MindGym Philippines

First and last LET.  One and only LET.  The time is NOW.  These statements marked Dorothy Anne Angco’s resolve to pass the LET and target for a top rank.  From the very start, when Dy-an took the diagnostic test at MindGym, I had the feeling that she would be one of our topnotcher bets for the September 2011 LET.  She asked very profound questions which made us rethink our answers.  She came early for review class and was attentive through the day.  Whenever I told her:  “kayang-kaya mo ‘yan Dy-an”, she would reply with a smile “ma’m nakaka-pressure ‘yan ma’m, pero gusto ko po talaga at pagsisikapan ko”. Little had I known about the extra-extra time she devoted outside our weekend reviews to achieve her “topping the LET” target till she wrote this article.  Gather strength from Dy-an’s personal sharing of the LET experience in her story below.

by Dorothy Anne Angco, Top 6, September 2011 LET

Great achievements rarely ever come in a single shot.

“Seize every moment, make the most out of your time to prepare for the examination. Make it a once in a lifetime experience, next time is too uncertain.”

March 2012 LET takers: are you passionate about passing or topping the LET?  Are you preparing just as Dy-an did?  Save yourself from the tears and heavy hearts experienced by those who have not braced themselves well enough for their LET challenge.  Forget the expressions of regret:  What if … and if only …

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

It’s 47 sleeps to go before your big day – the March 2012 LET.

For the few who chose to join MindGym’s Intensive Coaching for the LET, you are on track.  The General Education module drills that you will be taking on Saturday, January 28, 2012 may give you that extra confidence to face the LET’s very broad general education competencies, the signal for extra time and effort on doing the drills and reading more, or added push to focus on your LET target.  Make the most of the next three days to review for English, Math, Filipino, Social Studies, ICT, and Science so that when you see your scores you will have the feeling of having levelled up from the diagnostic test you took when you joined MindGym’s coaching for LET.  If you feel like needing reinforcement or even just the motivation to move on forward, call on your coaches or ask help from a friend or study buddy or get a hug from a loved one.  If you’re all by yourself (and this is almost impossible with all the social networks everyone has with the advent of the internet), talk to your cat or dog and its approval purrr or arf! arf!

For the many who are reviewing with other colleges, universities, and review centers, you should be on track as well.  If you want to experience our LET coaching at MindGym, you may register for our Final Coaching on February 24 to 26.  Registration will be until February 11.  Joining us for the final coaching will give you the extra boost to your LET confidence as our speakers give you some power refreshers for their subject expertise and the inspiration to pass and top LET as you listen to our LET topnotchers and special LET reviewees who were able to hurdle their challenges despite their odds.

For the many who continue to canvass from us and remain at a lost as to where they will start their LET preparation, you should be working up you knowledge, skills, and minds NOW.  With the commitment of MindGym to help determined LET takers to pass this March, the creativity of coaches to make time for special sessions, and some remaining modules still to be conducted, you still have relatively enough time to prepare.  Here are some MindGym options for “crammers”:

Option 1: Catch up with Professional Education module to start on January 29, Majorship weekend on February 18 and 19, and Final Coaching on the last weekend on February.  You may opt to either: a) pay for the materials for Warm-ups and General Education or b) materials for ProfEd, majorship and final coaching only.  This comes with a FREE diagnostic test.

Option 2: Self-review using whatever reviewers you have and register for our Final Coaching.  Under this option, get a FREE diagnostic test from to help direct your review.

Option 3: For the very disciplined and self-propelled LET taker, try our online LET review at www.myreviewcoach.com for only P 2,950.  Study the review materials and do all the drills at your own time and pace for at least 4 hours a day.  If you decide to take this option, we’d also be happy to have you at our Final Coaching.  We have a special discount package available for this option.

Option 4: If you only need brushing up or enrichment in particular subjects, we have one-on-one coaching at MindGym.  Your coaching package cost will depend on your needs, the time needed to coach you, and the subject matter that you need coaching on.  Friendly MindGym rates would apply.  Prior appointment is needed.

There’s still 960 hours (assuming that you take a rest a week before LET) on your hands to prepare for LET.  Reviewing for at least 4 hours a day is realistically possible.  It only means foregoing the movies, the shopping, and the online social network sites which have been proven time wasters for many students.

Act now.  Increase your chances of passing the LET.  Target to pass LET on first take.  Face LET stronger as a retaker.  And realize your dream of getting your PRC teaching license this Year of the Dragon.

