Comments for Engineering PhD Mom Blog

Comment on New plan by Mike

Mike — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:43:09 +0000

Dear PhD Blog Mom,

Hi. Please E-mail me if/when you can. Here’s my E-mail address… I can’t figure out how to contact you. I’m looking to take the TFE test in November and bypass those silly education classes. Any hints on passing the TFE would be most appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

-Mike
[Email removed]

Comment on New plan by Mike

Mike — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:22:07 +0000

Hi. Sorry I’m clueless and I don’t know how to E-mail you, but I’m very curious about your experience with the TFE (Teaching Foundations Exam). I have a Master’s in EE and I’m also working towards a math teaching credential and thinking about “Teacher Credential U” that requires a passing score on the TFE. HELP!!! Any hints/tips/tricks to take pass the TFE would be most appreciated!!! I took/passed CSET 1&2, studying for 3 right now…

-Mike

Comment on New plan by Mike

Mike — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:28:32 +0000

Hi. I didn’t see an E-mail address for you. Please E-mail me. I’m very curious about your career changing experiences (EE to math teacher). Very similar paths… Thanks!

Comment on Alternative Teacher Certification paths in California by phdmom

phdmom — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:20:25 +0000

Good luck on the CSET exams. With an MA in Math (hopefully recent), you should do fine, but I will warn you that time may be a problem with doing all three in one sitting. I’ve always been one to finish tests early and I took all five hours on just I and II when I took them in March. But it has been over 10 years since I took my last math course in college and I also spent lots of time on a couple of CR questions that were bothering me. Aim for “OK” rather than perfection on your CR questions and watch the clock carefully and you should be ok. A pass is a pass, whether it’s +++ or ++++ on the score report (which nobody but you sees).

The most valuable textbook I used for studying for the TFE was “Educational Psychology” by Woolfolk. I bought an older edition of this on Amazon for around $5, including shipping. This one is used my my local CSU. This text covers most of what you need for the TFE, including all of the education buzzwords you will need to throw in for the essay part. There’s one classroom scenario aimed at junior high and another aimed at high school. I will warn you that my experience has been that most teachers and principals seem to take a dim view of people who try to take short cuts like the Early Completion Option — I’m guessing you would have to be willing to work in a school that is absolutely desperate for math teachers to get a job this way (which I am not at this point). I don’t know whether it’s hazing (“I did it the hard way, so you should too”) or they just don’t believe that people can teach themselves that same material that’s in a college education course. In this economy, it’s a tough sell. But the $150 for the test is a whole bunch cheaper than tuition for the 3 or 4 prerequisite courses that universities require for the standard intern program! I’d be interested to see stats from the state on how many people actually manage to get a job with this route. The day I took the test, there were only 3 of us in the room.

Comment on Alternative Teacher Certification paths in California by alexmilowski

alexmilowski — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:52:57 +0000

What education textbooks did you use to study for the teaching foundations exam? I might take that “Teaching Foundations Exam” too.

BTW, I take the Math CSET exams on Saturday… all three. Very stressed about them and I have a MA in Mathematics.