PLT Review Session: Preparing
for Case Studies!
Dr. Brian E. Harper
What exactly is the format of
the Praxis PLT examination?
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You will be asked to :
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complete 24 multiple choice questions that assess a
beginning teacher’s knowledge of job-related skills
and knowledge
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respond to 4 case studies
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Today we will focus on the case studies!
Case histories/studies
Case 1
CR 1
List 2
Strategies
CR 2
List 2
Strategies
Case 2
CR 3
List 2
Strategies
CR 1
List 2
Strategies
CR 2
List 2
Strategies
Case 3
CR 3
List 2
Strategies
CR = Constructed Response Question
CR 1
List 2
Strategies
CR 2
Case 4
CR 3
CR 1
CR 2
List 2
List 2
List 2
Strategies Strategies Strategies
CR 3
List 2
List 2
Strategies Strategies
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What content areas will the exam
address?
Students as Learner (approx. 35% of total
score)
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Student development and the learning process
Students as diverse learners
Student motivation and the learning
environment
Instruction and Assessment (approx. 35%)
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Instructional strategies
Planning instruction
Assessment strategies
What content areas will the exam
address?
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Communication Techniques (approx.
15%)
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Effective verbal and nonverbal
communication
Cultural and gender differences
Stimulating discussion and responses in the
classroom
Teacher Professionalism (approx. 15%)
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The reflective practitioner
The lager community
What will be expected of my
response to the case studies?
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Each case study response will be scored either
2, 1, or 0. To earn a 2, you must:
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Provide an appropriate answer all parts of the
question
Display understanding and application of all
relevant terms, theories and content
Okay, how should I time and write
my responses?
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Timing:
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5 minutes to read each case
5 minutes to write each response to the
question.
5 minutes (for each case) to look over your
three responses and make any changes
Is there a formula to follow when
writing case study responses?
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For each case study response: PREPARE!
Paragraphs I will need
Rephrase the question
Essential facts from the case to include
Psychological theory to reference
Absolutely clear interpretation of that theory
REstate thesis
Step 1: Paragraphs I will need

