I can't help you with the praxis question. I'm an oldtimer; I
took the NTE. I remember the NTE early childhood test having
lots of questions on child development and various
educational theories (Bank Street, Montessori, Piaget,
Erickson, etc.) Where other tests might seem tough due to
content (proving you know algebra in and out), this one might
seem tough to some due to theory. Hopefully some teachers
with younger blood will respond.

Pre-k through 3 jobs are pretty tough to come by, too. I
don't know which market is more saturated, but I would guess
that they would be close. I assume that you are looking at
going back to college since you are talking about a new area
of concentration. Have you considered special ed? I know many
teachers who started their career in special ed, then moved
to regular ed once they had their foot in a district door.
That was my intention, but 15 years later, here I still am. I
would think that a special ed background would immensely help
a reg ed teacher, what with so many students who have
difficulties but still don't qualify for sped services.

In Ohio, if you have the pre-k through 3 licensure, you can
take a few courses to add (I think it's) 4-6 to your
licensure. That might be a good route, then you would be
licensed preschool-12th grade. Of course, you'll go broke
renewing all of those.

Our district has hired several pre-3rd grade teachers, and
one of the biggest complaints I hear from elem teachers is
that they fear they'll never have job stability --if Mrs.
Smith has to be reassigned due to decreasing enrollment but
is only certified through 3rd grade, then Mr. Jones, current
3rd grade teacher who loves his job, might be forced to go to
an open 5th grade position just because he is qualified for
it and she isn't.

I wish you the best of luck.

n 5/10/09, Just Curious wrote:
> I'm considering earning a degree in Early Childhood (Pre- K
> to 3) and was happy to see that there is a Praxis exam for
> this area. I know of several horror stories (and have even
> seen posts on this chatboard) about people who couldn't
> pass certain parts of the elementary (thru grade 8) exams.
>
> So I have a few questions. If you have taken the Pre-K -
> Grade 3 exam, how was your experience? Also, if you have
> managed to obtain a job, either in the past or recently,
> was the competition for positions greater due to those with
> the elementary license or would say that the Pre K- Grade 3
> license carries merit?
>
> And before I get a bunch of links to the Praxis website,
> I'm all too familiar with the tests as I'm licensed 7-12
> Language Arts. (And jobs are slim pickins in my corner of
> OH. Hence, the need for a change).
>
> Great board here! Thank you for your responses!
>
>

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