FTCE Professional Ed (083) Book + Online

By Erin Mander, Tammy Powell and Chris A. Rose

REA's FTCE Professional Education (083) Test Prep with Online Practice Tests
Gets You Certified and in the Classroom!

Nationwide, more than 4 million teachers will be needed over the next decade, and all must take the appropriate tests to be licensed. REA gets you ready for your teaching career with our outstanding library of Teacher Certification test preps.

REA's FTCE Professional Education (083) test prep is designed to help you master the information on this important exam, bringing you one step closer to being certified to teach in Florida. It's perfect for college students, out-of-state teachers, and career-changing professionals who are looking to become Florida teachers.

Written by Florida teacher education experts, our complete study package contains an in-depth review of all the competencies and skills tested on the FTCE Professional Education (083) test, including: instructional design and planning, student-centered learning environments, knowledge of the Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct of the education profession in Florida, and more.

Based on actual FTCE exams, our online diagnostic test and two full-length practice tests assess every competency, type of question, and skill you need to know. The online practice tests at the REA Study Center come with automatic scoring, timed testing conditions, and diagnostic feedback to help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you can succeed on test day.

The book includes the same two practice tests that are offered online, but without the added benefits of automatic scoring analysis and diagnostic feedback.

This test prep is a must-have for anyone who wants to teach in Florida!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Research & Education Association
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9780738687452

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Research & Education Association

61 Ethel Road West

Piscataway, New Jersey 08854

E-mail: [e-mail]

FTCE Professional Education (083)

With Online Practice Tests, 6th edition

Published 2016

Copyright © 2015 by Research & Education Association, Inc.

Prior editions copyright © 2012, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2000 by Research & Education Association, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number 2014936621

ISBN-13: 978-0-7386-1166-2

ISBN-10: 0-7386-1166-2

ISBN-13: 978-0-7386-8745-2 (e-book)

The competencies presented in this book were created and implemented by the Florida Department of Education. All trademarks cited in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: Publication of this work is for the purpose of test preparation and related use and subjects as set forth herein. While every effort has been made to achieve a work of high quality, neither Research & Education Association, Inc., nor the authors and other contributors of this work guarantee the accuracy or completeness of or assume any liability in connection with the information and opinions contained herein and in REA’s software and/or online materials. REA and the authors and other contributors shall in no event be liable for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use or reliance upon this work.

Cover image © Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Developed and produced by Focus Strategic Communications, Inc.

FTCE PROFESSIONAL

EDUCATION TEST (083)

Access your Online Tools

by following the instructions

found at the back of this book.

Contents

About the Authors

About REA

Introduction

Passing the FTCE Professional Education Test

How to Use This Book + Online Prep

An Overview of the Test

REA’s 6+6 Test-Taking Strategies and Tips

Studying for the Test

The Day of the Test

Diagnostic Test

Content Review

Chapter 1: Competency 1—Instructional Design and Planning

Key Vocabulary

Understanding Instructional Planning

Creating Variety in Learning Experiences

Developing a Culturally Responsive Classroom

Applying Learning Theories

Monitoring Student Performance and Developing Patterns for Intervention

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 2: Competency 2—Student-Centered Learning Environments

Key Vocabulary

Organizing the Learning Environment

Managing Behavior

Fostering Support for All

Communicating

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 3: Competency 3—Instructional Delivery and Comprehensive Understanding of Subject Matter

Key Vocabulary

Motivating and Challenging Students

Providing Meaningful Student Feedback

Developing Critical and Creative Thinking Skills

Differentiating Instruction

Integrating Technology

Facilitating Academic Intervention

Focusing on Content-Area Literacy

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 4: Competency 4—Assessment Strategies for Determining Impact on Student Learning

Key Vocabulary

Connecting Key Terminology

Understanding Effective Assessment

Differentiating Formative and Summative Assessments

Recognizing Types of Assessment

Integrating Technology

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 5: Competency 5—Relevant Continuous Professional Improvement

Key Vocabulary

Valuing Professional Learning Communities

Utilizing a School Advisory Council

Becoming Reflective Practitioners

Understanding Professional Development Standards

Examining Types of Educational Research

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 6: Competency 6—Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Key Vocabulary

Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 7: Competency 7—Research-Based Practices for Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs)

Key Vocabulary

Understanding the Jargon

Applying Regulatory Laws

Recognizing Language Acquisition

Connecting Instructional Theorists

Evaluating ESOL Instructional Models

Differentiating for ELL Students

Review Questions

Summary

Chapter 8: Competency 8—Literacy

Key Vocabulary

Understanding Key Instructional Practices

Developing Content-Area Vocabulary

Fostering Reading Comprehension

Developing Higher-Order Thinking Skills

Selecting Appropriate Resources

Review Questions

Summary

Practice Test 1 (also available at www.rea.com/studycenter)

Answer Key

Answer Explanations

Answers Sorted by Competency

Practice Test 2 (also available at www.rea.com/studycenter)

Answer Key

Answer Explanations

Answers Sorted by Competency

Answers Sheet for Practice Test 1

Answers Sheet for Practice Test 2

Glossary

References

Index

About the Authors

Dr. Erin Mander has studied curriculum and instruction at Wheaton College (B.A.), Walden University (M.A.), and the University of Central Florida (Ed.D.). She is a certified teacher who has been working in education for 14 years, teaching in the area of middle-level education. Currently, Dr. Mander is a curriculum consultant in Orange County and teaches both the FTCE General Knowledge and Professional Examination classes through the University of Central Florida Continuing Education Program. Her goal in the classroom is relating learning experiences that focus on the building blocks of successful test preparation: overcoming test anxiety, mastery of key skills/concepts, and understanding time management.

Tammy Powell is a University of Central Florida graduate and a certified teacher who has been working in education in Orange County for 16 years. Currently a fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Powell has taught elementary, middle, and high school, specializing in math and science. She is certified by the State of Florida in K–6 Elementary Education, 5–9 Mathematics, and 6–12 Journalism. Mrs. Powell currently teaches both the FTCE General Knowledge Mathematics and the K–6 Elementary Education classes for the UCF Continuing Education Program and works as a math, science, and subject-area exam tutor for Mastermind Educational Consulting. Her goal in the classroom is to make even the most difficult concepts easy to understand, while using thorough preparation to overcome the test anxiety that many adults experience.

Chris A. Rose is Assistant Division Director and Test Prep Director at the University of Central Florida’s School of Continuing Education. With 20 years of higher-education experience, Mr. Rose has been responsible for programmatic and business development initiatives serving the citizens and business community. His experience has been focused on industry and professional development training as well as a specialization in exam preparation and professional certification review.

Mr. Rose started his career at UCF’s Executive Development Center in the College of Business, and continued to build on his management and business relationship strengths at SCCorporate College (Seminole State College), where he guided the Business and Industry Support Center as well as other Continuing Education programs. Chris has a passion for student success and linking the best resources and tools to that endeavor. All UCF test-prep review courses, which Mr. Rose manages, follow the Core Success Factors: Confidence-building, Time Management and Concept & Skill Development.

Expert Reviewer

Timothy R. Blair is Professor in Reading/Literacy Education at the University of Central Florida. His Ph.D. was awarded in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a major in Reading at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His interest areas are elementary reading methods; teaching culturally and linguistically different children to read; parent education; preparation of teachers for teaching in low-income schools, and research on teacher effectiveness. He is a former elementary-classroom teacher and reading teacher at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels. Dr. Blair has authored several college textbooks on reading methods and assessment including Principles and Practices of Teaching Reading, now in its tenth edition, textbooks in multicultural teacher education including New Teacher’s Performance-Based Guide to Culturally Diverse Classrooms, and Teaching Children to Read in Diverse Communities. For the past 14 years, he has operated a free Saturday morning Reading Camp during the academic year and a summer Reading Camp for children from low-income families at two community centers in the historic African-American Parramore Neighborhood in downtown Orlando.

About REA

Founded in 1959, Research & Education Association (REA) is dedicated to publishing the finest and most effective educational materials—including study guides and test preps—for students in middle school, high school, college, graduate school, and beyond.

Today, REA’s wide-ranging catalog is a leading resource for students, teachers, and other professionals. Visit www.rea.com to see a complete listing of all our titles.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the people at Focus Strategic Communications, Inc., for their work on this study guide. We extend special gratitude to Focus’s principals, Adrianna Edwards and Ron Edwards, for developing and producing the entire manual as well as putting together and supervising the writing, editorial, and production teams. We thank First Image for meticulously and patiently laying out and formatting the pages.

We would also like to thank Pam Weston, Publisher, for setting the quality standards for production integrity and managing the publication to completion; John Paul Cording, Vice President, Technology, for coordinating the design and development of the REA Study Center; Larry B. Kling, Vice President, Editorial, for overall direction; Diane Goldschmidt, Managing Editor, for editorial contributions; and Claudia Petrilli, Graphic Designer, for designing our cover.