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Here you will decide how many
paragraphs will be needed to answer the
question.
Each question mark (?) or part of a
question requires its own paragraph.
Step 1: Paragraphs I will need
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and her
comments expressed in her writing? What
should Mr. Asaki not do? Explain you reasons for
answering as you did.
You will need 2 paragraphs to answer this
question.
Step 1: Paragraphs I will need
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For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are
discussing effective classroom management
practices. Describe two strategies that Ms. Kelly
could use for her approach to classroom
management. Explain why each of the
strategies you recommend would be effective.
Base your answer on sound principles of
classroom management.
You will again need 2 paragraphs to answer this
question.
Step 2: Rephrasing the question
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This allows us to create the thesis which
provides the foundation for our answer
It also guarantees that you are responding
directly to the question and not “rambling”
or “riding the fence” (a common problem
students have with writing clear case
study responses)
Step 2: Rephrasing the question
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and the
comments expressed in her writing? What should Mr.
Asaki not do? Explain you reasons for answering as you
did.
Your first sentence for paragraph 1 could read:
“Mr. Asaki should respond to Alicia’s comments
by consulting with his administrator regarding
Alicia’s essay.”
Your first sentence for paragraph 2 could read:
“Mr. Asaki should certainly not choose to ignore
the ideas expressed in Alicia’s essay.”
Step 2: Rephrasing the question
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For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are discussing effective classroom
management practices. Describe two strategies that Ms. Kelly could use for
her approach to classroom management. Explain why each of the
strategies you recommend would be effective. Base your answer on sound
principles of classroom management.
Paragraph 1 could begin with “One strategy that Ms.
Kelly could use for her approach to classroom
management would be to model desirable classroom
behaviors for her students.”
Paragraph 2 could begin with “A second strategy Ms.
Kelly could use would be to institute a token system as a
means to reward instances of good behavior.”
Step 3: Essential Facts from the
case to include
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Now reference the specific aspect of the
case that is relevant to your question.
This is a key element that reviewers will
be looking for when they grade your
responses.
Step 3: Essential facts from the case to include
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and the
comments expressed in her writing? What should Mr.
Asaki not do? Explain you reasons for answering as you
did.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read: “Alicia
has repeatedly expressed morbid thoughts and
written suicidal statements.”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read: “For
this assignment, Alicia specifically wrote that she
wished she had never been born and desires
that she was dead.”
Step 3: Essential Facts from the case to include
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For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are discussing effective
classroom management practices. Describe two strategies that Ms.
Kelly could use for her approach to classroom management. Explain
why each of the strategies you recommend would be effective. Base
your answer on sound principles of classroom management.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read: “Ms.
Kelly is only in her fourth year of teaching and
clearly states that she wants to be a master
teacher.”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read: “Ms.
Kelly wants to emphasize appropriate classroom
behavior among her third grade students”
Step 4: Psychological Theory to
reference
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Now, introduce the psychological theory
that informs your thesis
Don’t get caught up in using a bunch of
jargon, but make it clear that you took an
Ed psych class and learned something!
Step 4: Psychological Theory to reference
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and the comments expressed
in her writing? What should Mr. Asaki not do? Explain you reasons
for answering as you did.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read: “One
of the key goals of instruction is to create a
warm, caring classroom atmosphere”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read: “The
law states that classroom teachers are required
to report suspected abuse, neglect, and at-risk
situations”
Step 4: Psychological Theory to reference
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For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are discussing effective
classroom management practices. Describe two strategies that Ms.
Kelly could use for her approach to classroom management. Explain
why each of the strategies you recommend would be effective. Base
your answer on sound principles of classroom management.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read:
“Psychological research has shown that
modeling acceptable prosocial behaviors is an
effective way to establish standards of classroom
conduct”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read:
“Skinner’s conception of operant conditioning
posits that a response followed by a reinforcer is
more likely to occur again”.
Step 5: Absolutely clear
interpretation of that theory
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Here you will “break down” the theoretical
statement you just made
Your goal here is CLARITY and
APPLICABILITY!!!
Step 5: Absolutely clear interpretation of
that theory
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and the comments expressed in
her writing? What should Mr. Asaki not do? Explain you reasons for
answering as you did.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read: “Part of
Mr. Asaki’s role as a teacher would involve exhibiting
an active interest and concern for his student’s
welfare”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read: “In
instances where a teacher suspects that a student is
depressed or possibly suicidal, he or she must
report those suspicions to the appropriate staff
members”
Step 5: Absolutely clear interpretation of
that theory

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

For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are discussing effective
classroom management practices. Describe two strategies that Ms. Kelly
could use for her approach to classroom management. Explain why
each of the strategies you recommend would be effective. Base your
answer on sound principles of classroom management.
This sentence in paragraph 1 could read: “By showing
her students examples of appropriate behavior rather
than just telling them what is appropriate, Ms. Kelly can
be confident that her students understand her
expectations.”
This sentence in paragraph 2 could read: “By rewarding
good behavior, Ms. Kelly will be encouraging students
to consistently follow the rules of her classroom.”
Step 6: REstate your thesis
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“Second slice of bread” in the sandwich:
you are restating the first sentence of this
paragraph
This will form the conclusion of each
paragraph
Step 6: REstate your thesis
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For example:
How should Mr. Asaki respond to Alicia and the
comments expressed in her writing? What should Mr.
Asaki not do? Explain you reasons for answering as you
did.
Your last sentence for paragraph 1 could read:
“Subsequently, Mr. Asaki is clearly obligated to
consult an administrator regarding the
comments Alicia expressed in her writing .”
Your last sentence for paragraph 2 could read:
“And so it would certainly be inappropriate for
Mr. Asaki to ignore the comments expressed by
Alicia in this writing assignment.”
Step 6: REstate your thesis
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
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For example:
Suppose that Ms. Kelly and the principal are discussing effective
classroom management practices. Describe two strategies that Ms. Kelly
could use for her approach to classroom management. Explain why
each of the strategies you recommend would be effective. Base your
answer on sound principles of classroom management.
Paragraph 1 could end with “Subsequently, having
Ms. Kelly model appropriate behavior would assist
her in her approach to classroom management”
Paragraph 2 could end with “Thus, the use of a
token reward system would also encourage Ms.
Kelly’s students to demonstrate desirable classroom
behaviors. ”
When are you planning to take this
exam?
4.
5.
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November test
January test
March test
June test
Sometime after
June
N
1.
How do I register for the
examination?
www.ets.org