Checking In

Now that we're into mid-summer, it's extremely important to have your Praxis Core tests scheduled. If you have a voucher, get the test scheduled now. If you don't, you must get a hold of Jen Heid so we can get one ordered for you.

The Finance Office at UTTC is closed for business during the month of June so they can prepare for the end of the fiscal year on June 30. So if you requested a voucher within the month of June, we had to wait until July 1 (Friday) to request payment for your voucher. If you haven't contacted her yet, do so immediately.

There are still lots of questions about student teaching and wondering when you are going to student teach. These are all good questions and we will do everything we can to offer the courses you need that lead up to student teaching.

What we can't do for you is schedule the Praxis tests. This is 100% up to you. And you MUST pass at least two of the tests before you student teach (all 3 is even better). So make sure you allow enough time to take and pass the tests BEFORE you are scheduled to student teach.

You are all going to make phenomenal teachers and if we didn't believe in you, we wouldn't push you so hard. Unfortunately, there are rules beyond our control (like the Praxis tests) that have to be met in order for you to become a licensed teacher. Keep pushing!

Fall 2016 Registration

Leah and Lisa are going to be mapping out class schedules for fall on Monday, June 13, for all returning CEDAR participants. We will be ready to register all returning students after that date so you can get everything in place for fall.

If you haven't scheduled your Praxis Core tests yet, make sure you schedule and take the test(s) as soon as possible. All of you are at or nearing the end of taking courses. You don't want the dreaded Praxis to hold things up for you!

You must pass at least two of the Praxis Core tests before you student teach. We've made two exceptions in the past and simply cannot do it again with the grant nearly done. The CEDAR grant has been extended so there is funding through May 2017.

If you need a Praxis voucher, be sure to contact Jen Heid as soon as possible. This is your responsibility. Unfortunately, because of privacy issues, we cannot register you or do anything with your Praxis accounts or setting up tests.

Stay cool this weekend!

Practice Praxis Core Website

As I mentioned to you within the past few weeks, we ordered accounts for you so you can access a tool called "Magoosh". At the present time, this site is set up to let you practice the Praxis Core Math test. Within the next month, or so, it is supposed to be set up to include Reading and Writing practice tests.

Alicia already has access to this account (I gave her the free account we got as a trial) but the rest of you will have to stop by Jen Heid's office to set up your account (will take about 5 minutes). You have to set up your account in Jen's office because we only have 10 accounts, enough for each one of you. If you accidentally sign in twice when you're setting up your account, you'll use two of them. And we want to make sure everybody gets one.

Once you get your account, you begin studying. Your account will be valid for six months. After you have set up your account with Jen and are registered, you will log in to your account by going to praxis.magoosh.com, using the username and password you used to set up your account.

I will have an instructor account so will be able to see how much you have been prepping for your tests.

For some of you, you need to pass these tests (at least two of them) so you can apply for student teaching for fall. That deadline is in March so watch the Teacher Ed website for due dates.

Let's get started ASAP! 

Student Teaching Application Update

I wanted to remind you about the up-coming deadline for student teaching for fall. This information is on the UTTC Teacher Ed website at http://ted.uttc.edu/field-experience/:

Bismarck Public Schools Student Teacher Placement Schedule

For Fall semester of the 2015-16 school year, the following dates apply:

• March 9, 2015 — Student teacher applications due at Bismarck Public Schools. At this time all applications will be reviewed and considered for placement.
• April 20, 2015 — Notification of placements sent to colleges.

It is your responsibility to keep track of these dates. We've been hearing about a couple of people saying we're not telling you what to do or when due dates are. We have provided you with this information, and have reminded you many times over the past two years, that this information is on the Teacher Ed website.

Of course, if you call or email and ask, we will certainly give you the information. But if you don't get in touch with us, we will presume you know. So watch the deadlines and get those Praxis Core tests scheduled! Hopefully, the practice test sites will be available soon.

2016 North Dakota Indian Child Welfare & Wellness Conference

The 15th Annual North Dakota Indian Child Welfare & Wellness Conference is going to be held February 17 - 19, 2016, at the Baymont Inn & Suites (formerly the Seven Seas Motor Inn) north of Mandan, North Dakota. If you are interested in attending, and WILL attend the sessions, please contact Jen Heid about registration. The CEDAR grant will pay your registration for you.

The deadline to complete the registration form and give it to Jen Heid is Thursday, Jan. 21, at 5 PM.

Praxis Core Online Tutor

We have submitted payment for an account for each one of you for an online Praxis Core tutoring tool called "Magoosh". At the present time, there is only tutoring available for Math. This is a brand new tool that was released this fall so it's still in the development stage. The company is expecting to have the Writing and Reading sections ready this spring.

One of you had the opportunity to pilot this tutoring tool this fall and said it was a great help. So we're purchasing an account for each one of you.

As soon as we get the accounts, we'll share them with you so you can get started. 

Stay tuned!

ND Department of Public Instruction Survey

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is requesting all Teacher Ed students in the state to complete a survey. They want to know why there are decreasing numbers of students pursuing their education degrees, if people are leaving the state to teach elsewhere and so on.

A professor at UND volunteered to develop the survey. Here is the link:

https://und.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1Oc7ua6a1jOwwwB

If you completed this survey in one of your classes, you do not have to do it again.

I will share the results with you after I receive them in late November.


Thank you.