Path to Certification: The Teacher's Guide

In this episode, I break down three concepts that frequently appear on reading exams: supporting English learners through their first language and cognates, building oral language through modeling and expansion, and teaching vocabulary using the three-tier framework. I share practical strategies—like leveraging cognates and prioritizing Tier 2 words—to help you ace your Teaching Reading exam and g...

In this episode, I walk you through how to answer one of the trickiest moments in a teacher interview — when the principal asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" I share my top question strategies for veteran teachers, new teachers, and everyone in between, explaining why asking just one, well-chosen question can leave a lasting impression. Whether you're a first-year teacher sho...

In this episode, I share one of the most powerful strategies for passing reading exams like the Foundations of Reading, Praxis 5205, and STR: learning to think like a test maker. I break down the research-based practices — such as explicit instruction, formative assessment, scaffolding, and strengths-based approaches for English learners — that consistently appear in correct answer choices. I also...

In this episode, I break down what principals are really looking for in a teacher interview — and it's not just content knowledge. I cover the three key areas you need to nail: classroom management, flexibility, and standards literacy, along with the specific phrases that will set you apart. I also share tips on how to stay positive and professional throughout the process so you can walk out...

In this episode, I walk you through the key concepts you need to know for common reading certification exams, including the Praxis 5205, Foundations of Reading Test (FORT), and the STR 293. I break down the three pillars of effective reading instruction — explicit, systematic, and recursive teaching — along with the Big Five of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and compreh...

In this episode, I break down Content Category Six: Community Engagement Leadership for the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, focusing on how effective school leaders build trust through proactive community involvement, transparent communication, and meaningful partnerships. I share key exam concepts like equity, access, representation, and culturally responsive leadership, along with practical strategie...

In this episode, I break down Content Category 4 of the Praxis Early Childhood Education Exams 5534 and 5533, focusing on professionalism, ethical practices, and building strong partnerships with families and communities. I explain how reflection, feedback, collaboration, and effective communication play a major role in both real-world teaching and choosing the best answers on the exam. 🎥 Watch t...

In this episode, I break down Content Category 5 of the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, focusing on organizational leadership through school safety and budgeting. I share key exam strategies for using data-driven decision-making, improving safety protocols, and understanding how budgets should align with student achievement and teacher support. 🎥 Watch the full strategy session here: Organizational Le...

In this episode, I break down developmentally appropriate teaching practices for the Praxis Early Childhood Education exams 5534 and 5533, focusing on how to maintain high expectations while supporting every learner. I explain how to identify strong answer choices on the exam by looking for strategies that emphasize scaffolding, flexibility, and grade-level rigor instead of lowering standards. 🎥...

In this episode, I break down ethical leadership with a focus on due process and how it applies to both students and teachers in real school settings. I explain why investigation, documentation, and following protocols are essential before making decisions, especially in high-stakes situations. I also highlight the importance of protecting individual rights while maintaining fairness and accountab...

In this episode, I break down one of the most important topics on the Praxis Early Childhood Education exams (5534 and 5533): observation, documentation, and assessment. I explain how to use data to drive instruction and walk you through common test traps to avoid. I also share practical strategies, like small-group, targeted instruction, that will help you choose the best answers and feel confide...

In this episode, I break down Content Category 3—Climate and Cultural Leadership—for the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, focusing on how school leaders shape a positive, supportive environment. I walk through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it applies to teachers, highlighting how trust, collaboration, and support drive both teacher success and student achievement. I also share how to identify the stron...

In this episode, I break down key concepts you need to know for the Praxis 5534 Early Childhood Education exam, focusing on typical versus atypical child development and why you shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I explain how to support students through observation, scaffolding, and differentiation while avoiding extreme answer choices, and I highlight the importance of language and culture for multi...

In this episode, I break down how school and district leaders use assessment data to drive instructional decisions and improve student outcomes. I explain how to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, understand formative vs. summative assessments, and apply these insights for exams like the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412. I also share practical strategies for using data to support teachers, p...

In this episode, I walk you through a simple but powerful strategy to tackle overwhelming constructed response and scenario-based questions on the Praxis Special Education exam with confidence. I explain how working backwards, starting with the question before reading the scenario, helps you stay focused, choose strong strategies, and clearly justify your answers. I also break down exactly what Pr...

In this episode, I break down what resilient leadership really looks like and why it matters not just for exams like the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, but in real-world school leadership. I share how embracing mistakes, using data to adjust course, and staying adaptable are key traits interview panels and districts are truly looking for. I also walk through practical examples of how I’ve seen resilie...

In this episode, I share three key themes that appear again and again on ESOL/ESL teacher certification exam and explain how recognizing them can help you answer questions more quickly and accurately. I walk through what test makers are really looking for—standards-based critical thinking, the connection between language and culture, and supporting students’ first language while building English....

In this episode, I clear up the confusion between the new Praxis Early Childhood exams 5534 and 5533 and explain which one most teachers will actually need to take. I break down the structure of the 5534 exam, the five key content areas it covers, and the major themes the test emphasizes, including child development, assessment, family partnerships, and culturally responsive teaching. I also share...

In this episode, I break down special education exam strategy and show you how to think like the test maker so you can quickly spot the best answer—even when all the choices seem right. I walk you through key concepts like IDEA, least restrictive environment, functional behavior assessments, positive behavior supports, and strong routines, while sharing practical tips for eliminating punitive or e...

In this episode, I break down what instructional leadership really means for exams like the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412, and why it always starts with using data to drive decisions. I walk you through how strong leaders combine quantitative and qualitative data to design targeted, teacher-led professional development and build leadership capacity within their schools. If you’re preparing for a leade...

In this episode, I walk you through sample test questions from the Praxis Teaching Reading exam so you can see exactly how phonemic awareness, phonics, morphology, and fluency show up on the test. I break down how test makers think, how to spot “NOT” questions and the next logical instructional step, and why words like explicit, systematic, and recursive matter so much. If you’re preparing for the...

In this episode, I break down what strategic leadership really looks like, starting with the data analysis that must happen before any meaningful decisions are made. I explain why disaggregated data is essential for identifying gaps, allocating resources, and improving instruction—both for real-world leadership and for success on the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412. I also walk through how strong leader...

In this episode, I break down how to confidently tackle the open or constructed response portion of reading exams without panicking or overthinking. I explain the predictable question types, show you how to work backwards from the task, and walk through a clear paragraph-by-paragraph structure that helps you earn full credit. I also model how to identify the right reading skill, choose a research-...

In this episode, I break down strategic leadership and explain why shared vision, shared goals, and shared decision-making are at the heart of effective school leadership—and leadership exams like the SLLA 6990 and Praxis 5412. I walk through how vision and mission connect to actionable, data-driven goals, why needs assessments come first, and how collaborative leadership shapes school culture. Wh...

In this episode, I break down the foundations of reading and explain how effective reading instruction is taught using clear learning objectives. I walk you through the “Fab Five,” unpack explicit, systematic, and recursive instruction, and show you how these skills build toward comprehension and metacognition. I also share practical strategies for transferring multiple-choice knowledge into stron...