INTRODUCTION

FTCE Professional Education (083)

INTRODUCTION

Passing the FTCE Professional

Education (083) Test

Congratulations! By taking the FTCE Professional Education (083) test, you are on your way to a rewarding teaching career. This book and the online tools that come with it give you everything you need to succeed on this important exam, bringing you one step closer to being certified to teach in Florida.

REA’s FTCE Professional Education Book + Online Prep package includes:

• A complete overview of the FTCE Professional Education test

• A comprehensive review of every competency

• An online diagnostic test to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses and focus your study

• Two full-length practice tests, both in the book and online, with powerful diagnostic tools to help you personalize your prep

• Detailed answer explanations that not only identify the correct answers, but also explain why the other answer choices are incorrect

There are many different ways to prepare for the FTCE Professional Education test. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. Our book and online tests give you the tools you need to customize your prep so you can make the most of your study time.

How to Use This Book + Online Prep

About the Review

The review chapters in this book are designed to help you sharpen your command of pedagogy and professional practices to help you excel on the FTCE Professional Education test. All the skills required for each of the eight competencies are discussed at length to optimize your understanding. Keep in mind that the education courses you have taken thus far have taught you what you need to know to answer the questions on the test. You already possess the know-how to understand and make important decisions about professional situations involving students.

Our review is designed to help you relate the information you have acquired to Florida’s specific competencies. Studying your class notes and textbooks together with our review will give you an excellent springboard for passing the exam.

About the REA Study Center

We know your time is valuable and you want an efficient study experience. At the online REA Study Center (www.rea.com/studycenter), you will get diagnostic feedback right from the start on what you know and what you don’t know.

Here’s what you’ll find at the Study Center:

• Diagnostic Test —Your diagnostic score report will pinpoint topics where you need further review, to help you focus your study.

• 2 Full-Length Practice Tests —These practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve studied with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Then take the second practice test to ensure you’ve mastered the material and are ready for test day.

Each online practice test comes with these valuable features:

• Automatic Scoring —Find out how you did on your test, instantly.

• Diagnostic Score Reports —Get a specific score tied to each competency, so you can focus on the areas that challenge you the most.

• Detailed Answer Explanations —See why the correct response option is right, and why the other response options are incorrect.

• Timed Testing —Learn to manage your time as you practice, so you’ll feel confident on test day.

An Overview of the Test

Who Takes the Test?

The FTCE Professional Education test is taken by teacher candidates seeking certification in Florida. Passing this test is one of the requirements for your first five-year Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

You are eligible to take the test if you are:

• Enrolled in a college or university teacher-education program

• Teaching under provisional certification

• Making a career change to public school teaching

Consult the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Educator Certification at www.fldoe.org/edcert to determine which tests you need to take.

What’s on the FTCE Professional Education Test?

The test’s 120 multiple-choice questions span eight competencies, along with a specific set of skills associated with each competency. The competencies align with expectations of the knowledge Florida teachers should have when they enter the classroom. The test breakdown follows.

Test Breakdown by Competency

What Is the Format of the Test?

All FTCE tests are computerized. The FTCE Professional Education test is strictly a multiple-choice exam, but you’ll find distinctive types of questions that we’ll help you to recognize. In general, the 120 multiple-choice questions require various levels of critical thinking—mirroring the classroom imperative to promote exactly this among your future students. You will encounter three basic types of questions, or items:

• Direct question. Your task is to select the answer choice that best answers the question.

• Sentence completion. Your task is to select the answer choice that best completes the sentence.

• Scenario. Your task is (a) to evaluate a situation, problem or case study, and then (b) select a response that answers a question, makes a diagnosis or offers a recommended course of action.

Each question has four answer choices labeled A, B, C, and D. You will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam.

Who Administers the Test?

The test is developed and administered by the Florida Department of Education in collaboration with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson Education, Inc. Official information on the test is available by contacting the test developer at:

FTCE/FELE Customer Service

Evaluation Systems

Pearson

P.O. Box 660

Amherst, MA 01004-9018

Phone: [phone] (toll free) or [phone]

Website: www.fl.nesinc.com

How do I Register for the Test? Is There a Registration Fee?

To register for the exam, visit the official test website (www.fl.nesinc.com) and follow the instructions. (First-time users will be required to create an account.) You can register for the test online anytime. The test requires a registration fee, which may be paid by personal check, money order, cashier’s check, or Visa or MasterCard.

How is the Test Scored?

