Mathematics Teaching Degree WGU -in progress!

[teacher2]

Completed another course while on the way to Praxis 5169! I have been buckling down and pressing to complete as many courses as I can by Sept 1. I was discussing Demonstration Teaching with my Student Mentor two weeks ago wherein I learned that in order to enter the spring cohort I had to fulfill certain requirements and have 12 or less CU's remaining by Sept. 1. Upon further research in the Field Handbook, I learned that in order to enter the spring DT, I must apply for it between June 1-September 1. I completely should have researched this!!!! I am currently at 17 CU's remaining and have completed some of the requirements. I am feeling a bit stressed as my Praxis 5169 test is this Friday and my next course is promising to be more time consuming with both an objective and performance assessment. I think at most I can complete one more course which would bring me down to four left. I am hoping that if I can do this and finish most of the remaining requirements, perhaps I would be allowed to apply on conditions. By December, I will definantly have all my courses and other requirements done. I kick myself for not researching this earlier as this blunder may cost me another 6 month term at WGU. I have listed the requirements for anyone who might be curious.

Preclinical Observation Requirements (MUST BE DONE BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY FOR DEMONSTRATION TEACHING)

Completed
-School and District Request
-Resume
-Preclinical Experience Background Clearance
-Preclinical Experience Orientation
-Professional Liability Insurance

Uncompleted
-Basic Skills Exam Scores (have Math scores in)
-Preclinical Experience Verification (This is where you verify that a school will host your PCE)

DT Approval Requirements

Completed
Demonstration Teaching Background Clearance

Uncompleted
Content Exam Registration
Demonstration Teaching Cohort Confirmation
Mentor Evaluation

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And now for the good news! I finished Introduction to Instructional Planning and Presentation this afternoon. I spent all day Saturday,Sunday and part of Monday (26 hours) studying. I found the information to be interesting but maybe not as well organized as Fundamentals of Diversity class I took last weekend.
The Teacher College has switched over to the competency grading system now -which I do not like! The Pre-Assessment was very close to the final on this one which was comforting as I was pretty tired!
These Educational Tests are very very situational so it makes the tests slightly harder. Overall this course has some overlap from prior courses and yet building on them as well. I am pretty thankful I took the Educational Courses through Study.com as I feel that they gave me a basic intro for the courses I am doing now. If time were on my side, I would have grouping all my pedagogy courses together as it saves a little time with the facts fresh in mind from each prior course.
Here is what the course looked like:

Communication and Student Success (BOLD ARE COMPETENCIES)
-Student Interactions
-Parent-Teacher Communication
-Productive Parent Conferences
-Communicating with Colleagues
Developing Academic Language
-Supporting the Development of Academic Vocabulary
-Language Demands
Technology, Pedagogy, Instruction, and Learning
-Technology and Instruction
Creating Effective Learning Environments
-Physical Learning Environments
-Academic Learning Environments
-Social and Emotional Learning Environments
Designing Learning Outcomes
-Standards
-Objectives
-Taxonomies
Identifying, Incorporating, and Evaluating Learning Resources
-Learning Resources and Instruction
Role of Assessment
-Using Assessment to Support Learning
Facilitating Learning
-Instructional Strategies for Whole Group Instruction
-Instructional Strategies for Small Group Instruction
-Student-Centered Approaches to Learning and Instruction
-Differentiating Instruction
Synthesis in the Instructional Cycle
-Instructional Planning