Are you taking a TExES exam soon (Generalist EC-6, Generalist 4-8, Mathematics 8-12, LOTE Spanish, etc)? The tips below will help you answer the "situational" questions- the ones that ask you to select the best way to teach a concept or handle a situation.
Check out the tips below. Email us at answers@texasteachertoday.com for additional free tips!
- No matter which TExES exam you take, you will see some questions about the best way to teach a concept or handle a situation.
- TExES exams will have many situational questions. Choose the one that is most LEARNER-CENTERED, or focused on the needs of the student/learner.
- If the question asks the best way or most effective way to teach a concept or lesson, the correct answer will never be the teacher lecturing for the entire class period, or giving students worksheets for the entire period.
- The most learner-centered activities have students actively engaged and participating. Look for the answer that has the students doing something.
- Keep in mind that lessons should meet the needs of ALL types of learners (kinesthetic, visual, and auditory).
- In addition, activities should take into account students' interests as often as possible. If students are interested, they are more likely to be engaged, participate, and learn.
COMPETENCY 001 (ORAL LANGUAGE)
1. Two new students arrived to Ms. Johnson's class. They are from China and only speak Mandarin. What would be the best approach for her to help them learn English?
A. Speaking very slowly and using a lot of gestures.
B. Suggesting to their parents that they hire an ESL teacher or tutor after school.
C. Giving them vocabulary worksheets with basic English words and pictures, make them copy vocabulary words, memorize popular songs, translate short documents, and do grammar drills and exercises daily.
D. Working with the ESL teacher on campus to come up with strategies that best meet their needs, providing them with age appropriate tools to learn English (songs they learn to sing,videos, and worksheets), and regularly giving them informal and informal assessments to determine their progress.
Figure it Out (Thought Process to Determine the Correct Answer)
A. Of course, English language learners will benefit from the teacher speaking slowly and using a lot of gestures. But ask yourself- is this the best way she can help them? For now, let's keep it as an option, but remember that it's NOT learner-centered, so it's probably not the correct answer.
B. This answer is not appropriate. Ms. Johnson in this case would not be doing anything to help the students herself. Eliminate answer B.
C. Option C seems reasonable, including a variety of activities that the students perform. It seems somewhat learner-centered, so we will keep it as an option.
D. Option D is the most thorough. The teacher will not only work with the ESL teacher, but also provide them a variety of activities and assess them. Since this is option that is most learner- centered AND thorough/detailed, this is the best answer. Look back at A and C and notice that A is not learner-centered, and C is somewhat learner-centered, but not as thorough as D. D is the best option.
Email me at courtneyschonefeld@ymail.com for additional free tips!
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