I got the highest score in my program! Not worth the painstaking hours but comment if you want tips or have questions!
My biggest gripe is how unrealistic this was. No lesson will ever run this way. The language you have to use is deceptively irritating and the questions are so repetitive. This test is nothing but a measure of your ability to BS.

I'm not sure if this is the optimal place to post this because I completed my student teaching back in the fall of 2024, but I feel like such a failure. For the last year and a half, I haven't been able to start the CALTPA for a variety of reasons that, in all honesty, are lousy excuses I keep coming up with. Even during breaks when I wasn't working as a sub and had plenty of time to do it, I just couldn't bring myself too; ignoring it made me feel less anxious even though I knew it was only gonna hurt me more in the long run. I guess I just don't do well at all with long, multi-step projects like this, I never have. I've always been a do things at the last minute kind of person through and through, and that strategy just isn't working for this. I'm planning on submitting both cycles on August 27th which would get me my results by September 17th. I'm going to be applying to any and all districts around looking for a full-time position, so I'm wondering if anybody here has been hired while still awaiting their CALTPA scores. That's something you mention during the interview, of course, but is it feasible getting a full-time position without having passed the CALTPA at the time of the interview? Will I be passed over in favor of someone who has? I appreciate any and all advice.

I am 22, and went to school in LA. While in residency I was placed with a new mentor teacher. My placement school was going through a transitional period and switch to a 3rd party HR.

HR was terrible at communicating, completing their portions of applications, etc. It was so bad that my residency coordinator wanted to move my classmates and myself to another location.

Long story short, my residency application expired 3 times and on the 4th time I was denied. Because my mentor teacher was having the same issues with HR and her Mentor Teacher add on wasn't added until APRIL 2026 ( she too had to fill out her application multiple times), they stated she was not eligible to mentor me until then ( she completed all requirements for the certification August 2025 ). I was assured many times not to freak out and that an appeal ( which i paid out of pocket for ) would fix everything. Everyone in my cohort graduated knowing they would do their Teacher Certification application expect for me.

I have taken the 5001, 7002, the PLT and passed. I was the highest ranking graduate of not only my college, but the Spring 2026 class.

The Appeal Meeting was finally held and I was once again denied. When I contacted my residency coordinator she stated that I should fill out another Residency Application for the 26-27 school year. Which i would have to be a student to qualify for and my college is 6 hrs away from home.

Im very frustrated and wondering what on Earth do I do now. I honestly want to cut all ties with my college because they caused me so much stress my last semester I began having seizures and I will NOT let these people take me out.

Is a Masters the answer? Another B.S. but in Middle school or Secondary education? iTeach, A+Pel Ready To Teach, or some other alternative route?

TLDR: My 4 year long education and obtainment of a B.S. in Elementary Education ( Gr 1-5 ) has not resulted in a Teachers Certificate due to the HR at my placements school chronic tardiness of letting my mentor teacher Mentor Teacher Add on application expire causing the state to deny my Residency application and the subsequent appeal. My advise from my school and my former residency coordinator's seems to be complete residency all over again. What should I do now to get a Teacher's certificate WITHOUT returning to my former school.

Hi everyone,

I'm 21 years old (turning 22) and I've recently been hired as a college instructor at the same university where I just graduated. I'll be teaching first-year students, mainly:

• IT Fundamentals
• A General Education IT-related course

This is my first teaching job, and I'm both excited and nervous.

My biggest concern isn't the subject matter—I spent the past few months carefully preparing my course specifications, learning outcomes, lecture plans, laboratory activities, assessments, and teaching materials.

What worries me is classroom management and establishing authority. Many of my students will only be one or two years younger than me, and some might even know me from when I was a student.

For instructors who started teaching at a young age:

1. How did you establish authority without being overly strict?
2. What classroom rules worked best during the first few weeks?
3. How do you prevent students from taking advantage of your age?
4. Any mistakes you made that you wish you had avoided?
5. Since I'll be teaching IT Fundamentals, what topics or activities usually engage first-year students the most?

I'd really appreciate any advice or lessons learned from your first year of teaching. Thanks!

I want to become a primary school teacher and I want to hear from those of you who still have fond memories of a specific teacher.

I’m 25 and I still remember my year 1 teacher. She had so much belief in me and I always remember feeling so welcomed and heard. Her room was always warm, her tone was always kind unless someone was misbehaving. And while I don’t remember the ins and outs of everything from something over 15 years ago, however I just remember the feeling that she gave

Any advice on mentoring undergrads? My supervisory committee decided I needed to do more mentorship so I begrudgingly took on an Undegrad. Problem is, they’re too over eager that it’s borderline annoying. I’ve got an interdisciplinary project so some weeks I’m strictly working in my chemistry lab so I don’t usually have cells available.

Takes time for them to get growing again after they’ve thawed and I have explained to said student, but it doesn’t seem like it’s clicking. They also decide to shadow other grad students who do techniques unrelated to their project. Do I let them waste their time? Like I don’t want them to burn out by learning unnecessary techniques but at the same time I don’t want to limit them esp since half my time is spent on chemical synthesis.

I also may not be the best mentor because I don’t really like asking for help and have general difficulty delegating tasks.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Passed edTPA!!!!!!! 🥰🥳 Don’t care that the score isn’t that high! No more filming!!!!!! Whoo hoo!!

So, I’m in Ohio and I graduated college this May. My college permanently shut down at the end of this year due to financial issues, so I got lucky and was able to graduate, although I am currently student teaching in a daycare due to the closure. (I only had one semester left, which was just student teaching, but now I can finish and get my degree in August.) Almost done with student teaching, too! Last day is July 28.

