Texas Teacher Certification Notes

Texas Teacher Certification: State Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree: Must have a bachelor's degree.
  • Educator Preparation Program (EPP): Completion of an approved EPP is mandatory.
  • TExES Exams: Passing the required Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) certification exams.
  • State Application: Submission of a state application for certification.
  • Background Check: Undergo fingerprinting for a background check.

TAMIU Requirements

  • Enrollment: Must be enrolled in and complete all required education courses.
  • GPA: Maintain a required GPA, typically 2.75 or higher, both overall and in the teaching field.
  • Faculty Approval: Must be approved by faculty for both the exam and student teaching.
  • Benchmark Assessments: Passing benchmark assessments.

TExES Exam

  • Definition: TExES stands for Texas Examinations of Educator Standards.

Obtaining Permission for TExES

  • Coursework and GPA: Meeting all coursework and GPA requirements.
  • EPP Approval: Getting approval from your Educator Preparation Program (EPP), such as TAMIU’s certification office.
  • Test Approval Code: Receiving the test approval code via TEAL (TEA login system).

TExES Exam Names

  • Core Subjects EC–6: Exam for early childhood through 6th grade core subjects.
  • Content Area 7–12: Exams for specific content areas in grades 7–12 (e.g., Math, English, History).
  • Science of Teaching Reading (STR): Exam focused on the science of teaching reading.
  • Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) EC–12: Exam covering pedagogy and professional responsibilities for early childhood through 12th grade.

TX Certification Exams Study Tips

  • Official Manuals: Utilize official TExES preparation manuals.
  • Practice Tests: Take practice tests to identify weak areas.
  • TEKS: Study the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
  • Study Groups: Join study groups or tutoring sessions.
  • Study Schedule: Create a study schedule with a minimum of 2–4 weeks.

TExES Exam Information Breakdown

  • Number of Parts:
    • Varies by exam.
    • Core Subjects EC–6 has 5 subtests.
    • Other exams typically have 1 part.
  • Passing Score:
    • 240 out of 300.
  • Testing Time:
    • Typically 4–5 hours, depending on the exam.
  • Number of Attempts:
    • Up to 5 total attempts per exam.
    • Includes the original attempt plus 4 retakes.

Key Areas of Study

  • Content Knowledge: Knowledge of your teaching subject.
  • Teaching Strategies & Pedagogy: Understanding of PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities).
  • Reading Instruction Methods: Knowledge of STR (Science of Teaching Reading).
  • TEKS Standards: Familiarity with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
  • Classroom Management & Assessment Methods

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

  • The state-mandated curriculum for each subject and grade level in Texas public schools.

Standards

  • Expectations set by the state or national authorities that define what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

Content Standards

  • Specific to each subject (e.g., Math, Science).
  • Outline the core concepts and skills students must master in that discipline.

Released STAAR Tests

  • Past STAAR tests made available by the state for practice.
  • Helps in familiarizing with the test format and content.
  • Practice by Grade/Subject:
    • Grades 3–5: Reading, Math
    • Grade 4: Writing
    • Grade 5: Science
    • Grade 8: Social Studies, Science
    • End-of-Course: Algebra I, English I/II, Biology, U.S. History

COE EPP Expectations (College of Education Educator Preparation Program)

  • Student Handbook Information
    • Undergraduate Admissions: Requirements for entering the teacher education program (e.g., GPA, coursework).
    • Field Experiences: Supervised early teaching experiences in local schools before student teaching.
    • Clinical Teaching: Full-time, semester-long classroom teaching under a mentor teacher.
    • FAQs: Program policies, certification steps, GPA rules, and timelines.

Teaching Strategies

  • Pedagogy: The art and science of teaching, including methods, strategies, and how teachers help students learn.

Generic Teaching Strategies

  • Lecture: Teacher-centered delivery of content.
  • Questioning/Discussion: Promoting critical thinking through open-ended questions.
  • Grouping: Cooperative learning or peer activities (pairs, small groups).
  • Role Play/Simulation: Acting out scenarios to deepen understanding of real-world situations.
  • Reflective Inquiry: Encouraging students to reflect on their thinking and learning process.

High-Leverage Teaching Practices (HLTPs)

  • Evidence-based teaching practices that make a strong impact on student learning across subjects and grade levels.
  • Elicit/Interpret Student Thinking
    • Prompting students to explain their thought processes.
    • Analyzing their responses to inform instruction.
  • Communicate with Families
    • Building strong partnerships with families by sharing progress, addressing concerns.
    • Involving them in the learning process.