praxis/) and registration bulletin may also help you determine the test(s) you need to take for certification. You should also consult your education program for its own test requirements. Remember that colleges and universities often require Praxis examinations for entry into programs, for graduation, and for the completion of a teacher certification program. These requirements may differ from the baseline requirements the state has for teacher certification. You will need to meet both sets of requirements.