Study Tips and Resources for Middle and High School Subject Tests

General tips for subject MTELS

• Take the Practice Test on the MTEL website, if available
• Download the Test Objectives and the Curriculum Frameworks and use as a study guide
• MCAS tests taken by MA public school students can be downloaded. They are useful for MTEL subject tests studying.
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has all courses available online at no cost. The material is very helpful, especially when studying for middle and high school subject tests.

Art

• Visual Art list of resources [pdf]

English

• Study Guides for the SAT II - Literature, Writing (Barron's, Princeton Review, etc.)
• Norton Anthology of American Literature -  print and online; Norton Anthology of World Literature - print and student website

English Language Learners or English as a Second Language

• Essential linguistics. What you need to know to teach. Freeman, D. and Freeman, Y. (2004). Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann. This book is good for information on theory.
• Reading, writing and learning in ESL. Peregoy, S. and O. Boyle. (2005).4th edition. New York: Allyn & Bacon. This book will give you the classroom strategies you need for the test.
• Supporting English Language Learners in Mainstream Classrooms [pdf], Deborah Horan, Boston College Title III Project. A 12 page pamphlet with information for all educators about teaching ELL. The pamphlet contains valuable resources, both books in print and links to websites.

General Science/Science

• Reviewing Intermediate Level Science, Preparing for your Eighth-Grade Test, 2nd edition, Paul S. Cohen, Anthony V. Sorrentino, AMSCO School Publications - this 8th grade review book gives the scope of material that is on the MTEL and is a good place to begin studying. Thirteen chapters cover topics in life, physical, earth and space science; scientific method; and technology. Multiple choice and constructed response questions in each chapter.
• Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy, by Robert M. Hazen, James Trefil, Released: 01 December, 1990
• Khan Academy - has excellent, brief informational videos online about Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Following is a list of good high school science texts to study from. If you have access to other up-to-date texts those will work as well.

• Biology: BSCS Biology, A Molecular Approach, 8th edition, 2001; Biology, The Web of Life, Eric Strauss and Marylis Lisowski, 1996
• Chemistry: Modern Chemistry, Raymond Davis, et al, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2002; Chemistry: Concepts and Applications, Cheryl Winstrom, et at, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2002
• Earth Science: Modern Earth Science, William Ramsey & Raymond Buckley, Holt, Rinehart and Winston
• Physics, Physical Science: Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt, Prentice Hall, 2002; Conceptual Physical Science, Paul Hewitt, Prentice Hall, 2001.
• Study Guides for the SAT II - Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Barrons, Princeton Review, etc.)

Mathematics

• MTEL Mathematics (REA) - The Best Teachers' Test Prep by staff of REA (Paperback:Research & Education Association, www.rea.com, 2007) Also available at Sherrill Library.
• Math textbooks used in public schools, for example Algebra I Geometry, Rubinstein; Algebra 2 Geometry, Rubinstein; Algebra 3 Trigonometry, Rubinstein; Geometry, Larson; Advanced Algebra, Ellis
• Study Guides for the SAT II- Algebra, Geometry, etc. (Barrons, Princeton Review, etc.)
• Khan Academy - excellent informational online videos about many mathematical subjects/concepts
• Free ALEKS Math software subscription available through MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to help candidates prepare for  General Curriculum Math Subtest or Elementary (#53) or Middle School Math (#47)