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Strategy #1

Study: I used the Mometrix Media study book (big yellow book), the Cliffs EC-4 book (it covered everything and was very, very helpful even though it was only through 4th grade) and certifyteacher.com practice tests. I read through both books and kept a notebook full of everything I didn\'t know or needed to study more. I also took all the practice tests in the books plus a bunch of the online practice tests. This study method worked great for me.

Test: The actual test was a little harder than I expected. There were a bunch of questions that I was not prepared for and had to just take an educated guess. Language Arts is the biggest portion of the test, but I would also be very prepared for the social studies/history portion. I passed the test the first time and I studied pretty much every day for a over a month. It\'s a very long test and it covers a lot....study!

Strategy #2

Study: In addition to the free, downloadable EC-6 manuel, I purchased REA's TExES EC-6 study guide. I found the information to be extensive while studying, but valuable on test day. Included with REA are 2 full-length practice exams, paper and Computer based. Even though I missed many questions, they give the correct answer and for the majority of questions an explanation of why it is correct and why the others are incorrect. Studying that information added to my understanding of what ended up being on the exam. I passed the first time, so I think these were a good combination of materials.

Test: It was harder only because the questions are unexpected. You have to have a very broad knowledge of the information. Some of what I focused on wasn't even on the exam, and areas I didn't think I needed to know were. Every domain is important and will be covered, so don't slack on anything.

Strategy #3

Study: I studied using a EC-6 book I purchased from Barnes & Nobles. Honestly, I probably only opened it 3 times since I owned it. The test has 140 questions. 40 of them are Language Arts related. Make sure you study graphemes, morphemes, stages of language and writing development. I highly recommend studying for this section. While it seems like some of this common sense, it really requires at minimum a basic understanding of language arts.

Test: There is a math section which requires you to be able to do basic math. Be able to do calculations with only a pencil and paper. No calculator allowed. The social studies section was a killer. I did well luckily. Make sure you know your goverment ex: legislative, executive, and judicial branches. You have to know a little world geography. I was asked a question about Africa. You will also have to answer a question about the amendments. I found this section the most difficult b/c these are things that we learned years ago. The questions are random and not related. Science was fairly easy. Make sure you know about basic lab practices. Safety is always the most important thing!! Physical education, art, and music weren't too bad. Also, know what is appropriate for certain grades. You are given a grade and have to pick the most appropriate means to do a lesson. Groups and cooperative learning are good. If you see something stating make student do something alone, it probably isn't the correct answer. Remember to think student-centered (what's best for the student). I think there were a few questions about ELL students (English language learners). Be well rested. The language arts section requires a lot of reading. You have 5 hours (if I remember correctly). It won't take you that long. Go back over the questions you had to guess on. Reading some of the other questions may jog your memory. Good luck. I took it on a Tuesday and got my results that Friday (computer based).

Strategy #4

Study: I studied the free study manual from the state and took a Region 10 study session. I failed by 1 point the first time and passed by 22 points the next time. Read the Competencies in the study guide. Know decoding, progress of the young reader, think about Blooms taxonomy and inclusion. Consider how the teacher guides the student to higher order thinking. Breathe and Pray!

Test: I took it on the computer on 3/22/10. I liked the computer better. The first time I did not go back and change answers and missed it by 1 point. This time I changed 5 or 6 answers but still passed by 22 points. Many, Many times there are 2 very good answers. Just read the question 2 or 3 times and pick the one that fits to the question best. If the prompt mentions oral and written but the actual question only asks how to improve written skill don't get confused and pick an answer that speaks to both. Pick only the written. It is a matter of really reading the question and answer to find the best fit. I thought I failed it again and was surprised to see a passed score. Don't worry if you are not sure, pick the higher order thinking. On Math there are only a few real problems the rest is situational. On History know Tx History and Civil War. On Science know electricity, food chain and procedural (how to teach) or What is being taught. Good Luck!!

Strategy #5

Study: I used "The ultimate guide to the ec-4 generalist" (Diane Bauer and Janet Scott) and it was VERY helpful for the language arts and science sections. I also looked into the texes free preparation manual online (read the competencies) and reviewed my own notes from the texas teachers training, specially Bloom's Taxonomy.

Test: Be sure to study: Texas History & American Government Bill of Rights Oral language & literacy development Refresh your basic math calculations. Keep in mind the students age and try to find out the taxonomy level involved in the question. Don't be shy about spending the whole five hours that you get, you do need to read over and over again.