Let us help you with your LET target.  Contact 437-5880 or email: mindgym.inc@gmail.com or post at FaceBook page: mindgym philippines

Start reading, learning, and enriching your Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) knowledge if you have to take this specialization for the LET.  Diverse subjects will be tested in the LET though you may have taken only one or two of the subjects in-depth: Cosmetology, Food, Business Math, Entrepreneurship, Carpentry, Masonry, Plumbing, Electrical, Electronics and Drafting.  Make use of the Christmas vacation to go to a beauty salon; carefully watch kitchen activities; brush up on your investment and accounting knowledge, and visit an ongoing home or building construction to enrich your knowledge in TLE.

Here are a few items to warm you up a bit.

1. The dimension taken from front to the rear of the object is referred to as _______.

A. width

B. length

C. depth

D. height

2. Which type of financial statement shows how much cash is coming in and how much you are   paying for purchases and other expenses?

A. Income Statement

B. Balance sheet

C. Cash flow statement

D. Account Statement

3. What wrench is used to unscrew headless screws?

A. Adjustable wrench

B. Box-end wrench

C. Open-end wrench

D. Allen wrench

4. Which is true of the Russian style of table service? A waiter serves

A. the different courses one at a time.

B. the food using blue plate.

C. all the food using trolley.

D. the food using underliner.

5. Which wood joint is the simplest and easiest to make?

A. Dado

B. Miter

C. Rabbet

D. Butt

5. B. Disability

1. Which among the following is a mood disorder?

A. Bipolar disorder

B. Obsessive/compulsive disorder

C. Phobias

D. Selective mutism

2. It is the placement of a disabled child who is enrolled in a special class, in a regular school, where a student could participate in some activities with nondisabled peers.

A. Normalization

B. Mainstreaming

C. Integration

D. Inclusion

3. This is the inability or loss of ability to manipulate arithmetic symbols and do mathematical calculations

A. Congenital Arithmetic Disorder

B. Gerstman Syndrome

C. Dyscalculla

D. Acalculla

4. It states: “Where needs warrant, there shall be at least one special class in every province, and if possible, special schools for the physically handicapped, the mentally retarded, the emotionally disturbed and the specially gifted. The private sectors shall be given all the necessary inducement and encouragement.”

A. Declaration of the Rights of the Mentally Retarded

B. Education Act of 1982 (Batas Pambansa 232)

C. Child and Youth Welfare Code (PD 603)

D. Rights of the Disabled

5. This is defined as any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.

A. Abnormality

B. Disability

C. Handicap

D. Impairment

1. With the promotion of social justice in mind, which does NOT belong to the group?

A. Equitable access to education

B. Profit sharing

C. Diffusion of wealth

D. Absolute right over property

2. Which part of the Visayas receives the least precipitation?

A. Northern

B. Eastern

C. Western

D. Central

3. When the Filipino reformists asked for the assimilation of the Philippines by Spain, what did they ask for?  For the Philippines to ________.

