> How basic was it? I would certainly have to do some
 > studying to pass it.
 > After all if you haven't done much algebra and
 > geometry over the years
 > you tend to forget it. It doesn't take much to bring
Cliff Notes publishes a book to study for the CBEST. :) You're right, if you 
haven't had algebra since High School and you haven't seen HS in a few years, 
you have to study ahead of time! I did, and appreciated it later. They also 
have hints in the Cliff book about getting thru the reading and writing 
section. I did fine; passed both with flying colors, but if I'd spent more 
time in the Cliff sections about those two things, I might have scored 
tter.
 > Are the requirements for teaching that different from
 > state to state -
In a nutshell: yes. I've been credentialed in 4 states (Missouri, Arizona, 
California and Alaska) and found the requirements made me take some sort of 
course each time.
 > 1/2 a year of subbing in a period of how much time?
5 years.
 > After all that would
 > be 90 days here and many subs don't get that much
I came close one year, but when we moved up here and I started subbing in 
Poway, I didn't.
 > Do all teacher have to take a Special Ed, etc.
 > requirement? How long are
Yes. They are usually 3 semester hour classes (45 clock hours, I think that 
works out to be).
"Mainstreaming" is a pedagogy class on how to handle a special ed child who 
has been placed in a regular classroom. In California, special ed kids are 
often mainstreamed for either a short period each day or for various classes. 
Sometimes it's just for a social interaction. Other times, it is because a 
child has a talent for a given subject.
In Arizona, I had a class about special education which included a small 
portion of mainstreaming. California, therefore, did not require me to take 
Mainstreaming. I took it voluntarily because my special ed class had been 
taken before some of the laws changed. I was also able to take the course in 
a unique manner.
 > What kind of questions did you get asked? I would
 > probably fail it all.
It was so long ago (1984) that I don't remember much about the actual 
questions themselves. I suppose it's probably changed a little over the years 
anyway. What struck me at the time, that became memorable, was that they 
presented a copy of a work of art, and then asked you questions about it. 
Some of those questions seemed a little subjective to me, but then again, I 
haven't had any course in art appreciation. I could really care less where 
the vase should go in a given painting. Now, ask me about Beethoven....well, 
they did that and I sailed thru that section. A colleague took the test at 
the same time I did, and she said she didn't like the music section but loved 
the art. To each his own!
 > These aren't the kind of things you need to know for
 > every grade or
 > subject level. Do all teachers have to take the NTE?
 > That is K - Gr 12 teachers alike?
AFAIK, yes, everyone here takes some portion of it. I was applying for a 
multi-subjects credential, so I had to take the general subjects exam.
                                 -donna
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