Praxis II Teaching Foundations: Social Science Exam
This exam is designed to assess your knowledge of teaching foundations for grade 7 through 12, in the State of California. Individuals who take this exam are expected to be familiar with the California public schools teaching performance expectations. You will be given four hours to complete the 50 multiple-choice and two written response questions that comprise this exam. There will be one written response question, covering social science teaching methodology at the high school level. The other written response question will cover social science teaching methodology at the junior high school level. There will be eight to nine multiple-choice questions covering each of the following topics: classroom management, student assessments, reading instruction, teaching English learners, special needs and learning differences, and human development.
Social Science Teaching Methodology at the High School and Junior High School Level
The written response questions will cover the following: monitoring student progress before and during and after instruction, strategies to improve reading skills while teaching social sciences and, working with English learners on a particular subject. Questions regarding adaptation of instruction to meet special needs, usage of instructional strategies, resources and activities used to facilitate student learning, and, prioritization and sequencing of important skills will be included in this section of the exam.
Classroom Management
This section of the exam will cover maximizing instructional time, establishment of procedures for routine tasks, writing student discipline plans and, developing expectations for student’s social and academic behavior. Questions regarding, establishing rapport with students and their families, utilizing social environments to maximize academic accomplishments, and obtaining participation from all students will also be included in this section of the exam.
Student Assessment
Questions regarding student assessment will cover informal and formal student assessments, communication of student behavioral and academic strengths, interpretation of student assessments, modification of instruction, and the purposes of various types of student assessments.
Reading Instruction
This section of the exam will cover instructional strategies to enhance reading appreciation, reading comprehension, written and oral English language skills, and organizational patterns. Questions regarding literary response and analysis of various written texts and media, vocabulary development, fluency, and word analysis will be included in this section of the exam. Questions regarding student mastery of foundational skills for utilization of language forms will be included in this section of the exam.
Teaching English Learners
This section of the exam will cover evaluation of student writing, comprehension and development of academic language, English-language developments, and cultural, cognitive, and individual influences on student language acquisition.
Special Needs and Learning Differences
This section of the exam will cover instructional strategies for special needs students, the impact of student’s health on learning and behavior, learning styles, cultural expectations, and gender differences. Questions regarding learning disabilities, behavioral and emotional disabilities, and mental retardation will be included in this section of the exam. Your knowledge of talented and gifted students, sensory, medical issues, physical challenges, and visual and perceptual challenges of the exceptional student will be assessed in this section of the exam.
Human Development
This section of the exam will cover social, emotional, physical, moral, cognitive, and physical development of adolescents. Questions regarding academic challenges, development of abstract thinking skills, and instructional activities that relate to life after high school graduation will be included in this section of the exam.