According to the Florida Department of Education, depending on which FTCE test form you take, you will need to get about 71 percent of the items correct to pass. So out of 120 items, you need to answer approximately 85 correctly to be successful. This equates with a scale score of 200. This brings us to a common procedure in standardized testing called equating, which means that the required number of correct responses varies based on the number of scorable test questions and the difficulty of the questions on a given test form, as the Florida DOE puts it. Equating is done to equalize varying levels of item difficulty as represented on different test forms. For example, test-takers must answer more questions correctly on an easier form of the FTCE test than on a more difficult form in order to end up with the same passing scale score of 200.

When Will I Receive My Score Report?

Official test scores are released within four weeks of the testing date. You will receive an email notifying you when your official score report is available in your account. An unofficial score report will be provided immediately after your testing session.

Can I Retake the Test?

If you don’t do well on the FTCE Professional Education test, don’t panic! You can take the exam again, and in fact, many candidates do. Retakes are available after a waiting period of 31 days. You must reregister for the exam and pay a retake fee.

REA’s 6 + 6 Test-Taking Strategies and Tips

A good bit of your success on this test will hinge on your ability to be alternately strategic and tactical in your plan of attack. Our 6 + 6 plan will help get you through. We’ll cover six key FTCE-specific strategies plus six key test tips that apply to most standardized tests.

A major part of succeeding on the FTCE Professional Education test is figuring out how to decode the items as efficiently as possible. Regardless of the type of question, each test item is rooted in a specific competency and descriptive statement. Be sure to use our review to familiarize yourself with the competencies and skills associated with the Professional Education certificate.

Each test-item stem contains clues and limiters to help you narrow down the correct answer. Picking the correct response option depends on your ability to identify the competency implied in the item stem and selecting the response that matches the parameters established in the stem.

At first, any of the four response options may seem plausible. In fact, picking the correct response does not mean that the other responses will thereby represent abjectly or otherwise obviously poor choices. Instead, you need to consider which response option best fits the parameters of the stem. In other words, the correct response is conditional or situational because it applies specifically to the circumstances presented in the stem.

Six Strategies to Decode FTCE Test Items

FTCE Strategy #1. Read the item stem slowly and carefully. While you will be interacting with a computer screen, you will also be given scratch paper on which you can make relevant notes to help you work through the items.

FTCE Strategy #2. Pay attention to any limiters included in the stem, such as initial, best, most (as in most appropriate or most likely), first, required or necessary. In items that include these and similar terms, the limiters will enable you to eliminate response options that might work in the scenario but do not fit with the limitation established by the stem.

FTCE Strategy #3. On the basis of the previous two strategies, identify the FTCE competency that is being addressed by the stem. Inferring the targeted competency will enable you to eliminate response options that do not apply to that competency. Identifying the competency represented by the item stem is the most crucial step in ensuring that you respond correctly to the item.

FTCE Strategy #4. Read each response option carefully. This is not a time for skimming. Circle or underline any terms that seem particularly important in the responses. Do not expect obvious wrong answers or trick responses. FTCE test items are constructed to activate higher-order thinking skills that reflect the certification candidate’s breadth of knowledge in the tested competencies and skills.

FTCE Strategy #5. Do not pick your response hastily. As you go about eliminating three of the four response options, make sure you understand why the response is wrong—why it does not fit the parameters established by the stem.

FTCE Strategy #6. When you make your response choice, double-check yourself by asking how the response fits the limitations established by the stem. Think of the stem as a puzzle piece with a blank that can be filled perfectly by only one of the response options.

Let’s consider a sample item to see how you can apply these strategies:

Sample FTCE Stem

Students in a Grade 6 social studies class are having trouble remembering the location of major bodies of water (rivers, lakes, and oceans) in the countries of the world. Which of the following instructional strategies would most effectively engage learners in meeting the teacher’s objective?

Sample Response Options:

(A) The teacher has students work collaboratively to label bodies of water on maps of countries of the world. The teacher encourages students to color and decorate the maps creatively and post them on the class Social Studies board.

(B) The teacher gives each group a list of bodies of water and has students work collaboratively at computer stations to find where they are located.

(C) The teacher administers a series of quizzes that ask students to match bodies of water to the countries in which they are located. Each subsequent quiz covers only the items that all or almost all the students got wrong.

(D) Working in groups, students create a song that imitates the lyrics and music of a favorite song but that focuses on connecting major bodies of water to their global locations.

Analysis Using Response Strategies

• Underscore Grade 6. This will help you make some inferences about the students’ developmental level.

• Underscore remembering. This suggests that students are having trouble connecting the location to the geographic feature (the bodies of water).

• Underscore the limiters in the question: most effectively and engage learners. From your Competency chart and notecards, you should connect this item stem to Competency 3 (Knowledge of instructional delivery and facilitation through a comprehensive understanding of subject matter), which focuses on engaging learners in the learning process. At first glance, all the response options describe good instructional activities, but on closer examination, three do not form a smooth match with the stem.

Let’s work our way through the answer choices to see how you would isolate the correct response:

Analysis of Response Option (A)

(A) is incorrect because it does not include a means to help the students remember. This response might seem correct because the collaborative work is likely to engage learners in the immediate activity; however, the collaboration is irrelevant to the problem identified in the stem.

Analysis of Response Option (B)

(B) is incorrect because no mechanism for remembering is included in the Internet-based activity. This response might seem right, however, because of the integration of technology to help learners complete a classroom task.

Analysis of Response Option (C)

(C) is incorrect because quizzing is not considered an optimum means of engaging learners. However, this response might seem correct because of the retesting to give learners a chance to succeed. This response also fails to address the remembering problem identified in the stem.

Sample FTCE Response Option (D)

(D) is the correct response because it perfectly fits the parameters of the item stem. There is quite a bit of research demonstrating that students remember things when they are set to music. Additionally, the teacher is integrating students’ prior knowledge of popular music and creating an opportunity for them to meaningfully complete an instructional task.

When you start working through our online practice tests, and later when you take the actual FTCE exam, make sure you use this process. It really works!

Each of the review chapters will show you how to identify the core concepts that distinguish each competency. This will help you connect test items to the relevant competency and build proficiency in selecting the correct response options.

Six Tactical Test Tips

Once you understand what makes the FTCE test itself tick, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider test-taking tips that cut across all standardized tests. Reviewing these simple tips is a great way to cut down on potential sources of anxiety.

Tactical Tip #1: Become comfortable with the format of the test. When you are practicing, stay calm and pace yourself. After simulating the test only once, you will boost your chances of doing well, and you will be able to sit down for the actual exam with much more confidence.

Tactical Tip #2: Familiarize yourself with the directions on the test. This will not only save time, but it will also help you avoid anxiety (and the mistakes anxiety causes).

Tactical Tip #3: Read all of the possible answers. Just because you think you have found the correct response, do not automatically assume that it is the best answer. Read through each choice to be sure that you are not making a mistake by jumping to conclusions.

Tactical Tip #4: Use the process of elimination. Go through each answer choice and eliminate as many as possible. If you can eliminate two answer choices, you will give yourself a better chance of getting the item correct since there will only be two choices left from which to make your guess. Do not leave an answer blank; it is better to guess than to not answer a question on the exam as there is no penalty for wrong answers.

Tactical Tip #5: Work at a steady pace and avoid focusing on any one question too long. Taking the timed tests at the online REA Study Center will help you learn to budget your time. Remember to time yourself when taking the practice tests in this printed book.

Tactical Tip #6: When taking computer-based tests like the FTCE, be sure your answer registers before you go to the next item. Look at the screen to see that your mouse click is acknowledged. If your answer doesn’t register, you won’t get credit for that question.

Studying for the Test

When Should I Start Studying?

It is never too early to start studying for the FTCE Professional Education exam. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills and focus your efforts. Do not procrastinate. Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you enough time to learn the test material. Work out a study routine and stick to it. Reviewing your class notes and textbooks along with our book will provide you with a strong foundation for passing this exam.

Study Schedule

Although our study plan is designed to be used in the six weeks before your exam, if necessary, it can be condensed to three weeks by combining each two-week period into one. Be sure to set aside enough time—at least two hours each day—to study. The more time you spend studying, the more prepared and relaxed you will be on test day.

When you take the practice tests at the online REA Study Center, you may find yourself sitting at a computer with a host of tempting distractions. This is not the time to prove how good your multi-tasking skills are. Turn off the television and radio, log out of your email accounts or any social media pages, and be sure to set aside the time you need to do a full-length practice test in one sitting.

As you complete each test, review your score reports, study the diagnostic feedback, and review the explanations to the questions you answered incorrectly. However, do not review too much at any one time. Concentrate on one problem area at a time by reading the question and explanation, and by studying our review until you are confident that you have mastered the material. Devote extra attention to the review sections that cover your areas of difficulty, as this will build your skills in those areas.

FTCE Professional Education Study Schedule

The Day of the Test

As test day draws near, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Check your registration information to find out what time to arrive at the testing center. Make sure you arrive early. This will allow you to collect your thoughts and relax before the test, and will also spare you