Methods, Strategies, And Elementary Content For Beating Aepa, Ftce, Icts, Msat, Mtel, Mttc, Nmta, Nystce, Osat, Place, Praxis, And Texes

by Boosalis, Chris Nicholas

• ISBN13: 9780205425600
• ISBN10: 0205425607
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-08
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This resource helps teachers pass the required elementary subject exams for earning a teaching credential. Because passing these tests is now required in many states, this book has been designed to address the essential time-management methods, essay and multiple-choice strategies, and content that test takers must master in order to pass any section of the exam. Unlike other preparation books, this one does not simply offer a copy of MSAT materials. Instead, the content, constructed-response and multiple-choice strategies, and special time-management models for the tests are all research based and tailored to cover each domain and content area of any of the exams. This valuable new resource: Offers effective time-management models. Critical time-management models for taking the whole exam in one sitting or individually are fully explained. Presents the "real" scores required on each subtest. The book reveals the real scores required to pass each subtest and a method to achieve them. Demonstrates effective constructed-response. Eleven essential essays (language arts, social studies, science, math, and the humanities) are presented and dissected for candidates. Deconstructs multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice section of the exam is challenging because many of the questions are lengthy, jargon-rich, or simply do not count toward one's score. Strategies are required and explained. Addresses each of the content areas from elementary education: language arts, history and social studies, science, mathematics, and as well as the humanities, including P.E., health, child development, and the arts.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
SECTION ONE TEST METHODS	1	(53)
Real Scores, Real Strategies	1	(20)
What Formats of Nes Exams Exist?	1	(1)
What Formats of Ets Exams Exist?	1	(1)
How Do You Pass These Tests?	2	(1)
How Are Passing Scores Calculated?	2	(1)
In What Order Do the Multiple-Choice Questions Appear?	3	(1)
How Should I Approach a Test With Essays?	3	(1)
The Hybrid Approach	3	(1)
Dividing and Conquering the Multiple-Choice Questions	4	(1)
The Tally Strategy	4	(1)
How Do I Pass My Test?	5	(16)
Major Essay Formats and Strategies	21	(20)
Effective Written-Response Outlines	21	(2)
Question One: Writing the Case Study	23	(4)
Question Two: Writing Unit Plans	27	(1)
Question Three: Writing Lesson Plans for Decoding	28	(1)
Question Four: Writing Lesson Plans for Comprehension	29	(2)
Question Five: Metaphors	31	(1)
Question Six: U.S. Conflicts	32	(1)
Question Seven: Astronomy	33	(1)
Question Eight: Geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem	34	(4)
Question Nine: Physical Education	38	(1)
Question Ten: Human Development	39	(1)
Question Eleven: Art History	40	(1)
Multiple-Choice Strategies and Applied Content	41	(13)
Diagnostic Test	41	(2)
Multiple-Choice Strategies	43	(1)
Learning How to Apply Content	44	(10)
SECTION TWO LANGUAGE ARTS	54	(111)
Elementary Language Arts	54	(46)
Domain One: English Linguistics	54	(46)
Content Area One: English Linguistics	54	(32)
Content Area Two: First and Second Language Acquisition	86	(14)
Literacy	100	(31)
Domain One: English Linguistics (continued)	100	(31)
Content Area Three: Literacy Development	100	(20)
Content Area Four: Assessment	120	(6)
Content Area Five: Instructional Considerations	126	(5)
Literature	131	(17)
Domain Two: Language Arts	131	(17)
Content Area Six: Genres of Children's Literature	131	(4)
Content Area Seven: Features of Literature	135	(6)
Content Area Eight: Interpreting Literature	141	(7)
Written and Oral Communications	148	(17)
Domain Three: Communications	148	(17)
Content Area Nine: Writing Applications	148	(2)