A. become independent from Spain

B. become a province of Spain

C. be independent from Spain with certain conditions

D. be represented in the Spanish Cortes

4. How is the so-called colonial mentality manifested?

A. Cultural relativism

B. Cultural diversity

C. Xenocentrism

D. Ethnocentrism

5. The maximum price that can be legally changed for a good or service is called _____.

A. minimum wage

B. price floor

C. legal wage

D. price ceiling

1. He is the “Father of Pedagogy” and considered the first to teach young children of preschool age.

A. John Dewey

B. Howard Gardner

C. Burrhus Skinner

D. Johann Heinrich Peztalozzi

2. Learning disability is detected when the child:

A. has visual or hearing difficulty.

B. is a brain injured and has difficulty in talking.

C. is mentally retarded or has emotional disturbance.

D. does not achieve commensurate with his/her ability level.

3. What should the teacher apply when struggles between children emerge during play?

A. Conflict Management

B. Facilitation

C. Motivate

D. Observation

4. Which is the most essential consideration in making a schedule in the preschool?

A. Copy the schedule from your companions since the activities are the same.

B. Make a variety of activities in the schedule.

C. Plan a sequence of events that occur daily in the preschool program that would satisfy the needs of the pupils.

D. Wait for the need to arise, then make a schedule.

5. What mathematical skills can be integrated by counting?

A. Addition, measurement

B. Geometry, seriating

C. Temporal concept, comparing

D. Classifying, telling time

Answers to Day 15 drills on Physical Science

1. D. Butter melts

2. B. potassium chloride

3. B. Absolute humidity

4. B. The earth rotates from west to east.

5. D. 34 m

1. Which of the following illustrates a physical change?

A. Iron nail rusts

B. Milk turns sour

C. Fruits ripen

D. Butter melts

2. Which of the following solids is most likely to dissolve in CCI?

A. phosphorus pentachloride

B. potassium chloride

C. copper chloride

D. calcium chloride

3. What term is used to indicate the amount of water vapor actually present in the air at a given time?

A. Atmospheric humility

B. Absolute humidity

C. Atmospheric moisture

D. Relative humidity

4. Why do we see the sunrise in the east?

A. On the globe, we are located in the east.

B. The earth rotates from west to east.

C. The earth revolves eastward.

D. We are located in the 20^th meridian.

5. If you clap your hands and hear the echo from a distant wall 0.20s later, how far away is the wall?

A. 68 m

B. 70 m

C. 32 m

D. 34 m

Answers to DAY 14’s LET questions for Filipino specialization:

1. B. Jose Nepomuceno

2. A. Perpektibo

3. C. Sintaks

4. D. ang boses ng tao ay boses ng Diyos

5. B. Hapon

It’s 91 days to go before the March 2012 LET and that’s just 3 months till your LET day.  Make the most of the Christmas holiday break.  You don’t have to sulk in a corner while others are enjoying but at the least: finish filing your LET application with the PRC, select a review center, or brush up your dusty reference books, and prepare your LET study nook.

For today, after having a taste of LET questions in the General Education and Professional Education modules in the past weeks, Biological science majors can take a peek into what they may expect on March 11:

1. Which of the following is referred to as the “suicidal bags” of the cell?

A. Chloroplasts

B. Vacuoles

C. Ribosomes

D. Lysosomes

2. If Albert and Kate have 5 children, all of which are boys, what is the probability that their next child will be a girl?

A. 25%

B. 50%

C. 75%

D. 100%

3. Joy planted 4 pots of gumamela plants in four different locations. What is her independent variable?

A. Location

B. Gumamela plant

C. Pot

D. Plant growth

4. Jason was awakened by his mother because there is fire in their kitchen. What division in his nervous system is most active during this time?

A. Central

B. Parasympathetic

C. Peripheral

D. Sympathetic

5. In which of the following organisms are tracheal systems for gas exchange found?

A. Earthworm

B. Jellyfish

C. Insect

D. Vertebrate

(P.S.  We still have some slots for our March 2012 LET coaching which starts January 7; visit MindGym for FREE diagnostics but call 437-5880 or text 09278770800 first to set an appointment if you plan to come on days other than Wednesdays or Saturdays which we’ve earmarked as diagnostics day.  Or, if you prefer an online LET review since you live or work far from Manila, get a taste of how it is to review online at our other site: www.myreviewcoach.com)

Math is the easiest subject to master for the LET.  Yes!  If you learn how to solve Math problems in time for the LET, you’d have a handy source of no-miss points.  In Math, there will always be definite answers unlike other parts of the LET which are value-laden or sometimes very subjective.

Math comprises 20% of the General Education module. The following items may help you gauge how much preparation you need for it:

1. What are the next three terms in the progression 1, 4, 16 …?

A. 64, 256, 1024

B. 67, 259, 1027

C. 48, 198, 1026

D. 65, 257, 1025

2. A man is 3 times as old as his son now. Four years ago, the sum of their ages was 36. Find the man’s age now.

A. 33

B. 11

C. 29

D. 36

3. What is the least common multiple of 12, 24 and 72?

A. 12

B. 72

C. 144

D. 36

4. The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 feet. If one leg is 24 feet, what is the length of the other leg?

A. 6 ft.

B. 5 ft.

C. 20 ft.

D. 7 ft.

5. If two variables X and Y are directly related, which of these is NOT true?

A. When X is low, Y is also low.

B. As X increases, Y also increases.

C. When X increases, Y decreases.

D. A high Y is associated with a high X.

Answers to Day 4’s LET questions for Filipino:

1. C. Pagdarasal

2. C. Payak

3. B. kartung pang-editoryal

4. D. Pagtutulad

5. A. Kaibigan

(P.S.  We still have some slots for our March 2012 LET coaching which starts January 7; visit MindGym for FREE diagnostics.  Or, if you prefer an online LET review since you live or work far from Manila, get a taste of how it is to review online at our other site: www.myreviewcoach.com

Here’s a quick exercise you can do before you go out on a weekend gimmick.