Strategy #6

Study: I found the downloadable information useless. It only listed the compentencies, but didn't give specific examples. I purchased a study guide and found it most useful. There is no real good way to study for the test as there are different variations. My suggestions is to know the language arts section inside and out. The math is pretty straight forward, mostly workable problems. Social studies and science sections have questions from your childhood. I could have never been able to study for each question. You would have to know all TX and US histroy from K-6th grade, and the same with science. The fine arts section was small and simple.

Test: I took the paper test. I wanted to be able to flip pages and write on the test booklet. I found underlining key words in the question helpful. Many questions were age specific so I would underline the age or the grade level of the teacher to be sure I understood. I also crossed out answers I knew were not correct and that was helpful. Keep calm and check your answers before bubbling the answer document. It took three weeks and two days to receive my score. I passed!

Strategy #7

Study: I used the free online practice tests from the Texes website and these message boards. I don't think it's necessary to purchase any books.

Test: The test was about what I expected it would be. The biggest section is Reading. Realize that the questions are not like Reading TAKS questions, they are much more complex. The questions over vocabulary are things you learned in school you just didn't know they had names. Here are a list of some of those words: syntax, semantics, phonological awareness, Alphabetic Principle (multiple questions), know the 4 reading stages and the ages they cover, the stages of spelling and the ages for those, decode, onset and rimes (be able to give examples), informal reading inventory, miscues, print awareness, CVCe patterns. A good thing to remember for this section is to pick the answer that makes the teacher do the most work and reflects a perfect world scenerio. The best way to study for this section is do the sample test from Generalist EC-4. The message board there has other good terms to study. It was the hardest section for me. The math is a lot harder than the sample questions on the practice test. Make sure you know how to subtract a percent from a number like 15% off of 24. Know the definitions of terms like communitive, additive, etc. Know how to add and subtract fractions. Also, know how to simplify a fraction, for example 6/12 is also 1/2. For this section I would look over the math on the Generalist 4-8 practice test. For Social Studies, know a bunch about Texas history. Know the Texas Constitution and how it is different from the U.S. one. Review the main Indian tribes that were in the U.S. I had a question about problems in Africa and water currents, but other than that now too many over world history. Science was a really hard section for me. There were several Physics questions. Also, know about the weather. Be able to turn on the weather channel and understand everything the person is saying and what it means. Again, I would suggest looking at the Generalist 4-8 Science part for extended study. For Health/PE/Music, I would try to understand the basics of reading sheet music. Know how important living a healthy lifestyle is. This was the easiest section for me.

Strategy #8

Study: I used the study workbook from the Texes website, Texes 191 Generalist EC-6 by Luis Rosado, and Pass the Texes Generalist EC-6 by Joe Kortz. I bought the Rosado book the day before my exam at Border's because I had already read through Kortz's book and didn't feel ready. I passed the exam by 6 points, but if I had to take it again, I would have taken the diagnostic and practice exams in Rosado's book. Then find your weakness and simply focus on that.

Test: The difficulty of the test was just what I expected. It only took me a little over 2 hours to finish the exam.

Strategy #9

Study: I didn't study much because I had previously taken the Generalist EC-4 test 8 months ago and passed it. I reviewed the ELA terms and basic Science for this test. For the EC-4, I studied the Cliff's Notes EC-4 book, which I loved.

Test: The test was pretty much nothing like the state practice test. It wasn't easier or harder, just different. I would recommend reading each question a couple of times, try to keep in mind the grade level that each question is asking about, and try to pick out key words and answers to help determine the best answer.

Strategy #10

Study: I used the test prep that can you can download for free, and I looked through all the links provided for other study guides. I focused on the English/Language Arts section. The biggest help I had with understanding the big concepts was watching Super Why on PBS kids with my 15 month old. That show is structured exactly by the book for emigrant literacy instruction. I wouldn't do anything differently because I passed on the first try.

Test: The computer-based test is well organized by each subject, so it allowed me to gather my thoughts before proceeding. Overall, I wouldn't say that the test was easy, but it wasn't really hard either. My suggestion is to try not to worry about it. I found that I had managed to be emotionally neutral about passing or failing, which really cleared my head so I could focus on each question and give it my full attention.

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