Praxis Elementary Education For Dummies with Online Practice Tests

Contrary to popular belief, the Praxis II Elementary Education test isn't a measure of academic performance, which is why many test-takers who achieve perfect grades in college don't always pass it. Studying such a broad range of topics and enduring such a long testing processing can be challenging, so what's the best way to prepare for it? Turn to Praxis II Elementary Education For Dummies with Online Practice! It offers easy-to-follow subject reviews, test-taking strategies and advice for multiple choice and essay questions, sample practice questions, two full-length practice tests with detailed answers and explanations, and more.

If you're one of the more than 600,000 aspiring teachers who take this test each year, this hands-on, friendly test prep guide gets you up to speed on everything you need to know to pass the Praxis II Elementary Education text with flying colors. This helpful guide covers Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, and Physical Education. It leaves no stone unturned by offering tips on registering for the exam, as well as a detailed overview of the test and how it's administered.

• Practice with hundreds of authentic Praxis II questions
• Hone the skills needed to ace the exam and start your career as a licensed teacher
• Boost your confidence and do your best on test day
• Get one year of online access to five Praxis II exams to sharpen your test-taking skills

If you're a future educator gearing up to take the Praxis II Elementary Education test, this is your ultimate guide to one of the most important tests you'll ever take.

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting the Ball Rolling 5

Chapter 1: The Praxis Elementary Education: Cia Test (5017) 7

Analyzing the Format of the Test 8

The topics the test covers 8

The types of questions asked 11

How the Test Is Scored 13

Racking up raw points 13

Making sense of your score 13

Getting a Very Early Taste of 5017 14

Reading and Language Arts practice questions 15

Answers to practice Reading and Language Arts questions 16

Mathematics practice questions 18

Answers to Mathematics practice questions 20

Science practice questions 22

Answers to Science practice questions 23

Social Studies practice questions 24

Answers to Social Studies practice questions 25

Art, Music, and Physical Education practice questions 26

Answers to Art, Music, and Physical Education practice questions 27

Analyzing Your Practice Question Results 28

Identifying what you missed 29

Determining the why of what you missed 29

Chapter 2: The Praxis Elementary Education: Content

Knowledge Test (5018) 31

Analyzing the Format of the Test 32

The topics the test covers 32

The types of questions asked 34

How the Test Is Scored 36

Earning your raw score 36

Making sense of your score 36

Getting Started on Taking the Test 37

Reading and Language Arts practice questions 38

Answers to practice Reading and Language Arts questions 39

Mathematics practice questions 41

Answers to Mathematics practice questions 42

Science practice questions 44

Answers to Science practice questions 45

Social Studies practice questions 46

Answers to Social Studies practice questions 47

Analyzing Your Practice Question Results 48

Identifying what you missed 48

Determining the why of what you missed 48

Chapter 3: Getting Ready for Test Day 51

Registering for the Test 51

Organizing Study Time Wisely 52

Forming a schedule 52

Compensating for lost study time 53

Studying with other people 53

Doing Some Fine-Tuning 54

Using bonus study materials and techniques 54

Familiarizing yourself with computer testing 54

Preparing the Night Before the Test 54

Using Test Time Wisely 55

Getting Extra Advice If You Have Taken the Test 56

Looking into Test Accommodations 57

Part 2: Subject Area Content Knowledge 59

Chapter 4: Reading and Language Arts Subject Content 61

Reading into the English Language 61

Print concepts 62

Phonological awareness 62

Phonics and word recognition 63

Fluency 64

The ABC’s of Writing 65

Using what you think, find, and imagine 65

Writing through the stages 69

Using and citing sources 70

Building strength through practice 71

Keeping up with rules and words 72

Understanding sentence structure 73

Noun-verb agreement 74

Using words correctly 75

Choosing the appropriate writing style 75

Using figurative language 77

Understanding morphology 77

Determining the meaning of words 78

Analyzing Literature and Informational Texts 78

Finding and connecting the dots 79

Looking at how and why the work was made 80

Thinking further about structure and logic 82

Reading deeply, reading strong 84

Speaking and Listening Styles 86

Talking and listening together 86

Being clear to your audience 87

Being a good listener 88

Using visuals 88

Chapter 5: Mathematics Content Knowledge 91

Numbers and Operations Content 92

Classifying numbers 92

