Preparing for the Reading Teacher PLACE Exam

Ack! It’s

time to

take the

PLACE

exam!

Now

what???

Re-read

all your

books?

Nah…You know the content

And guess what?

The test authors provide

the roadmap for you!

Where to start, you ask?

Check out the

Your goal is to

• identify the beliefs and premises that

underlie the PLACE Reading Teacher

Exam

• deconstruct the objectives of the PLACE

Exam Reading Teacher so you can

thoughtfully and critically approach the

experience of taking the test

First, gather your resources…

To get information about dates, cost, and registration go to:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_PLACE_info.htm

For information about the PLACE exam from the publisher:

http://www.place.nesinc.com/

To download and print the study guide:

http://www.place.nesinc.com/CO_viewSG_opener.asp

scroll down and click on Reading Teacher (18)

Take the sample test…

Take the sample test, talk about your experience at

your table, what, if anything tripped you up? What

do you remember from past PLACE tests, if

anything, that tripped you up? How could you

approach that differently?

Remember your basic test taking skills- eliminate

obvious wrong. A guess might be wrong. The only

answer that will ALWAYS be wrong is no response.

Analyze the objectives:

find familiarity

Read through the objectives. Underline with a pen or

highlighter all the parts that match your experiences in

schools today.

Think through on your own or work with peers: is

what is happening in your school similar or dissimilar

to the practices highlighted in the objectives?

Analyze the objectives:

identify difference

• Read through the objectives. Use a

different colored highlighter to

identify objectives you will need to

approach from what you know

outside of your experience.

Consider questions…

1.What are some common mistakes people can

make when facing a test like this?

2.What are some ways you can pre-empt test-

taking anxiety that makes it easier to make

those mistakes?

3.How will you strategically approach taking

this exam?

Use good general test

taking skills.Relax, get good sleep the night before, eat breakfast and take deep breaths. Remember, this is a test, but it is only a test.

Prepare yourself well. Think critically about the experience and what the test seeks to measure. Apply what you know. And relax. You will be better able to show all you know if you breathe deep and are relaxed.

Find others…

Learning is social and we learn better when

connected to a community. Find out who

else is taking the PLACE exam the same

semester you are- exchange contact

information, email, IM screen- names so you

can contact and support each other during the

week or two before the actual test.