Did you get these correctly in Day 2’s LET questions for Science:

1. D. Muro-ami

2. C. Stroke

3. A. Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D

4. B. typhoons

5. D. Producers

English items in the LET comprise 20 percent of the General Education module. Give these items a try:

1. “No one was prepared for the oral examination. We _____ have read the exercises last night.”

A. ought

B. would

C. can

D. should

2. If I ________ your parent, I would ground you for a month for your misbehavior.

A. should be

B. am

C. were

D. was

3. What figure of speech is used in these lines from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales? “His eyes rolled, they never seemed to settle, / And glittered like the flowers beneath a kettle”

A. Simile

B. Hyperbole

C. Metaphor

D. Personification

4. What is meant by “two pins” in this sentence? For two pins I could have hit him on the nose.

A. With a second course of action

B. Without much persuading

C. Given a second chance

D. With an alternative response

5. What correction should be made to this sentence? Most fire-related death’s result from household fires, yet many people do not have fire extinguishers in their homes.

A. Remove the comma after “fires”.

B. Change “have” to “has”.

C. Change “result” to “results”.

D. Replace “death’s” with “deaths”.

Watch out for more exercises to get you ready for March 11.

How will our book spell LET SUCCESS for you?

LETers Choice is your “own” LET review book. As you browse through the pages, you’ll see why this one’s tailored just for you. With MindGym LETers Choice,

• You have a faithful companion by your side in your journey towards LET success. The book easily fits in your bag so you can carry it anywhere and review at your convenience.
• You have a virtual coach to guide and challenge you to keep track and meet your LET goal. This book dares you to perform at your best. With it, you won’t be single-handed and at a lost as you start reviewing. Do your exercises diligently and cool off in time for LET!
• You get a headstart in LET. This LET Warm-Up book refreshes your knowledge, hones your study skills, and brings out talents you have but need to develop for LET. Using the NCBTS (National Competency-Based Teacher Standard) Table of Specifications (TOS), this book gives you a chance to gauge your LET readiness with a 300-item diagnostic exam with items mimicked from past LET exams. After doing the drills you’ll get a sketchy notion of topics you thought you know by heart, those stripped off from your memory or those totally new to you. With the feedback, you can focus on challenging topics and use your review time efficiently.
• You learn the secret keys to topping the LET from ten of our own topnotchers at MindGym Philippines and inspirationals from teachers who surmounted the odds and made it.
• You increase your chances of passing the LET with our smart add-ons: handy toolbox of mind tools and activity sheets to reinforce your drive and capacity to pass the LET.

With LETers Choice, reviewing becomes another learning experience which will definitely bring you closer to your target LET scoreand pave
your way to becoming a better professional teacher in the future.

We’re now accepting book orders! Reserve your copy by emailing to us your name and cellphone or landline number at mindgym[dot]inc[at]gmail[dot]com.

Here are some extra Math drills to work on from LET Top 1  in Math, 2005, Glenn Gilongos. Remember to work on these as quickly but as accurately as possible.  Use the calculator you intend to bring on LET day to do the calculations and save time.

Read more

It’s been a year since MindGym Philippines alumni Jean Millare took the Licensure examinations and made it as Top 1 in her batch.  Though very busy doing her dream job of “teaching teachers” in the University of Southern Mindanao, Jean took time to share these final tips for LET takers this September 2011.

“Hi.  It’s a week away and I hope you’re doing well on your review.  I wrote some tips for the April 2011 batch, which I’m sharing to you below:

