Okay, this is going to be a weird post. I decided to document my experiences as a teacher in NYC - Bronx and the steps I am taking in order to earn multiple certifications. It makes you more marketable in a very competitive world.
As a note, I did not follow the normal track towards teaching. I applied for the Teaching Fellows in New York and I was accepted through that program. Unlike most of my counterparts, I am actually a native New Yorker, raised in uptown Manhattan. There are various Teaching Fellows programs in major states for example Boston, I know Washington, D.C. has a program and so on. I was accepted into the TESOL program and I had about 18 credits to make up.
As a caveat, I entered the program with a Masters in Economics w/ a specialization in Developmental Economics, about 4 bachelors (I like to study) ranging in Political Science, Economics, Anthropology and French. However, I was missing credit because I earned my first degree in England. However I had to earn a MSc in Education in order to teach in NYC. While studying in England you are on a focused study so you don't take "required" classes like in the US...you're required classes are the classes you need to graduate within your major. I took my Art class at my Uni and I had to take CLEP exams to make up the rest.
Why am I creating a thread for this? Because I plan on taking 15 CLEPs in total. Yeah, a lot. Not as many as some of you guys have already taken, but a lot. I'm about to expound on why I am taking so many. Although I will earn my Certification in TESOL, I would like to earn my licenses in ELA, Social Studies, Special Education, and Theatre Arts. The only CLEP test that will help me earn the credits for certification in Special Education and Theatre Arts is Educational Psychology. The other classes for those certifications will be earned at school.
However here is the list for Social Studies:
1. American Government
2. Western Civilization I - PASSED (54)
3. Western Civilization II
4. US History I
5. US History II
6. Social Sciences and History
7. Human Development
State Required Exam: 8. CST (Content Specialty Test) History - PASSED
Despite the fact I have a Political Science degree and a Masters in Developmental Economics, I would still need history targeted credits. I get these down and I'm good.
As a note, I did pass Western Civilization I with a 54, I did not study before taking this examination. Not a lick - I might have glanced at the REA book but fell asleep. I just got up and went and took it. I did try to study for Western Civilization II - and earned a 49 for my effort (French Revolution was always my weakest topic). Anyway that's what hurt me. I plan on taking it again in October and I'll tell you how I did.
For the ELA certification I need a few exams:
1. American Literature
2. British Literature
3. Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
4. College Composition Modular - PASSED (55)
5. Humanities
State Required Exam: 6. CST (Content Specialty Test) ELA
As a note, I did pass the College Composition with a 55. This was another examination I did not study for and I was literally half asleep taking it. I was surprised I passed considering I did not finish the essays. I hate writing essays on a whim. Just FYI, I can write very well because on my Teaching test I scored a perfect score on my essay portions. I just hate writing something relevant within 45 minutes...I need to flesh things out. My tip for this exam. If you speak English you'll be fine just remain calm and relaxed.
Final exams of required classes that I would need to take are:
1. Biology
2. Natural Sciences
3. Chemistry
Technically speaking I just need one of these. But my ego is telling me to take all three and pass. I was studying diligently for Natural Sciences, but crapped out of it when I saw some of the comments and did Biology, but wasn't as diligent. I took both on Friday of last week. Ugh, I bombed the Biology with a 45 -- Just not anything I studied. But I will say if you go to the Biology CLEP thread here and take the study sheet provided in post #177 that was my exam - LITERALLY. If I had been serious and diligent in that thread and studied that post and posts #111, #113, & #177, I would have passed. But I did not study that so ugh, just glanced at it. Now I found Natural Sciences ridiculously easy, and had I continued in my studying I would have been successful...I earned a 49 (CLEP REA book for NS was my base), but I could have passed that one. I felt that the Natural Sciences test was the Biology test...several times I checked to make sure it was NS and not Bio. No questions on Electricity or Astronomy. It was mainly surface stuff on Ecology & Biology.
In this thread I'll break down the study material I will use for each test after I take a test and if I succeeded. I have the dates of my CLEP exams in place.
September 26, 2015 (my test center ONLY allows two tests a day):
1. Educational Psychology
2. American Government
Primary Texts: REA CLEP study guides for American Government and Introduction to Educational Psychology.
I happen to be an American History buff and used to work for Political non-profits not to mention I teach Participation in Government...If I crap out and not study for the American Government exam, you'll know why. However, I do think I need to brush up on some things such as dates, and specific names of programs. I plan on reading a chapter every three days of both texts.
A chapter will be read one day and then the follow days is practice tests online and video supplements that I find...I'll post those later.
