Celebrating Your Successful Journey Preparing for the next Steps

What’s next? Student teaching The edTPA Applying for a job! Graduation!! Employment!!!

Student Teaching All-day placement from when your school commences to the end of the WSU semester. You’ll work the same) hours at school as your cooperating teacher You’ll need to work hard to quickly be able to take over some lessons (in the area of the edTPA) so you can be able to do it successfully. Remember that knowlege of the students, class, and curriculum are critical. Remember that you are in a prolonged job interview; you want your teacher, supervisor, and building principal to all see how good you are!

CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve completed... A program that prepares you to teach literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, PE, etc. A program that modeled how to create a safe classroom that engages students in learning. Field experiences at a variety of levels including a comprehensive preparatory advanced practicum in the school where you will student teach. Many assignments that required you to think about the students you will teach and how to meet their needs through a student- centered, culturally relevant pedagogy. A program that modeled many best practices for you—both at WSU and in partner school classrooms.

The edTPA Get started on setting up for the edTPA as soon as you can. Talk to your teacher about the types of lessons you need to teach and set up a target week. Consider what you can take over in addition to edTPA that requires less preparation work. Film lessons prior to the week that you target as well as after. Film more lessons than you need to have (just in case). Don’t try to write it all up on a weekend or a few days. The edTPA is best completed over a couple of weeks (or longer) where you have time to reflect. Do get it done as soon as you can so you can feel more free to focus on other aspects of student teaching.

A job? With edTPA and student teaching? Know that the job market is improving and that new teachers are getting hired because of their knowledge and skill with the new expectations. Most jobs begin to come open in Washington after April 25, though some are earlier. If you finish in December, you can get experience (and known) through substituting. Plan to attend the career fair in Spokane or in Tacoma. Check district websites for the position listings. All public Washington job listings can be found at: wateach.net and College of Education Undergraduate Studies Facebook page.

Applying for a Job There are four parts to the application: Letter of Application/Interest Resume Application form Letters of Recommendation Samples of each of the first three items will be available to you through our Student Services webpage. Check:

Letters of Application/Interest Read the job listing closely to see what they want. Once you know, respond to it in your letter. In your letter, tell them: The job (and position number off listing) for which you are applying. Why you are interested in this particular position and district (show you know something about them) What unique background and skills you bring to the job; that is, what sets you apart from other applicants? What is your philosophy of teaching? What approach will you use that will serve to help all students learn and grow? What else, beyond the position requirements, are you interested in helping with or willing to do in that school or district?

Resume Tips Recognize that your resume will likely be shorter than an experienced applicant and that’s okay (2 pages maximum). Include your: Contact information Objective Education (degrees and certifications) Education related experiences Other work experiences Honors and awards References should be on the application form.

More on resumes... For each item of work experience, make sure you explain the responsibilities you had. The resume should have some overlap with the letter of application. The letter shows your passion and interest in the job, the resume shows your qualifications, experiences, and skills. Do not “pad” your resume to make it longer. Do show it to your teacher to see if you have missed anything you should include from student teaching.

Application Forms Applications will vary by district but almost all ask for similar things: Your qualifications (transcript, GPA, degree area, certifications, experience) What skills/experiences you have with certain types of curriculum or students A listing of your various experiences with certain types of curriculum

Letters of Recommendation You need at least 3 letters of recommendation. (People who have seen you with children) Who should you ask? Cooperating teacher(s) Student teaching supervisor Building principal Most districts will allow for a few more letters. Make it as easy as possible for them to write for you! If you have concerns about a letter of recommendation, talk to your supervisor or contact Chris Sodorff for advice.

The Interview Remember that if you have made the interview, they are interested in you. You may be interviewed by an HR Director, a principal, or a hiring team (administrators, teachers, parents) You may be asked to do a writing sample. You may be asked to teach a lesson to a small group of students. Do mock interviews here... Send them questions

Expectations of new teachers That you have initiative and don’t need to always be told what to do. That you are ready (with some guidance/orientation) to run your own classroom. That you come with the ability to collaborate That you know what ProTeach and TPEP are. That you will be a positive force for children and their families. That you will continue to grow and improve as a professional.

And then? Remember that... You are still in the program while you are student teaching. It’s the final program step for you. Teaching is a “lifelong learning” profession. You will continue to go to school, work with peers and study your practice, and continue to grow and improve—just as your students do. We have taught you to collaborate and not work in isolation. In this era, no teacher can afford to work alone. We are still here for you. We are just a phone call, , skype conference, or social network link away. Ask for help if you need it.