First I wanted to share my understanding of the current rules in CA, and what I'm up to. Skip down to get to the links. Please don't take this as final advice, as things are so convuluted that I could be wrong. If you see some glaring error please let me know.
So that said, with the NCLB rules now, taking the higher math courses themselves at a college is pretty worthless as far as getting a hireable credential for those who currently just have a multiple-subject credential, at least the way credentials go in Californi! a. For elementary teachers if you do already have a certain amount of upper math coursework you can get something called a Math authorization added to your credential which enables you to teach Math in grades 9 and below, but that's it. It isn't NCLB compliant and it is unlikely any high school will hire you as you can't teach above grade 9.
Now, if you get the Foundational Math add-on, you can teach any grade level, you just can't teach AP higher level courses. Plus it is NCLB compliant. That encompasses about 95% of the math taught in the state. To get the Foundational Math added on to an Elementary/Multiple Subject Credential you need to pass the first two parts of the CSET single subjects math test, plus take a class on Math teaching methods if you haven't already.
So my point is, why go to math classes if you will need to take the tests anyway to get a math teaching job? Buy a cheap used College Algebra textbook and accompanying solutions m! anual, and download some free lecture videos to help you out. ! Do thin gs on your own schedule, you're a teacher after all and should be able to teach yourself a thing or two.
It is a bit hard to find good videos though or specific resources. A google search for help on CSET Math will lead you to all sorts of con-artists selling you generic test-prep garbage and worthless non-interactive software. Almost none of them are finely tuned to what you need on the very difficult CSET math test. You know the garbage I mean, half the book discussing how you need to get a good night's sleep before the test, don't leave anything blank, that sort of crap. Stuff you better already know if you are at this level anyway. Plus the Algebra on the test is nothing like what you took in high school, it is advanced stuff.
The only specific CSET math printed prep resource that I've heard is good are the study guides offered by Orange County here: If you plan to study a random math book? Well it! had better be a tough college one. Advanced Algebra or PreCalculus. The best targeted online site is from UCIrvine here. There are some videos out there which I won't mention because they seem to completely evolve around graphing calculators and how to use them to do the work for you. As you know you can't use a calculator on CSET subtest 1.
So finally the great free videos I have found for CSET Subtest 1: Algebra are:
College Algebra lectures from Utah Valley University
College Algebra Lectures from University of Missouri
College Algebra and Precalculus Video Tutorials in Realplayer format from Tallahassee CC
University of Idaho has some short little Algebra clips which I only watched briefly but look promising here
Precalculus Lectures from North Carolina State
Annenberg Media has a good series called Algebra: In Simplest Terms
And finally for the more difficult Abstract Algebra portion of the test, which I'm currently having a hard time wrapping my brain around, this series looks like it should help out:
Harvard's Abstract Algebra Course
And last but not least, the brilliant Gilbert Strang of MIT and his Linear Algebra lectures. You also need to know some of the basics of Linear Algebra for the CSET, you will get sucked into watching all of these though as Gilbert keeps you on the edge of your seat with his brilliant delivery.
Harvard's Abstract Algebra Course
And last but not least, the brilliant Gilbert Strang of MIT and his Linear Algebra lectures. You also need to know some of the basics of Linear Algebra for the CSET, you will get sucked into watching all of these though as Gilbert keeps you on the edge of your seat with his brilliant delivery.
In iTunes podcasts and iTunes U there are many mini-lessons that are also helpful, short five minute examples on various topics. There are tons of those, so I will just let you search iTunes on your own for those. Most of the above you can download and then watch at your convenience. Some you have to stream and watch in your browser. (Unless you have the know-how on how to grab them.)
So good luck with the test, know that it takes lots of time to prepare if! you are as math deprived as me.
free algebra tests
No comments:
Post a Comment