Teacher Certification & Exam Prep Blog

Praxis 5005 & 7005 Science Review: Earth, Life & Physical Science
Elementary Education Exam Resources Future Educator Praxis Praxis 5001 Praxis 7001 Praxis Test Prep Teacher Certification Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
6 min read
Praxis 5005 & 7005 Science Review: Earth, Life & Physical Science

Get ready for the science subtest on your elementary education exam. This post covers the key topics in earth and space science, life science, and physical science, walks through three practice questions on seasons, food webs, and chemical changes, and explains why inquiry is so often the right answer.

The Science of Teaching Reading
Exam Resources Future Educator New Teacher Science of Teaching Reading Teacher Certification Teaching Reading Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
10 min read
What is the Science of Teaching Reading?

Preparing for the Science of Teaching Reading exam? Kathleen Jasper explains the Fab Five components of reading, what explicit, systematic, and recursive instruction means, and how to think like a reading scientist. She also walks through two practice questions on phonics and flexible grouping so you can see these concepts in action on test day.

Praxis Core Writing 5723: Grammar + Essays
Exam Resources Future Educator New Teacher Praxis Praxis Core Praxis Core Writing Praxis Test Prep Teacher Certification Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
8 min read
Praxis Core Writing 5723: Grammar + Essays

The Praxis Core Writing test gives you 100 minutes for grammar questions and two essays. Learn how to think like a test maker, avoid the "that sounds right" trap, master who versus whom, and write argumentative and source-based essays that earn a passing score without reading every word of the prompt.

Praxis 5004 & 7004 Social Studies: Tips & Strategies to Pass
Elementary Education Exam Resources Future Educator Praxis Praxis 5001 Praxis 7001 Praxis II Social Studies Teacher Certification Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
8 min read
Praxis 5004 & 7004 Social Studies: Tips & Strategies to Pass

Getting ready for the Praxis 5004 or 7004 Social Studies subtest? This post breaks down what to study in US history, government, and citizenship, the largest part of the exam, along with geography, world history, and economics. You'll also get two sample questions on map types and comparative advantage, plus a simple tip for using AI to build study timelines.

SLLA 6990 & Praxis 5412: Leadership Exam Strategies That Work
Constructed Response Leadership Exam Praxis School Leadership Teacher Journey Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
4 min read
SLLA 6990 & Praxis 5412: Leadership Exam Strategies That Work

A breakdown of the think like a test maker strategy for the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, covering good words, bad words, and constructed response tips to help candidates pass with confidence.

Praxis Core Reading 5713: Passage Strategy
Future Educator New Teacher Praxis Praxis Core Praxis Test Prep Teacher Certification Teacher Journey Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
4 min read
Praxis Core Reading 5713: Passage Strategy

There is no silver bullet for the Praxis Coreeading exam, but there is a smarter strategy. Learn how to tackle main idea questions and double passages with proven techniques that help you read less and score more.

Praxis 5003 & 7003 Math: Strategies to Pass Your Exam
Elementary Education Future Educator Math Praxis Praxis 5001 Praxis Math Praxis Test Prep Teacher Certification Teacher Journey Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
5 min read
Praxis 5003 & 7003 Math: Strategies to Pass Your Exam

Math anxiety is real, but the elementary math certification exam is beatable with the right strategy. This post breaks down the three major skill categories on the 503 and 703 tests, shows you how to work backwards from your answer choices, and walks through real sample questions so you know exactly what to expect on test day.

What to Say in a Teacher Interview (Word-for-Word)
Future Educator New Teacher Teacher Interview Teacher Journey
4 min read
What to Say in a Teacher Interview (Word-for-Word)

New teacher interviewing soon? Learn the four talking points, classroom management, academic standards, differentiated instruction, and data-driven decisions, that principals want to hear, plus how to phrase them naturally so you don't sound rehearsed.

Better Classroom Questions: Wait Time, Rigor & No Call Outs
Classroom Management Effective Classroom Practices Future Educator New Teacher Professional Development Teacher Journey
5 min read
Better Classroom Questions: Wait Time, Rigor & No Call Outs

A first-year teacher shares the classroom observation feedback that changed her approach to questioning for good: eliminating unison responses, raising the rigor of her questions, and giving students real wait time to think before answering.

Praxis 5205 Study Guide 2nd Edition by Kathleen Jasper
Constructed Response Exam Resources Future Educator New Teacher Praxis Praxis Test Prep Teacher Certification Teaching Reading Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
2 min read
The Praxis 5205 Study Guide 2nd Edition Is Here

Our Praxis 5205 Study Guide 2nd Edition has officially launched! It now includes additional Constructed Response and Extended Response practice, new questions, and QR codes that link straight to video lessons.

How to Ace the Constructed Response on the Reading Exam
Constructed Response Exam Resources Foundations of Reading Future Educator Praxis Science of Teaching Reading Teacher Certification Teaching Reading Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
5 min read
How to Ace the Constructed Response on the Reading Exam

A practical guide to writing strong constructed responses on the STR, Praxis 5205, and Foundations of Reading exams, covering how to read the task first, structure your answer paragraph by paragraph, cite specific evidence, and explain your rationale for full credit.

Reading Exam Secrets: Explicit, Systematic & Recursive Instruction
Constructed Response Foundations of Reading Future Educator New Teacher Praxis Praxis Test Prep Science of Teaching Reading Teacher Certification Teaching Reading Test Prep Think Like a Test Maker
5 min read
Reading Exam Secrets: Explicit, Systematic & Recursive Instruction

This post breaks down the explicit, systematic, and recursive instruction framework behind the FTCE Foundations of Reading, STR 293, and Praxis 5205 exams, and shows how to think like a test maker to identify correct answers using patterns like good words and the three to one rule.

Teacher Interview Checklist
Future Educator New Teacher Teacher Interview Teacher Journey
3 min read
Teacher Interview Checklist: Tips to Nail Your Interview

Heading into a teacher interview? Kathleen Jasper shares a simple three-step checklist covering how to research the school, connect your content area to reading goals, and ask the one closing question every principal remembers.

Classroom Management
Classroom Management Effective Classroom Practices Future Educator New Teacher Professional Development Teacher Journey
5 min read
How to Establish Classroom Routines and Procedures for a Better Classroom

Learn how to build classroom routines and procedures that stick, from identifying key routines to modeling, practicing, and reinforcing them so your classroom runs smoothly all year.