Content Area Ten: The Writing Process	150	(2)
Content Area Eleven: The Research Process	152	(5)
Content Area Twelve: The Editing Process	157	(4)
Content Area Thirteen: Interpersonal Communications and Public Speaking	161	(4)
SECTION THREE ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES	165	(121)
World History	165	(53)
Domain One: Egyptian, Indian, Mesopotamian, Chinese, and Hebraic Civilizations	165	(17)
Content Area One: Egyptian Culture	166	(3)
Content Area Two: Indian Culture	169	(3)
Content Area Three: Mesopotamian Culture	172	(2)
Content Area Four: Chinese Culture	174	(5)
Content Area Five: Hebraic Culture	179	(3)
Domain Two: Kush, Greek, and Roman Ancient Civilizations	182	(10)
Content Area Six: Kushite Culture	183	(1)
Content Area Seven: Greek Culture	184	(4)
Content Area Eight: Roman Culture	188	(4)
Domain Three: Chinese (Late), Japanese, and African Civilizations	192	(10)
Content Area Nine: Later Chinese Culture	193	(2)
Content Area Ten: Japanese Culture	195	(4)
Content Area Eleven: African Culture	199	(3)
Domain Four: Medieval and Early Modern Times: 500 A.D.--1500 A.D.	202	(16)
Content Area Twelve: Arabian Culture	202	(2)
Content Area Thirteen: Mesoamerican Culture	204	(1)
Content Area Fourteen: Andean Culture	205	(1)
Content Area Fifteen: European Culture	206	(3)
Content Area Sixteen: Christianity and Islam	209	(1)
Content Area Seventeen: The Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment	210	(8)
United States History	218	(64)
Domain Five: United States	218	(64)
United States Geography	218	(1)
Content Area Eighteen: Native Americans	218	(3)
Content Area Nineteen: The Age of Exploration and Colonization	221	(3)
Content Area Twenty: The English Colonies	224	(1)
Content Area Twenty-One: The American Revolution and the Birth of the United States	225	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Two: The War for Independence	227	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Three: The Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution	229	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Four: Period 1789--1830	231	(7)
Content Area Twenty-Five: California--Before and After the Gold Rush	238	(9)
Content Area Twenty-Six: Period of Reform (1830--1860)	247	(1)
Content Area Twenty-Seven: The Civil War and Reconstruction	248	(6)
Content Area Twenty-Eight: Expansion into the Last West (1865--1900)	254	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Nine: An Industrial Nation	256	(6)
Content Area Thirty: The Spanish-American War and World War I	262	(5)
Content Area Thirty-One: World War II	267	(2)
Content Area Thirty-Two: Post-World War II America (1945--1960)	269	(5)
Content Area Thirty-Three: Changes Brought on During the 1950s, the 1960s, and Beyond	274	(8)
The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights	282	(4)
Domain Five: United States (continued)	282	(4)
Content Area Thirty-Four: U.S. Constitution	282	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Five: The Bill of Rights	283	(3)
SECTION FOUR ELEMENTARY SCIENCE	286	(76)
Physical Science	286	(27)
Domain One: The Study of Physical Science	286	(27)
Content Area One: Physical and Chemical Properties	286	(8)
Content Area Two: Physical and Chemical Changes	294	(4)
Content Area Three: pH	298	(1)
Content Area Four: Motion and Forces	298	(5)
Content Area Five: Simple Machines	303	(1)
Content Area Six: Energy	303	(5)
Content Area Seven: Light	308	(2)
Content Area Eight: Conservation of Energy Resources	310	(3)
Life Science	313	(33)
Domain Two: Structure and Functions of Living Things	313	(33)
Content Area Nine: Plant and Animal Cells	313	(4)
Content Area Ten: Plant Parts	317	(1)
Content Area Eleven: Specialized Tissues in Plants	318	(1)
Content Area Twelve: Tissues of Body Systems	318	(1)
Content Area Thirteen: Body Systems	319	(13)
Content Area Fourteen: Body Systems of Other Vertebrates	332	(1)
Content Area Fifteen: Chemistry of Living Things	333	(2)
