Books, kids, and money wasted in America?

First, have a read:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming

My family spends a bunch of money on books when we can't find time to get to a library. For us, this is not luxury spending. It is spending as vital as groceries. Thinking about this...made me want to get something else off my chest.  We are so busy rushing to this or that activity, that we don't have time to go to the library.


My kids, like most American kids, are heavily involved in activities that are not academic. They do music/sports etc...


I am blown away at how much time we expect our children in this society to spend on extra-curricular activities. Yes, activities outside of school are important. But, at what point is it too much?


I see in the press so many times/places where American schools are compared to schools in other countries. There always seems to be the question of why do American kids have lower test scores than a kid in this or that other country?  I feel the answer is fairly simple: we don't really value education (ie academics) the way we think we do.  We don't really put academics first. Really, we don't.


For example, I know that a certain high school band is practicing 9+ hours a week.  The kids are also expected to practice different music on their own each day.  In order to move this band to and from a local stadium, it took around 5 large buses and 3 trucks.  There are fees approaching $700 for each member of the band that the parents must pay each year in addition to the cost of private music lessons.

I love music.  I love to see my kids participate in sports. There is tremendous value in extra-curricular activities.  But seriously, if kids were studying or reading or practicing math half this much just think about where the state of education in this country would be. If we were spending even 25% of what we pay as parents for extra curricular activities towards things like science lab equipment in our schools, just think of the possibilities.

At the end of the day, what is more likely to pay for your home, your car and your life in general: the way you carried a ball or played an instrument or.... how well you can do math/reading/writing?

Peace.

How I passed the #138 Life Science 8-12 TExES

 

If you are stressing, just breathe, relax and chill like Max here. You'll get through it with steady studying and perseverance.

 

 

Well, long time no blog. I have been busy, for months, studying for my teaching certification exams here in the States. I really didn't find a satisfactory way spelled out on line to study for the Life Science portion, so I thought I'd detail how I studied. Of course, I can't speak about what was actually on the exam, but I can tell you my study method and the books I used.

 

 

Since I've actually been teaching/tutoring math/algebra for a number of years, I was more than a bit nervous about taking a biology exam. But, since my BS degree is in Marine Biology, I needed to pass the Life Science exam before I could tackle any of the math tests.  It's been over 12 years since I did any biology anything other than substitute teach in a biology classroom.

 

 

First, a brief word on the PPR.  I took the one for K-12. In addition to doing every single practice test I could get my hands on, I also memorized all the terminology I was unfamiliar with in every practice test. For instance, if I seemed to miss ELL type questions, I went and looked up definitions for all those ELL terms and related terms and memorized them. I did lots of background research on the internet on subject areas I had not seen in years. Being a biologist, I am used to memorizing large chunks of data. I made lists according to topics and memorized them. I passed the first time with flying colors.

 

 

Now, on to the Life Science 8-12. 

 

I took the test recently, but I started really studying back in July. I went to a used book shop and picked up copies of text books newer than what I already had. I bought a copy of Glencoe Science 'Biology the Dynamics of Life' (high school level book) and an updated, again used, Campbell 'Biology' along with the study guide to accompany Campbell Biology. The study guide cost more than the hardcover text book.  I used these particular titles because they are what I was able to buy easily.

 

 

I did the practice test provided via the state website to get a feel for what I needed to practice. It was kinda 'I needed to practice everything.' So, I started with the high school Glencoe Science. I worked through the entire text book taking notes on particular definitions or diagrams I didn't feel comfortable with. I ended up with about 50 pages (front and back) of hand written notes to go back and review and work with that I had created from the high school book.

 

 

While reading through my hand written notes about every other day, I worked my way through each of the competencies outlined in the downloadable test prep booklet from the state's website using the Campbell Biology book. As I read through Campbell, I made little sticky note tabs marking processes or diagrams I wanted to come back and review further. I think I ended up with about 20 or so sticky noted items that I continually reviewed. I am a very visual learner, so I find diagrams and charts very helpful in addition to paragraphs of explanation.

 

 

Once I finished going through all of the competencies in Campbell including using the chapter questions in Campbell for practice, I downloaded and took the practice test (again, from the state website) of the new Life Science test for 7-12.  I wanted a different practice test to try to spot my weak points.

 

 

A smaller list of weak points in hand, I used the Campbell Study guide to work my way through material I wanted to be stronger with.  It was a very helpful book because the questions were multiple choice.

 

 

I studied anywhere from an hour to 3+ hours a day depending on my schedule. Because I needed to review so much material, I tried to do at least something every day.  I will also add that I used the study guide from Xamonline, but I found working my way through Campbell with the competency list and using the questions at the end of each chapter I needed to review in Campbell along with the Campbell study guide was way more valuable.  I wish I had saved my money and not bought the Xamonline book. It was helpful, but only a tiny bit.

 

 

So....to summarize a bit.....

 

Use a college freshman level/AP level up to date text book to work through the competencies. And, don't neglect a great resource at hand - the questions at the end of the chapters.  How do we teach biology? Well, first you read, then you answer questions or discuss, then you do a hands on something or other.  Us grown-ups learn the same way.  We need to go through the questions at the end of the chapters just like the kids.

 

 

And, obviously from my grammar, I'll never teach English.

 

 

Please feel free to post comments that you think might be helpful to others that do not detail test specifics. No cheating allowed here!

 

 

Peace.