General Curriculum Math And Science #278

Each of the following six sessions is two hours long.  The relevant sections of our video program for the General Curriculum 03 MTEL are provided for those who wish a more complete review of math concepts.  

Our MTEL General Curriculum Math and Science test preparation course covers all the concepts that will appear on the MTEL as well as essential test-taking strategies. Students learn how to avoid the trap of misleading questions and how to tailor their open response to meet the standards of MTEL graders. Believe it or not, the math on this exam is not advanced. The questions are difficult because of the way the test makers package the questions. They are written to confound and confuse; the test taker is often unable to recognize the concepts embedded in the questions and the skills necessary to employ to solve them. You will learn the basic math skills required to pass the exam, how to understand what questions are really asking, and the strategies necessary to attack and solve each question.  Relevant science, technology, and engineering concepts will be explained, and realistic questions reviewed.  The complex math/science open-response question will be covered and practiced.  

The curriculum is a copywritten series of documents and practice exams written specifically for this MTEL. The ETI guarantee is included with the program fee.

Each session begins with students’ questions and a review of the previous session’s homework.

Recommended supplemental study materials (which are NOT included in the fee and must be purchased separately if you want them) are:

Everything you need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook (Workman)

Everything You Need to Know About Geography Homework (Scholastic)

Everything You Need to Know About Science Homework (Scholastic)

All by Zeman and Kelley and published by Scholastic books—they are available on Amazon.

• Session 1:  The instructor guides students through reliable test-taking strategies. Students learn how to recognize multiple choice answers designed to distract or confuse them. They discover the best logical process for narrowing down answer choices. This is unlike other “test-taking strategy” session you have experienced. Multiple-choice exams are a game, but you have not been taught the rules—it’s unfair. This session will give you the tools you need to play the game. You will learn how to NOT fall for attractors—answer choices written specifically to confuse you—how and when to apply the “process of elimination,” and even how to correctly answer questions that you do not know the answer to. Logic and phenomenology drove the development of this program, and it will change the way you experience and approach multiple-choice exams. Current and past MTELs are provided to review and practice the test-taking skills and strategies.

• Session 2: Student questions on previous content and HW are fielded. The instructor reviews the MTEL-critical concepts of ratios, proportions, place value, and number lines. Concepts are explained and examined by completing problems together. Students work more independently as more content is understood and confidence gained. Problems based on MTEL standards are woven into the session to review important concepts, skills, and strategies. Homework is assigned to review concepts learned in class.
• Session 3: Student questions on previous content and HW are fielded. Students move on to studying algebra/functions and start geometry.   More advanced test-taking skills are introduced through problem solving as a group. The instructor guides the class through specific questions to review prior lessons and deepen understanding of important skills and strategies. Homework is assigned to review concepts learned in class.
• Session 4: Student questions on previous content and HW are fielded. This third math session is to finish geometry and cover statistics and probability.  Content related to the exam is reviewed and practiced.  Homework is assigned to review concepts learned in class.

• Session 5: Student questions on previous content and HW are fielded. The instructor teaches information needed for the science portion of this MTEL. The basic science concepts from biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, and physics are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on Open Response content and more complex topics (such as Punnett squares and genetics). Students complete practice tests created using MTEL standards.
• Session 6: Student questions on previous content and HW are fielded. The open-response question is complex and depends on an understanding of both scientific/technological/engineering and mathematical concepts. Learn how to think through and answer the question for maximum credit.  Practice with questions created using MTEL standards.