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.

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.

Made it safely through another GACE Exam this past weekend.  I’ll get my results in a month, but I’m hopeful I did just fine.

In the meantime, I’m trying to plan out my testing strategy for the rest of the academic year.  I am hoping to attain as many additional certifications as possible in the hopes of making myself the best candidate in town for the next hiring season.  While I don’t know the exact details yet, let’s just say there is a good chance I will break out of my comfort zone and try something different.

Also on my radar this academic year is the GRE.  I’m looking forward to going to graduate school when I am settled in a teaching position, and I’d like to go ahead and get the GRE behind me.  I’ve got the book and really all I need to do is schedule a time in the future to take the test.  The results are accepted by most colleges for five years–that should give me plenty of time!

This weekend, I’ll be taking the GACE in Behavioral Sciences.  It was a rather last-minute decision, and I”m studying pretty hard, but my goal is to make it to every GACE examination this academic year, and truly have a certification in just about everything.  It’s Saturday morning, and luckily, it’s right up the road from me, since I’m working Friday night until midnight.  Wish me luck!

So it’s almost time for another certification test, and I’m wondering what [if anything] I should shoot for this time.  I have until Friday to make up my mind, then a week or two to study.  I am thinking about diversifying outside of social studies and attempting a science test, but I can’t decide.  Will be looking into it today.

I am proud to announce that I received my new certificate from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in the mail today.  It lists my newly certified field of Middle Grades Social Sciences.  I am so excited!  I am hopeful that my new qualifications that allow me to teach essentially the second half of a student’s public school career will open up new job opportunities for me, and I am thrilled to have it.

That gives me five certifications total: Economics, Geography, and Political Science for high school students, Middle Grades Social Sciences for middle school students, and Special Education Consultative for all grades.

I am also happy to announce that I continue my perfect passing rate of GACE exams on the first try!  I’m glad my efforts have been starting to pay off.  I am currently pondering which certification to pursue next and look forward to sharing that information when I’ve made a decision.

As the new year begins, I have decided to gain some additional certifications, in order to increase my skills and marketability as a social studies teacher.

I already have:
Economics
Geography
Special Education Social Studies
Special Education Consultative

I would like to obtain:
Political Science
Middle Grades Social Studies
History

I have already made plans to take most of these certification GACE exams, and I look forward to continuing my record of 100% pass rate on these tests.  I have also begun the spring job hunt in earnest and am looking forward to getting out there and meeting administrators soon.  Look for new additions to this site as I continue to build my online resume; I also hope to be posting some economics-related book reviews soon!