Mike Vigilant

I just registered this week for the next GACE administration, in October.  I decided to take Special Education Academic Content Concentrations, and for the first time so far, I decided to double down and take Biology as well.  I’m a little nervous about taking both tests at the same time, but I’ve got about a month to prepare, and I’m getting started now, so I am confident that I will pass both tests.

I chose the Special Education Academic Content Concentration tests because I already have Special Education General Curriculum on my certificate.  That means that I am certified to teach as a Special Ed inclusion teacher in any subject, and that I can be the content teacher in the areas I’m already certified in.  Passing this test will give me many, many additional certificates, and will allow me to teach the content in a Special Ed setting in every topic in elementary and middle school.

I have all the Social Studies certificates except History, so I decided to branch out and go for certificates in other areas.  Anecdotal evidence I’ve gathered from other teachers I’ve spoken with leads me to believe that science is another need area in Georgia, so I thought I would get a certificate there.  It was a toss-up between Biology and Chemistry, but Biology has less math, and there’s already math on the Special Ed test, so I thought I would spread it out a bit.  Chemistry might be next.

I’m also making a concerted effort to network more with teachers I’m friends with in my area.  This is giving me inside information and tips on getting started in teaching.  This information, I’ve come to learn, is critical to getting my foot in the door, so I’m trying to visit at least one friendly teacher a week.  So far it’s been productive, and besides that, fun, to catch up with friends.

I’ll be making my study plan for the GACEs this week since I’ve got to much to learn.

I found out yesterday that I passed both parts of the Behavioral Sciences GACE.  Once added to my certificate, I’ll be able to teach students in grades 6-12 a variety of topics such as Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology.  I’m thrilled to have passed and can’t wait to get my updated certificate in the mail.

Also this week, I need to decide on and register for the next GACE test in October, in support of my general strategy of taking GACE tests until I am able to find a teaching job.  I am already leaning towards Middle Grades Science, and I’ve even purchased the book, but a meeting with a teacher friend of mine has turned me on to another important test: Special Education Academic Content.  This test works with my existing Special Education certifications and will let me teach either content or inclusion for all grades through middle school and in all my co-certified high school areas.  It’s a big test, covering a little bit of everything, but I think it would be a big boost to my resume and I’m certainly considering it.

I’ll post again when I’ve made my final decisions, and when I get my new certificate!

I have decided that I am going to take the Middle Grades Science GACE exam at its next offering in October.  I am very excited about the opportunity to diversify my middle grades offerings; I am even more excited (and somewhat nervous) about branching out from social studies after all these years.  After reviewing the material and standards covered on the test, I am convinced that I can handle the preparation and refreshing myself on science material I haven’t looked at in a long time.

I’m leaning towards pursuing more science certifications in the future, as I find science  interesting.  I also know science is an area for which the demand for teachers in Georgia outpaces the supply, and it might be easier to get my foot in the door.  I haven’t decided which test I might be interested in taking besides Middle Grades Science, but I’m leaning towards Chemistry, as I have fond memories of being quite interested in that class.

I have a while before the registration deadline, so I’ll take my time, but since I’ve already purchased the Middle Grades Science study guide, I’ll start reading that soon.