Base 10 93

Operating with numbers 93

Properties of operations 95

Factors and multiples 97

Sequences 98

Fractions, decimals, and percents 99

Percent increase and decrease 102

Rounding and estimating 102

Absolute value 102

Knowing Algebra Content Down to the Letter 103

Terms and other expressions 103

Solving equations 103

Graphing solutions 105

Working with formulas 105

Sizing Up Geometry and Measurement Principles 106

The building blocks of geometry 106

Shapes 107

Composite shapes 109

Transforming shapes 110

Shape measurements 110

Forms of measurement 111

Points on the coordinate plane 113

Data, Statistics, and Probability 114

Collecting data 114

Finding measures of center 114

Representing data 115

Figuring out probability 115

Chapter 6: Concepts of Science 117

Life Science Principles 117

What things are made of 117

The facts of life 119

Short- and long-term changes 120

The food chain 120

Earth and Space Science 122

Earth’s layers 122

The movements of rock 123

The movement of water 125

Clouds and weather 126

Earth’s past 127

Venturing beyond Earth 128

Physical Science Facts 129

States of matter 129

Energy 130

Interactions between energy and matter 131

The laws of force and motion 133

Science Today 133

Scientific methods 134

Science and medicine 135

Chapter 7: Studying Social Studies Content Facts 137

A Big-Picture View of Social Studies 137

Geography 138

Categories of geography 139

Themes of geography 140

Maps, globes, and other tools of geography 141

Approaches to Teaching History 143

The expanding horizon approach, or widening horizon curriculum 143

Systematic inquiry 145

Government and Economics 145

Government 146

Economics 147

Anthropology and Sociology 148

Anthropology 149

Sociology 150

Chapter 8: Art, Music, and Physical Education Content 151

Seeing the Light of Art 151

The elements of art 151

The principles of design 153

Art history 154

Careers in art 155

Art and other academic subjects 155

Analyzing art 156

Marching to the Beat of Music 157

The elements of music 157

Music history 159

Careers in music 160

Music and other academic subjects 160

Analyzing music 160

Getting in Shape on Physical Education Principles 161

Movement concepts 161

Fitness and nutrition 163

Careers in physical education 164

Physical education and other academic subjects 164

Psychological and social aspects of physical education 165

Part 3: The Principles Of Curriculum, Instruction, And Assessment 167

Chapter 9: A General Overview of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 169

Forming a Curriculum 170

Getting familiar with curriculum guidelines 171

Realizing the limits of curriculum planning 172

Mastering content knowledge 172

Answering curriculum questions 172

Understanding the components of a curriculum 173

Grasping the Principles of Instruction 178

The elements of instruction 178

How students learn 180

The different types of learners 181

General models of instruction 183

Balance in instructional styles 186

Conducting Proper Assessments 187

Designing and using formative assessments 187

Creating, using, and interpreting summative assessments 190

Using appropriate assessments 193

Understanding the purpose of assessments 194

Identifying student misconceptions and correcting them 195

Having Subject Area Content Knowledge 196

Reading and language arts 197

Mathematics 197

Science 198

Social studies 198

Art, music, and physical education 199

Chapter 10: Reading and Language Arts Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 201

Creating a Reading and Language Arts Curriculum 202

Listening and speaking 202

Language study 203

Words as vehicles for ideas 205

Communicating through writing 206

Dealing with apprehension about teaching writing 207

Giving Reading and Language Arts Instruction 207

Phonemic awareness instruction 208

Phonics instruction 210

Vocabulary acquisition instruction 211

Reading with fluency 213

Comprehension of text instruction 214

Helping students learn to read literature and informational text 215

Developing students’ writing skills 216

Improving students’ understanding of the English language 217

Advancing students’ speaking and listening styles 217

Conducting Reading and Language Arts Assessment 217

Knowledge of curricula and standards 218

Knowledge of language mastery 218

Answering Reading and Language Arts Practice Questions 219

Assessment and diagnostic teaching of reading 219

Reading development 219

Writing in support of reading 219

Chapter 11: Mathematics Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 221

Calculating a Mathematics Curriculum 222

Providing Mathematics Instruction 222

Teaching the major categories of numbers and operations 223

Advancing students’ algebraic thinking 240

Helping students weigh in on geometric and measurement principles 243

Expanding students’ knowledge and skills concerning data, statistics, and probability 248

