Preparing for the West-B: Feeling Confident, Finishing Strong!

Today’s Agenda•Strategies to prepare

for the West-B• Practical• Social• Timeline

•Reducing anxiety• Psychological• Practical • Dealing with “what

if’s?”

Practical Strategies: Increase Comfort with the

Content• Know the test objectives • Determine the meaning of

words or phrases in context• Meaning of words using

context clues, syntax, and structural analysis

• Recognize common use of misused words (two/to/too)

• Determine the meaning of figurative/colloquial language in reading

• Identify synonyms or antonyms for words in a reading section

What Tools Can You Use•Time! Every day

something toward the test!

•Review basic textbooks• Eighth grade level•GED test book

•Teacher test books from other states• Praxis-1• TExES

How To Study the Study Guides• Read directions closely!• Preview section headings• Think of specific questions• Read the chapter

thoroughly• Reflect on the examples—

relate them to your own background/experiences

• Recite and check your understanding

• Review questions—can you answer them without referring to the text?

Studying by Section: Math•Math section• Flash cards about the

meanings•Write your own math

problems/stories• Look up sample math

tests at the 8th grade level

• Find a teen-ager with a Mohawk

Studying by Section: Writing•Writing section• Fluency and quality of

discussion• Organization, logical

sequence of ideas• Developing the

argument• Word choice, sentence

structure• Correct mechanics i.e.,

spelling, capitalization, punctuation

Studying by Section: Writing

What are the characteristics of a good friend? In an essay read by a general audience of educated adults, explain

your ideas about what makes someone a good friend. Include details

to support your views.

Some people believe that voter turnout in local, sate, and federal elections would increase if

election day were a national holiday, while others disagree that this would help significantly. In an essay read by a general audience of educated

adults, express your opinion on this issue. Defend your position with reasoned arguments and

supporting examples.

Studying by Section: Reading

Read and comprehend idea

and supporting details

Predict outcomes, draw conclusions

Identify sequence of steps or events Select solutions

Analyze the writer’s stated or implied purpose

Critical thinking i.e., fallacies,

credibility, facts/opinions

Writer’s purpose

Apply graphs, charts, tables to

reading selections

Studying by Section: Reading

•Reading section• Start reading!• Talk about your

reading to others• Read something and

then ask someone else to read it and then discuss

•Write your own questions

Social Strategies•Trust

•Belonging

•Accountability

•Outside of the group

From Those Who Have Done It…“Sign up for the writing sub-test separately.”

“The test is at about the 8th grade level.”

“I made the same mistake of taking all subtests in one day and couldn’t complete the writing part.”

“The reading part and multiple –choice part are mostly common sense.”

“Study the sample answers and the scores that were given in the study guide.”

http://www.pedagonet.com/books/studyguides.htm

Reducing Your Anxiety

Know What to Expect• Test 8:30 – 1:30

• Four ½ hours long

• Can go to the bathroom

• No food or drink

Take Control of Your Test!• Look at test questions first• Mark a skipped question to

return to it later• Choose a section to

complete first• Confidence booster• Make sure you skip on the

answer document• Try to eliminate incorrect

answers

• No penalty for incorrect answers; selecting something is better than nothing

• Read thoroughly!• Can read once as an

overview• Once with questions• Work backward—quickly

scan, then review questions, looking for answers in passage

Take Control of Your Body•Dealing with physical

symptoms • Deep breathing• Visualization• Heavy hitter:

Cognitive reciting• Affirmations

Take Control of Your Body•Fuel your efforts: • Get enough cumulative

sleep• May be too nervous to

sleep the night before• Protein, protein,

protein• Caffeine and/or sugar

only if it doesn’t cause a delayed free-fall

Deal with What If’s?•What if you don’t pass?• 16 times!!!!• Re-offered certain number of

times per year• You don’t have to ace it, only

pass it•Most people DO end up passing•No reflection of you as a

teacher•Masses of people struggle with

tests• Help YOUR future students

You Will Do Beautifully!Best of LUCK!