Test Anxiety…

I have a couple of big exams coming up in the next few weeks.

The first is my mid-term for the American literature class I am taking as an independent study through LSU.  I am worried about it because I know it is essay in nature, and that I have three hours to take it.  I am the world’s slowest writer when it comes to essays! I change my thoughts and rearrange everything a million times until I am satisfied.  For the essay exam, I have to actually handwrite the essays using pen.  You know, the old school way? The way I did it back when I was in college! I have adapted very well to new technology and I seriously don’t know how I am going to make it through this exam.  And I only have three hours? It takes me at least 3 hours just to answer a couple of questions!  It will be proctored by someone at my graduate school.

The second exam I have coming up in just a few weeks is the Praxis: Elementary Ed.  This is the national test that a teacher must take in order to get their teaching license.  I already have two k-12 licenses, but because both are special ed, I must take the elementary teacher exam to add the licensure.  Shouldn’t be too bad, but I have not started studying for it at all….not even a brief glance at the study guide (and I take the test in 13 days!).  Good thing I have been teaching for nine years now and know my stuff ;)  If anyone else has taken this, let me know what I need to know or what you thought of it.  Nic? Any other teachers out there?

I have another Praxis exam I must take in June in order to get my 5-8th grade Communication Arts & Literature license.  This one is going to be EVIL, no doubt.  We’ll worry about that one later.

Going to be so glad when this year is over! I will be completely done with all coursework, exams, and the clinical practice by mid-July.

You know what is ironic? My only real reason for going back to get my elementary licensure was because I wanted more job security in case of budget cuts.  The ironic part is that this is the first year (knock on wood) in the past 5 school years that I am pretty sure my position is safe for next year and I will not need to be job hunting again.  Oh well, its still been a good year and I have learned some new things and met a few cool people.  Too bad it cost me $12,000 to do it.