Becoming a Teacher: Looking Forward and Backward at the Same Time Collin College EDUC 1301 Dr. Nita Thomason Chapter 1

Teaching is “the essential profession, the one that makes all other professions possible.” -from Promising Practices: New Ways to Improve Teacher Quality, US Dept Ed report, 1998

Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.  Do I have what it takes to become a good educator of the very young?  What do I believe about how children learn?  Why do I want to work with children?  How do I think about concepts such as equity, diversity, and fairness?  What personal qualities and abilities do I possess that will make me successful in working with children?  What kind of teacher do I want to become?  How will I demonstrate my commitment to children through my work?  What attitudes, skills, traits do I believe are required to excel as a teacher?

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 List three top reasons for considering a career in teaching – BE HONEST  Share with a small group  What motivations are common to many people in the class? Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 List five strengths you possess  List five challenges you struggle with  Share with the class as you are comfortable  What strengths and challenges are common to many people in the class? Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Story of you, as a student Attend preschool? At what age did you start school? Did you walk, ride bus, get driven? Feelings on entering school, classroom How did school smell, sound, look? Earliest classroom memories

 These drawings show how 3 perspectives on a classroom. What would yours look like?

 Dentist Extract response from students  Tour guide Set itinerary, interpret, explore with group  Sailor When wind blows in the wrong direction, you change course  Toolbox Give students ability for lifelong learning  Hill climber Stop often to check everyone’s progress, keep group climbing What’s your metaphor?

 Describes your ideas about teaching & learning and how that will guide practice  Should be based on educational research  Forms important part of teaching portfolio (Lab Manuel gives outline)

 A profession typically: Offers essential service to individual & society Has unique body of content knowledge & skills Makes decisions based on valid knowledge, principles, and theories Requires formal training Uses professional assoc. to control admissions, standards, licensing

Teacher’s commitment to the student 1. Support independent action in pursuit of learning 2. Offer access to different points of view 3. Don’t suppress or distort subject matter 4. Protect student from harmful conditions 5. Don’t allow student to be embarrassed or disparaged 6. No discrimination on basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, sexual orientation 7. Won’t use professional relationship for private advantage 8. Don’t disclose student information unless required by law or in service of compelling professional purpose

Teacher’s commitment to the profession 1. No lies or failure to disclose on job applications 2. Offer fair representation of professional qualifications 3. Don’t help unqualified person enter profession 4. Don’t lie about a candidate’s qualifications 5. Don’t help anyone teach illegally 6. Don’t disclose information about colleagues unless required by law or in service of compelling prof. purpose 7. Don’t lie or gossip maliciously about colleagues 8. No gifts/tips/favors that might influence prof. decisions

 Honor diversity  Believe in worth & dignity of each person  Recognize importance of multiple truths, multiple expressions of excellence  Nurture democracy  Adhere to highest ethical standards

 Salaries – improving; National Average is ~$45k; Texas Average is ~$40k  Benefits – retirement; health care; etc  Status – depends upon who you ask…  Power - unique power over students  Work Schedule - “June, July and August” off; weekends off; work day is usually less than 8 hours Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Working with Students/Children  Performing a Significant Social Service  Stimulation & Support from Fellow Teachers and other Educators  The Work of Teaching  That feeling….. Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Social atmosphere, the way students experience school Orderliness, clarity & enforcement of rules Teaching practices, diversity, relationships Halls friendly or silent? Nurturing vs. authoritarian  Values, Beliefs, and Traditions What behavior is rewarded?

 Real encounters with children Coaching, mentoring, church school, etc.  Vicarious experience film, fiction, memoirs about teachers  Guidance advice from those who know you esp. educators  Reflection the most important source – can you cut it? Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 Work in Groups of 4  Individually select three quotes from handout that reflect your ideas about teaching.  Come to a consensus in your groups on which quote represents the group most, and then least.  Share with the class as requested Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved