I PASSED THE TEST!!!!!!!!!!

[Whoa_Nelly]

FINALLY passed the last test to earn my CA credential for California Teacher of the English Learner (CTEL).

And, the good news is, it's a credential that has reciprocity in almost every state, and I will never have to take this NCLB -created and EXPENSIVE test again! :woohoo:

Celebrate with me!

This is how I feel today
(not only bout the passing the test, but also about Obama! :D )

[crimsonblue]

1. Congrats...

so how many tests did you have to take in total to become a certified teacher?

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Coming to CA from teaching in NV

CBEST (this test gave me my preliminary certification so I could begin teaching here)
RICA
CTEL (a three-part test, each with it's own price tag...they call it fees :eyes: )

And, even though I taught for 10 years in NV (Reno: Washoe County), am considered a first year teacher here in CA, so am in a New Teacher program that lasts two year...am in year one. And that part is actually a cakewalk for me, as well as having some of the required classes excused because of my extensive Sp Ed and General Ed. classes taken in college.

Although CA makes it a real pain in the ass to jump multiple hurdles to continue being a certified and credentialed teacher, the positive side of it all is that because of CA's rigorous standards, most states give reciprocity to the credentials.
So, were I to return to NV or AZ to live, I would only have to earn 6 additional college crdits form one of their universities to gain certification. Not too shabby :)

[crimsonblue]

8. damn, that sounds about as intensive as professional school.

I guess I kinda thought teachers just earned their Bachelor's in their area field and just taught after that. That seems to be what has happened at my old high school.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Every state requires that teachers continue their education while teaching

All teachers have to earn a certain amount of credits over time (usually 4-6 years, depending on the state regs), in order to renew their certification.

It's a never-ending (sometimes forced upon) quest for learning.
I will have to take a two-year SpEd course before end of May 2012 if I want to be able to renew my SpEd certification.
But, passing this final CTEL test, and finishing the BTSA (the current training am in until May 2011) should give me what I need to renew my General Ed, certification in 2012.

whew! :eyes:

[crimsonblue]

12. What kind of Sped do you teach?

The gifted kind, or the mentally challenged kind?

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Learning Disabled and Mildly Mentally Handicapped

at the high school level.

Am currently teaching in resource and Special Day classrooms:
Math Readiness (basic Math skills)(grades 9-12)
World Geography & Cultures/Western Civ (Grade 9 and three Seniors who need the credits)
World History (Grade 11)
Study Skills/Life Skills (Grades 9-12)


busy busy busy! :yoiks:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. congrats Whoa_Nelly

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Love your monkey!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Thanks so much, TA! :loveya: :hi: :hug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Congratulations!

The world needs more teachers.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Peake!

Thank you!

Every time someone has said that to me through all my years in college and teaching, it inspires me.

There really are good teachers, and in teaching high school SpEd, there are days when I want to tear the rules apart and stomp on the powers that be that keep these kids in inappropriate settings, or try to limit what I can do for them as a teacher. But, I persevere because of people like you who also believe that we teachers can make a difference.

Thanks. :loveya: :hi: :hug:

[SPKrazy]

4. Congrats Nelly!!!!!

I know that is a BIG DEAL!!!!!

Good for you!

:hug:

:woohoo:


:party: :party: :party:



:beer:


:loveya:

good job!

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. SPK!

Through good and bad, and thick and thin, am so glad we are friends!

Thanks! You mean a lot to me! :loveya: :hi: :hug: :pals:

[SPKrazy]

34. Same here

same here

:hug:

:loveya:

[Dystopian]

10. Congratulations!

This is a really big deal! Very happy for you...
I love your kitty happy dance!
Also, love to hear others' good news as it lifts my own spirits!
Thanks for sharing and spreading the happiness:hug:

:bounce:
:party:
:toast:

peace~

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Obama taking office, and passing the test

We are all lucky today!

Thanks, Dystopian! :loveya: :hi: :hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. Congratulations!

Well done! :toast:

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. Thank you!

philboy! :hi: :loveya: :pals:

[FloridaJudy]

15. All I can say is...

[Whoa_Nelly]

19. That card is a smile-maker!

Thank you so much, FJ! :hi: :loveya: :pals:

[lightningandsnow]

16. Congratulations!

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. AGrrl!

Thank you! :woohoo:

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[bridgit]

21. Congrat'z Nell!!

:toast: :party:

[Whoa_Nelly]

23. bridgit!

Thank you! :hi: :loveya: :hug:

We should try to meet up this year sometime!

2009 is definitely year for celebrations of all kinds! :woohoo:



How's the fog in your area?
Ours was so bad yesterday, buses were cancelled.

Am I an evil teacher for enjoying a day of teeny-tiny and calm classes?
(the few naughty students I have didn't come to school because of this,
and since these same students are in other teachers' classes,
it was a happy and mellow Friday for many of us.)

Even though I have a full weekend of writing IEPs and the new Geography curriculum guide, having those students gone for a day was a nice intro into a 3-day weekend ;)

[Ptah]

22. Excellent, Whoa_Nelly!

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

24. Ptah!

A desert bloom!

Perfect!

Thank you! :loveya: :hug: :hi:



Seneca's happy, too!

[Ptah]

26. Aw, give her a belly rub for me.

[rug]

25. Needs a new title. "The English Learner" doesn't sound right.

Congrats though!

[Whoa_Nelly]

28. Thanks, rug!

In education, it's all about the acronyms regardless of how clumsy the actual title reads :P


:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

30. To be totally accurate

Here is the actual wording for the acronym CTEL





I knew it was something like I had originally posted...am just so excited, I didn't care about getting that part totally correct.

Will I now have my passing test score revoked? :cry:

[sasquatch]

27. Yay, I need to take my Praxis I some day too

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

29. Good luck to you when you do take the Praxis!

It's a costly test!

Am glad I don't need it as I took the National Teacher Test in the days before the Praxis was created.

Thanks for the support and congrats! :hi: :loveya: :pals:

[graywarrior]

31. Yay! That's fantastic!

Congratulations!!!!!!!

[Whoa_Nelly]

32. And with the new LOST season starting up

And Obama in the WH, life is pretty peachy keen right now! :woohoo:

Thanks, gray! :hi: :loveya: :hug:

[graywarrior]

33. Series!!!!1111

And I got food stamps AND unemployment checks? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[Whoa_Nelly]

43. Party on, dude!

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!





:hide:

[ThomCat]

35. Congratulations!

That's quite a happy dance you have going on there. :rofl:

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

37. And good news on you, too!

Glad to read the other day that you're no longer allergic to your meds! :woohoo:

Thanks, ThomCat! :hi: :loveya: :hug:

[XemaSab]

36. w00t!

:bounce:

[Whoa_Nelly]

38. Xema! Babycakes!

Thanks! :hi: :loveya: :hug:


(now...will CA throw any more scary monsters from the hidden grove at me...? :rofl:
Damn! I was really freaked out that night we went to the scary farm! )


:hi:

[XemaSab]

39. That chainsaw still gives me nightmares!

That was HILARIOUS!

I went to a haunted house in LA, but it wasn't the same. :(

[Whoa_Nelly]

41. The guy with the chain saw was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to serious in his role playing

Gotta go back to the one here...best one have ever seen!







and their Christmas edition looks a little freaky, too! :rofl:


http://hobbsgrove.com/frinfo3.html

[XemaSab]

44. Santa Clause?*

*Not the real Santa.

[Whoa_Nelly]

50. ROFLMAO!

:spray:

Humor in the Central Valley as only Central Valleyonians can do it... :P

[auntAgonist]

40. You deserve to be doing a happy dance! I'm very proud of

you.

Congratulations on a job well done.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[Whoa_Nelly]

42. aA!

:loveya: kesha!

Thanks! :hi: :hug:

[child of the one]

45. Great! Question: is that certification for ESL/ELL? I am curious because I'd like to go into SPED

and also use my ESL endorsement, but you can only become an ESL teacher in my state if you have elementary certification:(

[Whoa_Nelly]

51. ELL

You should go into SPEd... need more SpEd teachers

If you have ESL, you could certainly put your ESL to good employment use, too!


If you want to teach SpEd though, you have to have have a certain amount of credits or a degree in SpEd, depending on which state you line in.

I have two BS ed. degrees: general and SpEd.

:hi:

[child of the one]

60. After I had completed my TESL minor, I was told that I could only get an endorsement in my state

if I had an elementary or high school certificate! I guess because you're working with elementary kids you would need a background on ELED? I dunno, but it irked me because I wanted to do the whole SPED thing AND get an ESL endorsement, just to up my chances of getting a position. Thanks for the info!

[VenusRising]

46. Congratulations!

:toast::party::hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

52. Venus!

Thank you! :loveya:

:hi: How are you doing??? :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

47. Congrats!

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

54. Your faith in me as a Warrior Woman may continue

Thanks, CMW!!! :hi:

Please tell The Wiley and Excellent Boy Cat Named Ginger for me! :loveya: :D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

48. My dear Whoa_Nelly!

What great news!

I know how hard you've worked...and now it's paying off......BIG TIME!

:yourock:

[Whoa_Nelly]

55. Guess I'll stick around CA a while longer

Thanks, dear Peg! :hi: :loveya: :hug:

[fight4my3sons]

49. Congratulations!

I'm in the middle of Praxis hell here. My NY certification is nothing here in Maine.

[Whoa_Nelly]

57. Seems that teachers should be able to teach in any state

without having to go through all the fees (more state revenue!) to gain access to a career that proably cost about $60K or more to get.

Teachers
Needed everywhere.
Restricted everywhere.

Hang in there!
Am glad to hear you are going for it! :hug: :hug: :hug:

[bigwillq]

53. Congrats!

:toast: :bounce: :hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

58. awwww shucks, bigwillq!

Thanks! :D :loveya: :pals:

[Haole Girl]

56. Congrats on your accomplishment!

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

59. KC2!

Thanks! :hi: :pals: :loveya: