Aurora University offers review classes for education students

Starting Monday, Aug. 24, Aurora University will host four review sessions to prepare students for the Illinois State Board of Education Basic Skills Test. The next test is Sept. 12.

The public is invited to the series sponsored by AU's College of Education. The cost is $25 for the public and free to AU students and alumni.

The schedule is:

Aug. 24: A general overview and test taking strategy will be covered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in room 214 of the Institute for Collaboration, 407 S. Calumet Ave., Aurora.

Aug. 29: Math I - word problems, proportions, algebra, pre-algebra skills, algebra and logic-will be reviewed from 10 a.m. to noon in room 102 of the Institute for Collaboration, 407 S. Calumet Ave., Aurora.

Sept. 2: Language arts and writing will be reviewed from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the University Banquet Hall,1410 Marseillaise Place, Aurora.

Sept. 9, Math II - geometry, statistics, graphing, combined skills - will be reviewed from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the University Banquet Hall, 1410 Marseillaise Place, Aurora.

Students also may use the workshops to prepare for future test dates. Education students and social work students who hope to work in the public school system are required to pass the five-hour test for certification.

The sessions will review important concepts, suggest strategies, provide and solve sample problems and address questions about the test.

The sessions are designed to build students' confidence and reduce anxiety by helping students realize which skills they should learn.

Students who have completed the sessions have found them to be accurate and helpful. Students preparing to take the Basic Skills Test are encouraged to visit the Illinois Certification Testing System Web site at icts.nesinc.com.

Workshop attendees should print out the online Basic Skills Test study guide on the site and bring it to the sessions. Also available on the ICTS site are study guides for other tests administered through ICTS and a Basic Skills Diagnostic Practice Test which can help prepare for the test.

To register, or for more information, call (630) 844-3858 or e-mail lnewman@aurora.edu.