Mike Vigilant

I’m very excited that I have received my GACE scores from the last round and I passed both my tests!  This keeps my perfect streak of passing scores intact, and more importantly, gives me more valuable certifications.  I passed both Biology and Special Education Academic Content Concentrations, so my certificate looks like this now:

• Biology (6-12)
• Economics (6-12)
• Geography (6-12)
• Middle Grades (4-8)
• Middle Grades Social Science (4-8)
• Political Science (6-12)
• Special Education General Curriculum Consultative (P-12)
• Special Education Language Arts Cognitive Level (P-8)
• Special Education Math Cognitive Level (P-8)
• Special Education Reading Cognitive Level (P-8)
• Special Education Science Cognitive Level (P-8)
• Special Education Social Science Cognitive Level (P-8)

I typed that almost off the new certificate I received in the mail, and it’s almost half a page long on there.  I’m definitely proud and excited, and hopeful that all these certifications will make me look attractive and versatile as I continue to search for a teaching job.

The next GACE is after the holidays, and I’ve got a couple of weeks to determine what I’ll be taking.  Might be history, might be science, might be math!  We’ll just have to see.

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.