Performing Mathematics Assessments 250

Chapter 12: Science Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 251

Establishing a Science Curriculum 251

Meeting the standards 252

Selecting and organizing the material 252

Integrating science content 253

Giving Science Instruction 253

Delivering the message 253

Developing understanding of science concepts, inquiry, and processes 254

Making students’ understanding of life science come alive 255

Promoting students’ conceptualization of Earth and space science 255

Transforming students’ knowledge of physical science 256

Doing Science Assessments 256

Proceeding with content evaluation 256

Conducting science inquiry assessments 256

Using science process indicators 257

Chapter 13: Social Studies Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 259

The Themes of Social Studies Standards 260

Culture 260

Time, continuity, and change 260

People, places, and environments 260

Individual development and identity 260

Individuals, groups, and institutions 261

Power, authority, and government 261

Production, distribution, and consumption 261

Science, technology, and society 261

Global connections 261

Civil ideas and practices 262

Presenting Social Studies Instruction 262

Improving students’ social studies information processing skills 263

Positioning students’ understanding of geography 264

Developing students’ conceptualization of history 265

Improving students’ awareness of government, civics, and economics 266

Teaching the principles of anthropology and sociology 267

Social Studies Performance Assessment 267

What performance assessments measure 268

Data measuring techniques 268

Chapter 14: Art, Music, and Physical Education Curricula, Instruction, and Assessment 271

Building Art, Music, and Physical Education Curricula 271

Rising to the standards 272

Scoping and sequencing the material 273

Making connections with other subject areas 273

Supplying Instruction on Art, Music, and Physical Education 274

Crafting students’ understanding of art and design media and tools 274

Advancing students’ perspectives on musical elements 275

Conditioning students’ awareness of physical education principles 276

Engaging in Art, Music, and Physical Education Assessments 277

Looking for understanding, analysis, and creative expression in art and music 277

Testing the strength of progress in physical education 278

Part 4: Praxis Elementary Education Practice Tests 279

Chapter 15: Practice Test: Praxis Elementary Education - 5017 281

Answer Sheet 283

Section 1: Reading and Language Arts 284

Section 2: Mathematics 289

Section 3: Science 295

Section 4: Social Studies 301

Section 5: Art, Music, and Physical Education 305

Chapter 16: Answers and Explanations for 5017 Practice Test 309

Answers for Section 1: Reading and Language Arts 309

Answers for Section 2: Mathematics 316

Answers for Section 3: Science 320

Answers for Section 4: Social Studies 323

Answers for Section 5: Art, Music, and Physical Education 325

Answer Key 328

Chapter 17: Practice Test: Praxis Elementary Education - 5018 329

Answer Sheet 331

Section 1: Reading and Language Arts 332

Section 2: Mathematics 342

Section 3: Social Studies 348

Section 4: Science 352

Chapter 18: Answers and Explanations for 5018 Practice Test 357

Answers for Section 1: Reading and Language Arts 357

Answers for Section 2: Mathematics 363

Answers for Section 3: Social Studies 371

Answers for Section 4: Science 373

Answer Key 377

Part 5: The Part Of Tens 379

Chapter 19: Ten Common Misconceptions Concerning Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 381

Myth #1: Teachers are supposed to know everything 382

Myth #2: All curriculum is mandated, so teachers don’t really need to be subject experts 382

Myth #3: If it isn’t part of the mandated and accepted standards, don’t teach it 383

Myth #4: Students who can’t keep up have to be left behind 383

Myths #5 and #6: Direct instruction is best; cooperative learning means losing control 383

Myth #7: Differentiated instruction is only for students with IEPs or language barriers 384

Myth #8: All instruction should be geared toward standardized or state assessment 384

Myth #9: Teaching to the test results in better test scores and smarter students 385

Myth #10: The main purpose of a classroom assessment is for grading purposes 385

And One to Grow On: Test scores indicate the effectiveness of teachers 385

Chapter 20: Ten Major Areas of Confusion in Math 387

Thinking 1 Is Prime and 2 Is Composite 387

Viewing Surface Area as Three-Dimensional 388

Misusing the Distributive Property 388

Confusing GCF with LCM 388

Solving for Something Other than a Variable 388

Assuming a Middle Number Is a Median 389

Misunderstanding Operations with Fractions 389

Mixing Up Perimeter and Area 389

Lacking Perspective on Place Value 389

Misconceiving the “MDAS” in “PEMDAS” 390

Index 391

Carla C. Kirkland, founder and CEO of the Kirkland Group, an educational consulting firm, has helped educators prepare their students for standardized tests for more than 20 years. Chan Cleveland, executive vice president of the Kirkland Group, is an English educator who has developed language arts resources for multiple school districts.