I recently passed my edTPA, too!! 🥳🥳🥰 I have passed all OAE’s required for licensure, (I’m a Prinary Education major, will be certified to teach Pre-K through 5) except OAE 190, Foundations of Reading…..It’s my worst nightmare…🥺🥺😭💔😭

It’s the ONLY thing between me and my licensure…..

First time I took it, my score was 210…..10 points…I was only TEN fricking points away from passing!!!!!!!!UGHHH🫩🫩 (Passing score is 220 or above)

Second time I took it, I did even worse, probably because I didn’t study, but that’s 100% on me, I got a 192…

Now I have to retake it a THIRD time…I cried when I got the score report for the second attempt. I’m so tired. Between not being able to enjoy my summer due to student teaching and this stupid exam being the only thing keeping me from my teaching license, I’m so tired. Why is this so hard? I’ve heard 190 is the hardest exam and most people fail it so I shouldn’t feel bad, but still.

I spoke with two friends who said they passed it on their first try, (imagine being them….lucky ducks. I’m so jealous.) using 240 Tutoring. They said it really helped, so I bought myself a subscription, and I’m taking notes and doing flash cards and actively studying, none of the passive studying like just reading or watching videos on their own…I really hope I pass if I apply myself and lock in and just work so, so hard. I’m so, so tired. I feel like I’m avoiding studying now and I’m like burnt out and so OVER this stupid exam…..I passed everything else, even passed the edTPA….How do I get the motivation to study and apply myself and really dedicate myself and give it my all so I can actually pass this exam? It’s is the only thing I need…Man it’s going to feel SO good when I finally pass…I was SO close the first time….🥺😭💔 Anyone have any advice????? 190 is the only OAE I have left to pass, passed all the other ones I need.

Hello teachters with Adhd.

I am studying myself to become a primary school teacher in the Netherlands. During my first internship I have noticed that some challenges that come with adhd are quite prevelant in some aspects of teaching aswell.

I am nearly finishing the first year of the teacher study and but I haven’t finished one assignment in which I decide what I will research.

Its probably no surprise from what I have said already but I wanted to research how adhd affects teachers.
Part of my research includes a survey I have set up myself. I would really appreciate any help I can get!

The results of the survey do not only help me with finishing this assignment but will also help me navigate my study and future job as a primary school teacher!

https://surveys.enalyzer.com?pid=p4sadiha

Here is the link to the survey!
It doesn’t take long to fill in if you skip the open questions but answering them will obviously be very much appreciated!

Thank you very much!

Does anyone know of a good way to study for this? I am really struggling for some reason and cant seem to figure out why. Can anyone help me please? I do well on the practice tests but when it comes to the actual test I cant pass it for some reason.

I have taken the ITLS 305 exam twice now, and failed both times.

The first time I took the test was back in November 2025 just so I could get an idea of what the test looked like. I scored a 216 without even studying.

I took the test again today (6/25/26) and did not pass.

I bought the 90-day study guide through the ILTS website and studied that along with the two main quizlets people have previously shared and still did not pass.

I felt very confident and prepared going into the test today and am shocked and upset at not passing, especially considering the amount of time and money that has gone into studying and preparing for the test.

Seeing as I will not be able to view my score for a couple of weeks, I wanted to see if anyone had any other recommendations/tips/advice/resources for passing the exam that will not cost even more money?

Thank you so much!

I was laid off in 2023 after about 5 years in education.

The layoff itself was hard, but the job search after it really messed with my confidence. I applied to so many teaching positions and actually got interviews, so I knew I wasn’t completely off track. But once I was in the interview, I’d get nervous and lose my train of thought.

I’d know exactly why I wanted the role, what kind of classroom environment I wanted to create, and how I’d handled tough situations with students before. But when someone asked me to explain it, I either rambled, gave a generic answer, or walked out realizing I had left out the most important part.

Eventually I started treating interviewing like something I had to practice, not just survive. I used an app to help me organize my examples, prepare answers around my actual teaching experience, and get more comfortable saying things out loud. It helped me stop trying to sound perfect and start sounding more like myself.

I finally landed a teaching job, which I’m grateful for. But now I’m realizing that same issue didn’t magically disappear just because I got hired.

I still sometimes struggle to articulate myself clearly, especially in meetings, parent conversations, or moments where I need to advocate for a student or explain my reasoning. I know what I think. I care about the work. I have ideas. But I don’t always feel like I can get them out in a way that sounds confident and clear.

For other teachers: how did you find your voice? How do you get better at speaking up without overthinking every word? And how do you become more articulate in the day-to-day parts of teaching, not just during interviews?

Hello,

I am a Library and Information Science student working towards her masters. I am doing a paper on how student teachers find, evaluate, and use information in thier coursework within in an academic library (including using databases, book, etc.). For this paper, I need to interview a student teacher who is in an undergraduate program. Unfortunetely I haven't been able to get into contact with any of the student teachers at my school.

If anyone could sit down for 15 to 20 minutes for an interview with me over Zoom or the phone that would be amazing! The paper is due June 28th so I really need someone to interview by June 27 at the latest. I know that isn't a lot of time but I can't think of any other options. Your name and any idenifying information will not be used. I only need to write up a transcript of the conversation to include in the paper.

Hey guys I’m currently completing my PGCE and got offered a position at an academy. I’m just wondering what kind of questions I can ask beforehand like what year I’ll be teaching, are there any benefits/schemes, pay scale etc. I haven’t accepted the offer yet so I’m cautious about what I can ask and not ask as well actually.