If you're willing to follow me on this journey towards my multiple certifications I'd love for you to come and give me feedback.
As a note, I did not follow the normal track towards teaching. I applied for the Teaching Fellows in New York and I was accepted through that program. Unlike most of my counterparts, I am actually a native New Yorker, raised in uptown Manhattan. There are various Teaching Fellows programs in major states for example Boston, I know Washington, D.C. has a program and so on. I was accepted into the TESOL program and I had about 18 credits to make up.
As a caveat, I entered the program with a Masters in Economics w/ a specialization in Developmental Economics, about 4 bachelors (I like to study) ranging in Political Science, Economics, Anthropology and French. However, I was missing credit because I earned my first degree in England. However I had to earn a MSc in Education in order to teach in NYC. While studying in England you are on a focused study so you don't take "required" classes like in the US...you're required classes are the classes you need to graduate within your major. I took my Art class at my Uni and I had to take CLEP exams to make up the rest.
Why am I creating a thread for this? Because I plan on taking 15 CLEPs in total. Yeah, a lot. Not as many as some of you guys have already taken, but a lot. I'm about to expound on why I am taking so many. Although I will earn my Certification in TESOL, I would like to earn my licenses in ELA, Social Studies, Special Education, and Theatre Arts. The only CLEP test that will help me earn the credits for certification in Special Education and Theatre Arts is Educational Psychology. The other classes for those certifications will be earned at school.
However here is the list for Social Studies:
1. American Government
2. Western Civilization I - PASSED (54)
3. Western Civilization II
4. US History I
5. US History II
6. Social Sciences and History
7. Human Development
State Required Exam: 8. CST (Content Specialty Test) History - PASSED
Despite the fact I have a Political Science degree and a Masters in Developmental Economics, I would still need history targeted credits. I get these down and I'm good.
As a note, I did pass Western Civilization I with a 54, I did not study before taking this examination. Not a lick - I might have glanced at the REA book but fell asleep. I just got up and went and took it. I did try to study for Western Civilization II - and earned a 49 for my effort (French Revolution was always my weakest topic). Anyway that's what hurt me. I plan on taking it again in October and I'll tell you how I did.
For the ELA certification I need a few exams:
1. American Literature
2. British Literature
3. Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
4. College Composition Modular - PASSED (55)
5. Humanities
State Required Exam: 6. CST (Content Specialty Test) ELA
As a note, I did pass the College Composition with a 55. This was another examination I did not study for and I was literally half asleep taking it. I was surprised I passed considering I did not finish the essays. I hate writing essays on a whim. Just FYI, I can write very well because on my Teaching test I scored a perfect score on my essay portions. I just hate writing something relevant within 45 minutes...I need to flesh things out. My tip for this exam. If you speak English you'll be fine just remain calm and relaxed.
Final exams of required classes that I would need to take are:
1. Biology
2. Natural Sciences
3. Chemistry
Technically speaking I just need one of these. But my ego is telling me to take all three and pass. I was studying diligently for Natural Sciences, but crapped out of it when I saw some of the comments and did Biology, but wasn't as diligent. I took both on Friday of last week. Ugh, I bombed the Biology with a 45 -- Just not anything I studied. But I will say if you go to the Biology CLEP thread here and take the study sheet provided in post #177 that was my exam - LITERALLY. If I had been serious and diligent in that thread and studied that post and posts #111, #113, & #177, I would have passed. But I did not study that so ugh, just glanced at it. Now I found Natural Sciences ridiculously easy, and had I continued in my studying I would have been successful...I earned a 49 (CLEP REA book for NS was my base), but I could have passed that one. I felt that the Natural Sciences test was the Biology test...several times I checked to make sure it was NS and not Bio. No questions on Electricity or Astronomy. It was mainly surface stuff on Ecology & Biology.
In this thread I'll break down the study material I will use for each test after I take a test and if I succeeded. I have the dates of my CLEP exams in place.
September 26, 2015 (my test center ONLY allows two tests a day):
1. Educational Psychology
2. American Government
Primary Texts: REA CLEP study guides for American Government and Introduction to Educational Psychology.
I happen to be an American History buff and used to work for Political non-profits not to mention I teach Participation in Government...If I crap out and not study for the American Government exam, you'll know why. However, I do think I need to brush up on some things such as dates, and specific names of programs. I plan on reading a chapter every three days of both texts.
A chapter will be read one day and then the follow days is practice tests online and video supplements that I find...I'll post those later.
If you're willing to follow me on this journey towards my multiple certifications I'd love for you to come and give me feedback.
![[-]](https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/images/collapse.png)
