Becoming a Middle School or High School Teacher in Texas

In preparing for the TEXES PPR, I used a couple of prep books, and of all of them, this was the most comprehensive in terms of information. It is also well-organized and addresses all four domains. Under each domain, the competencies are addressed, e.g.: Domain I (Designing Instruction and Assessment to Promote Student Learning): Competency 1 Competency 2 Competency 3 Competency 4 Domain II (Establishing a Positive Classroom Climate) Competency 5 Competency 6 Domain III (Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment) Competency 7 Competency 8 Competency 9 Competency 10 Domain IV (Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities) Competency 11 Competency 12 Competency 13 Each chapter provides an in-depth discussion of key terms correlating with the domains and competencies. For example, Chapter 1 discusses the theories of growth and development as relating to middle school and high school students. Each chapter also ends with a summary of main ideas, a glossary, suggested activities, practice PPR questions, web links, and references. The theories and core competencies covered are extremely detailed, making this a must-have resource in preparing for the 4-8 and 8-12 PPR exam. I would advise allocating between 1-2 months in order to gain the maximum benefit from this book and in preparing for the PPR exam. The book can also be used as an invaluable resource for beginning middle school/ high school teachers and educators in general.

If you are serious about becoming a great teacher, then you should read this book. It is not just a study prep but a great book on pedagogy, laws related to teaching, testing theories, development theories, discipline techniques....and so much more. I just finished a Master's degree in Education and I'm still learning so much from this book. It has complete and in-depth chapters on each of the 13 competencies and also a final chapter on test taking skills for the 4-8, 8-12 PPR test. This is the kind of reference you can use even after you pass the test!

If you are in an alternative certification program, this is a MUST have to start your career as a teacher. Wong's book is a must-have, as is this one. My first year of teaching, I used this book so frequently, it's become a bible to me.

This book is one of a very few that gives valuable information about the PPR TExES test for middle and high school teachers. It specifically deals with each of the 13 competencies and provides lots of samples and review questions. It's definitely worth the investment, something I can't say about most test-prep books. This one actually has information about good teaching, not just test info.