Customer Reviews

Special Education: Core Knowledge Study Guide (Praxis Study Guides)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

In a nut shell, this study guide/practice test is helpful in that it provides an authentic old test of 60 multiple choice questions that is written just as the actual test questions. The study guide portion provides no explanations to the special education topics - you're better off getting a praxis II subject assessment guide from the library and photocopying the 2-3 pages (outline) of what is covered on the 0350, 0351 versions of the Praxis II. Then, look everything up in an introductory Exception Children's (current) textbook. The "Heward blue book" is probably the best guide for this anyway and you probably already have that. Basically, I spent 17.00$ for a 60 question (excellent version) of an actual old test. It would have helped to have at least 120 additional questions for review - two more practice tests mirroring the wording, types of questions, etc. For that, I recommend the NTE/Praxis Test Book which contains over 400 questions-very difficult though. Covers in depth knowledge of everything from mild to profound disabilities. Most of those questions, you would probably never see on the Praxis series for Mild/Moderate disabilities. One thing I've been told about the 0351 test is that it primarily covers general issues within your mild/moderate, or severe to profound categories. After taking some of the practice tests from the NTE Test questions, I was overwhelmed with very difficult questions on Speech Pathology and Physical Disabilities. Compared to the types of questions on the ETS Special Education study guide, these questions tested in-depth knowledge of the different areas of exceptionality. Hope this helps!

I used this book to prepare for the spec ed core content exam and did very well. At first I was not impressed with the book because there was only one practic exam and the book itself is very thin but it did give me direction for studying. I would have focused on the wrong stuff if I would have tried to study on my own.

This book was useful to me ONLY because of the one practice test that is included. I used the practice test to familiarize myself with the types of questions that would be asked on the test, being as this was an actual old praxis exam. The information that this guide contained on the subjects that would be tested can be found for free at the ETS-Praxis website. I found the best way to prepare for this exam was to answer as many practice questions that I could find, and then research the answers for the questions that I got wrong. I also used questions from both XAM special education study guides, the one for the cali test and the one for the praxis test. I passed both parts of the Praxis for certification in MD.

My wife just took the Praxis test this book was supposed to prepare her for. It suggests that legislation and court case decisions are an important subject that will be covered and the practice test does cover it. But guess what? She took the test and there was NOTHING like this on the test. She was shocked. Instead it heavily covered dissabilities and what would be the best course of action in the illustrated situations.
It also didn't focus only on common dissabilities. Also mentioned were the less common ones like Mutism and Prader-Willi Syndrome. There may have been different versions of the test, so maybe she just was unlucky. Common sense seemed to be the most valuable skill tested.

The book serves as a great guide to studying for the praxis. It outlines the topics convered on the exam. However, as there is only one practice test included in the booklet, you still need to use your textbooks to study the information outlined in the book. Would be more helpful if the practice test was on a CD.

I didn't expect this book to be so skinny. It does give a good overview of what to study for. It's pretty much just lists topics. If you need freshening on topics then you need to pull out the text books.

The only part of the study guide that helped was the practice test in the back of the book. The other items in this was not helpful at all. In fact, the guide did not help and I have attempted to pass this test 4 times. It does not give you a good sense of what is on the test and if you base what you read in the guide and take the test, the only thing that is similar is the set up of the questions NOT the content. So do not study what the questions say, study how the questions are formed.

In the world of differentiated instruction, this test is 60 multiple choice. It sets you up for failure. I hope you pass as I do.

This was an OUTDATED text that covered up to IDEA'97. My actual test primarily covered IDEA 2004, which had a number of amendments I knew nothing about. Essentially, almost nothing in the Praxis preparation booklet was in the state test. I'm not sure if I passed; the test dealt with severe disability syndromes, but I'm studying LD students. Will look for another book that is not so out of touch. Even the text book I used as recommended by a college (used in their intro SPED courses) was 8 years behind and had little material that was specific enough to be included on the exam. I was upset because I had studied a lot, and have taught a similar population of students at the community college level for over 10 years, so I should know something about the subject. VERY DISAPPOINTED. Not being up to date with current legal changes in Spec Ed laws was totally uncalled for. Scottie Kelly

This book helped me so much. I read this book from cover to cover. I also took the test multiple times, until I got every answer right. I took the test and passed it! I really think this book is a great tool in preparing for the real test!

I bought this study guide for preparation for the Praxis I. It's been almost 20 years since I was in high school and was really worried about the math section of the test. I thought the reviews of all (reading, writing, and math) were good. I read through the reading and writing as a refresher and really studied the math section. I tested myself several times using the tests in the book. I especially liked that in the answer guide for the test it gives the reason for that answer.

I took the test and passed all three sections. I think this study guide was worth the money and played a huge part in my passing of the Praxis I.