The PPR is one of the most important exams that you must pass in order to teach in the state of Texas.
Having the proper training that will prepare you for what to expect and the necessary knowledge to succeed is key to passing this essential test.
TExES PPR, or Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, “is designed to assess whether a test taker has the requisite knowledge and skills that an entry-level educator in this field in Texas public schools must possess,” according to the Texas Education Agency.
To obtain your standard certification, you must pass the PPR.
The PPR isn’t just any exam, however. To pass it, there is a lot you need to know heading into it that goes beyond the content itself.
While pursuing any goal, it’s inevitable that some mistakes and failures will occur. However, understanding what some of the
biggest barriers are to achieving success on the PPR can be helpful when pursuing this goal.
As Warren Buffett says, “It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes.”
Choosing the right alternative teacher certification program that prepares its interns for the PPR is an important step when working to avoid common mistakes on the PPR. That’s because the best certification programs will include a component in their curriculum that is specifically designated to help prepare you for the PPR.
When it comes to the test itself, there are several common mistakes test takers make that can be avoided. These include:
Placing an extra emphasis on some of the most commonly missed topics during your preparation can also be helpful. This is another reason why choosing an alternative teacher certification program that works to prepare you for the PPR can come in handy.
At ECAP, we have been able to research and isolate some of the topics most often missed by our interns so that we can help others who are in the process of preparing for the test. The topics most often missed by our interns are:
It is also important to keep in mind that some questions require common sense answers. While many questions focus on topics you learned during your coursework, the PPR exam also wants to make sure you have the common sense required to become a teacher and to be able to handle everyday issues that do not have a standard answer.
Although as much as we would like to see the exact questions on the test, that isn’t possible until it’s time to take it.
However, you can familiarize yourself with the different types of exam questions. This will help prepare you for how questions will be formatted so it will be easier to understand what is required of you.
The PPR includes selected response (or multiple choice) and constructed response (or essay) questions. Within the selected response questions, there are single questions and clustered questions.
Single questions offer a direct question or an incomplete statement. They may be in relation to a passage you must read, a
movie clip you must watch or a table you must navigate.
Clustered questions comprise a stimulus and two or more questions that relate to that stimulus. These types of questions also may relate to a passage you must read, a movie clip you must watch or a table you must navigate.
The Texas Educator Certification Examination Program offers examples of each on its website.
For example, this question tests the test taker’s knowledge of Competency 6, which focuses on strategies for creating an environment that is productive and manages student behavior. This is an example of a single question style.
The children in a kindergarten classroom often become so engaged in their activities that the teacher has trouble getting them to stop what they are doing and begin transitioning to another activity. The teacher can best address this problem by using which of the following approaches?
When reading over this question, it is important to review the question critically. This question addresses the teacher of young children, who often become distracted or engrossed by what they are doing.
An effective way a teacher can overcome this is by creating new habits to a stimulus that the children will recognize. Therefore, the best answer is:
D: Establish an agreed-upon signal, such as clapping or ringing a bell, that alerts children that it is time to pay attention
No matter which style of question you are answering, it is important to read each question carefully and critically. Eliminate any answers initially that are obviously wrong, and then focus on the purpose of the question.
To help our interns have a successful experience when taking the PPR, ECAP incorporates training into our curriculum. This
is an important aspect of any alternative teacher certification program that should not be overlooked when choosing the right program for you.
The PPR is one of the most important requirements as you pursue your teaching career. That is why we want to help you pass the test so that you can get started.
To help individuals maximize their preparation for this critical test, we are also offering in-person PPR review training courses. If you are already enrolled with ECAP, this review training is part of your curriculum and you will be notified of your specific training dates. No registration or payment is required.
If you are not enrolled with ECAP, good news! You can still sign up for this course.
Each full-day session includes:
Preparing for your PPR can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Having an alternative teacher certification program by your side as you learn the ins and outs of the test and the ways to prepare is key to setting yourself up for the best possible outcome.
More information about upcoming training dates, course fees and location can be found on our site.
Topics: Certification Tests
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