Content Area Sixteen: Characteristics of Living Things	335	(1)
Content Area Seventeen: Needs of Living Things	336	(1)
Content Area Eighteen: Adaptations of Living Things	336	(1)
Content Area Nineteen: Populations in an Ecosystem	337	(1)
Content Area Twenty: The Flow of Energy and Matter Through Ecosystems	337	(2)
Content Area Twenty-One: Life Cycles of Living Things	339	(1)
Content Area Twenty-Two: Factors Affecting Plant Growth	340	(1)
Content Area Twenty-Three: Reproduction	340	(3)
Content Area Twenty-Four: Reproduction of Plants and Animals	343	(1)
Content Area Twenty-Five: Evolution	344	(2)
Astronomy and Earth Science	346	(16)
Domain Three: The Study of Astronomy and Earth Science	346	(16)
Content Area Twenty-Six: The Solar System	346	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Seven: Positions of the Sun and Moon	348	(2)
Content Area Twenty-Eight: Other Bodies in the Universe	350	(1)
Content Area Twenty-Nine: The Structure and Composition of the Earth	351	(1)
Content Area Thirty: Rocks	351	(1)
Content Area Thirty-One: Land Forms	352	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Two: Rock-and Soil-Forming Processes	352	(2)
Content Area Thirty-Three: Layers of the Earth	354	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Four: Plate Tectonics	355	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Five: Dynamic Earth Processes	356	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Six: Formation of the Earth	357	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Seven: Weather and Climate	357	(2)
Content Area Thirty-Eight: Bodies of Water	359	(1)
Content Area Thirty-Nine: Tides	360	(1)
Content Area Forty: Eclipses	360	(2)
SECTION FIVE ELEMENTARY MATH	362	(88)
Elementary Mathematics	362	(24)
Domain One: Numbers, Relationships, Systems, Computations, and Fractions	362	(24)
Content Area One: Place Value	362	(2)
Content Area Two: Scientific Notation	364	(2)
Content Area Three: Properties of Numbers	366	(2)
Content Area Four: Exponential Notation	368	(2)
Content Area Five: Computations	370	(8)
Content Area Six: Fractions	378	(8)
Algebra and Functions	386	(33)
Domain Two: The Study of Algebra and Functions	386	(33)
Content Area Seven: Terms in Algebra	386	(1)
Content Area Eight: Solving Equations	387	(2)
Content Area Nine: Monomials	389	(3)
Content Area Ten: Polynomials	392	(5)
Content Area Eleven: Solving Advanced Linear Equations	397	(1)
Content Area Twelve: Factoring Polynomials	398	(7)
Content Area Thirteen: Graphing Functions in Four Quadrants	405	(8)
Content Area Fourteen: Inequalities	413	(6)
Measurement and Geometry	419	(18)
Domain Three: The Study of Measurement and Geometry	419	(18)
Content Area Fifteen: Two- and Three-Dimensional Geometric Objects	419	(7)
Content Area Sixteen: Circles	426	(2)
Content Area Seventeen: Three-Dimensional Geometric Objects	428	(5)
Content Area Eighteen: Terms and Movement in Geometry	433	(1)
Content Area Nineteen: Pythagorean Theorem	433	(4)
Techniques in Computation	437	(13)
Domain Four: The Study of Techniques in Computation	437	(13)
Content Area Twenty: Patterns and the Use of Formulae	437	(13)
SECTION SIX ELEMENTARY HUMANITIES	450	(65)
Physical Education	450	(16)
Content Area One: Basic Movement Skills	450	(4)
Content Area Two: Health and Physical Fitness	454	(5)
Content Area Three: Individual and Team Sports	459	(2)
Content Area Four: Physical Growth and Development	461	(4)
Content Area Five: Self-Image	465	(1)
Content Area Six: Social Aspects of Physical Education	465	(1)
Content Area Seven: Cultural and Historical Aspects of Movement Forms	465	(1)
Child Development	466	(11)
Content Area One: Cognitive Development	466	(5)
Content Area Two: Social Development	471	(1)
Content Area Three: Physical Development	472	(2)
Content Area Four: Influences on Development	474	(3)
The Arts	477	(38)
Content Area One: Visual Art	477	(13)
Content Area Two: Music	490	(12)
Content Area Three: Theater	502	(8)
Content Area Four: Dance	510	(5)
Afterword	515	(1)
References	516	(4)
Index	520