• Take time analyzing the test questions. Make sure the option you choose answers the question. Meron kasing ibang statements na totoo naman, but they do not necessarily answer the questions.
• Make sure you have the right understanding of terms. Take note of keywords. Be wary of choices with extreme words such as always, never, only…
• Double check the letters you shade – make sure you really shade your choice option. Ako dati sinulat ko muna sa questionnaire yung answers ko and every 5 or so items, I shade.
• Take your time if you have the luxury to. Be patient and not give up so easily at each item. Every question is important. Ako sinagad ko talaga yung time. I was not even halfway done yet when some test takers started giving back their answer sheets already. Nung time na my proctor had to tell me to submit my paper. I did not mind. I wanted to make the most of my time.
• Other tips from a friend [Benedict Barayuga] who topped the April 2009 LET:  ”develop being “test-wise” or “test-clever”; you don’t have to know everything; use common sense to get through to the best answer; do elimination; look for cues or hints; connect each option to other clearer concepts in your mind; do language / word analysis; unlock the meaning of words / terminologies. Sleep well just before the exam day; avoid carbohydrate-rich food because glucose tends to make you sleepy; take nuts or protein-rich food. Be in the moment — walk around the testing site — just relax and see the humor in the experience!”
• Trust God and focus on thoughts that are beautiful and true.

Hope you have a very meaningful and extraordinarily great experience on Sunday;o)”

With these tips from two LET Top 1 (April 2009 and September 2010), how can you miss making it to the TOP and succeeding in the September 2011 LET?

In two months, you’ll be taking the Licensure Examinations for Teachers. Have you started your LET preparation yet? Are you still looking for a LET review center or materials to use in your self-review?

Are you staying far from our Quezon City center? Or can’t meet our center review schedule because of work, school, or family commitments?

Then study and review online for the Licensure Examination our My Review Coach!

All you need is computer access, an internet connection, 2-3 hours of daily learning a day, and of course personal discipline, analytical and study skills, and motivation to study by yourself.

Read more

by Edleen Guanko

It’s quite normal to be nervous before an exam, and even after the exam, while waiting for the results. Anyone who ever went to school must have experienced this at some point. I’m sure you would all agree that board exams, such as the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), cause more anxiety than any exam we ever took in college.

A little anxiety is good, because it means you care about the results of the exam. If you care, it means you will work hard to get good results. Too much anxiety, however, will cripple you mentally by making you unable to concentrate, have mental blocks, and maybe even chicken out of the exam. You have to be conscious of your anxiety level, how it is affecting you, and what steps you can take to manage it.

Here are some suggestions to help you combat LET-induced anxiety.

PREPARE. One of the biggest causes of anxiety is being unprepared for the exam. Don’t rely on stock knowledge, no matter how smart you think you are. The soldier who goes to war unprepared will most certainly end up dead. So load up on knowledge, get as much review material as you can and study them. Organize your schedule and set aside time each day for review. This will help you conquer that seemingly insurmountable mountain of readings, and eliminate the anxiety caused by cramming.

BELONG. Another cause of anxiety is the feeling that you’re alone in this endeavor and you have no one to go to for advice or help in studying. So acquaint yourself with other people taking the exam. This is easy if you’ve enrolled in a review center, where you will not only have fellow examinees but also coaches who can help you achieve your goal. Belonging to a group is important for exchanging ideas and asking questions, but the most important thing is the encouragement you give to one another.

ASK. Filipinos often worry about looking dumb if they ask questions, even if it’s as mundane as asking for directions. A difficult topic or problem also causes anxiety, especially if you are one of those who do not like to ask questions. But remember this:not asking questions only result in ignorance. So if there’s a topic that you don’t understand, never hesitate to ask your mentors or classmates for clarification. Chances are there are others in your group who will benefit from that clarification.

BREATHE. Discover what things or activities calm you and do these when things get a little too much. When you feel like you can’t absorb any more information, or you find yourself unable to concentrate, take a break and breathe. Taking some quiet time to let your mind breathe can reinvigorate you not just mentally, but also physically. Relaxation techniques can be as simple as taking a leisurely walk, listening to some soothing music, taking a hot bath, lighting scented candles, or just sitting quietly and taking deep breaths. The key is finding out what works for you and knowing when to use it.

UNDERSTAND. The LET is a very important exam, as one’s teaching career may well depend on its outcome. This, of course, is a source of worry for teachers and would-be teachers. For some, failing the exam is synonymous to the end of the world. The LET, as important as it is, is just an exam. It is good to acknowledge the exam’s importance and do your very best to pass it, but understand that failing does not make you a lesser teacher, or a lesser human being. Do not beat yourself up if you don’t do well. As long as you do your best, you can hold your head high and try again next time.

Edleen Guanko is Top 11 of  the September 2010 Licensure Examination for Teachers.  She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines B.S. Education, major in Special Education.  She took intensive coaching for the LET at MindGym Philippines.