Principles of Education and Training Chapter 2: Becoming a Teacher

Becoming a Teacher Objectives: Identify the steps to becoming a teacher Compare ways of gaining experience with children while in high school Research the requirements for admission to a teacher education program Develop a personal career goal Begin developing a personal portfolio for teaching Write your own philosophy of teaching

Becoming a Teacher What Are the Steps to Becoming a Teacher? Requirements vary by state and level of teaching but there are general steps across the country This class will help guide you, explore the profession, gain experience, and begin to build the skills you’ll need If you change your mind that’s okay too—you’ll gain insight into your interests and abilities and that will help you explore another career field that fits you

Becoming a Teacher Step 1: High school Preparation Get a jump start by starting the process early Maximize Your Educational Opportunities Take advantage of teaching academies-specialized programs within high schools that help students to explore the teaching profession through classes, observations, and hands-on experiences Choose challenging classes and commit to doing well in them This will help you not only gain knowledge but also increase your chance of getting into the college or university of your choice and admittance into a teaching program Tutor others in classes you do well in “If you really want to know a subject well, try teaching it to someone else.”

Becoming a Teacher Step 1: High school Preparation Observe Your Teachers Take advantage of the opportunity to see a variety of teachers and their teaching styles When observing them ask yourself: What are their particular teaching styles? How do they adapt material for different levels or interests? What are their class rules and procedures? How do they earn the respect of their students? Observe their interactions with students and make notes for future reference Ask your teachers what led them to teaching and their specific career paths. Ask them advice they’d give to someone interested in the profession. Ask your teachers questions about teaching Most will be happy to share their knowledge and experiences

Becoming a Teacher Step 1: High school Preparation Explore College Programs Begin now looking at colleges and university that offer teacher training These programs are called teacher education programs Research your options Ask teachers for recommendations Search online and check out their websites for Programs offered and their required courses Entrance requirements Visit colleges (junior year) Send applications (fall of senior year) Talk to your guidance counselor Grants are for students who show real economic need and do not have to be repaid Student loans usually have low interest rates and can be repaid over a longer time than normal loans Ask about financial aid if cost is a concern Ask about scholarships (what are the criteria) Are grants available Student loan information

Becoming a Teacher Step 1: High school Preparation Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Gain as much experience working with children of various ages now Helps you make the best decision as to who to teach Colleges look favorably on applicants who show community involvement Job Shadowing Visit a classroom and job shadow a teacher Helps you see what skills you will need Discuss their experiences and ask questions Shadow a variety of people in careers that interest you Helps you gain professional contacts Job shadowing is when you follow a person on the job for a few hours, a day, or even longer to experience what the person’s career typically involves. It can give you valuable insight into the person’s daily tasks, activities, and interactions with others. If a job shadowing opportunity isn’t arranged for you, make arrangements to do so yourself.

What other volunteer ideas can you think of? Becoming a Teacher Step 1: High school Preparation Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Volunteering Excellent way to interact with children Many opportunities Volunteer ideas Elementary school—after-school program Tutor Cub scouts or Girl Scouts (Brownies) Help coach a sport Summer camps Childcare programs Special Olympics Community recreation programs Volunteer opportunities also exist with short-term projects like helping with an elementary school fundraiser, setting up a school’s art fair, or helping with a middle school car wash. What other volunteer ideas can you think of?

Becoming a Teacher Volunteering (continued) Step 1: High school Preparation Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Volunteering (continued) Helps you gain leadership experience Even if the volunteer opportunities do not involve working with children they will help you gain needed skills for success in college and your career You may assist with planning, carrying out, and evaluating activities Often require creativity and problem solving skills Strengthens your sense of commitment A good addition to your resume Adults you work with can serve as references, attesting to your character, commitment, and work

Becoming a Teacher Service-Learning Step 1: High school Preparation Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Service-Learning Links classroom learning with hands-on experience in order to meet community needs Requires: Analyzing needs Learning related information Planning a way to help Following through Evaluating the experience Ex: a child development class might investigate the injury and death rates of children in vehicle accidents, find that some causes were improperly installed or recalled car seats, and work with an agency to organize a safety check day for parents.

Becoming a Teacher Part-time work Step 1: High school Preparation Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Part-time work Child care centers, recreation programs, or after-school care programs often hire part-time or summer staff Your interest in teaching, related classes you’ve taken, and volunteer experiences will make you a good candidate Many opportunities for learning more about the field of education through actual experiences with children Take advantage of these opportunities to enhance your learning and life

What are prerequisite courses and proficiency tests? Becoming a Teacher Step 2: College Preparation and Teacher Training Teaching Kindergarten through high school requires a bachelor’s degree (aka an undergraduate degree) Generally completed in 4 years May be a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) depending on your major and course requirements met Admission to teacher education programs Some schools require students wait until their junior year to apply when students have completed most general education or core courses for better evaluating applicants Entrance requirements often include: Personal interviews Prerequisite courses Minimum GPA Proficiency tests Prerequisite course—one that must be completed before entering a program or prior to taking higher-level courses. Proficiency tests—measure skill and knowledge in a subject area (may be required to pass proficiency tests in reading, writing, and math for teacher education candidates) What are prerequisite courses and proficiency tests?

Becoming a Teacher Step 2: College Preparation and Teacher Training Elementary and Secondary Education Students must complete course work related to education: Education as a profession How schools function Teaching strategies and classroom management techniques Most education courses require working with children or teens including: Observations Helping teachers Step 3: Classroom Experiences and Student Teaching Tutoring students Teaching lessons Advantages to these experiences: Gain experience Improve skills See how they like the various aspects of teaching

Step 3: Classroom Experiences and Becoming a Teacher Step 3: Classroom Experiences and Student Teaching Teacher education culminates in a student teaching experience Can be placed in a public or private school You’ll have at least one cooperating teacher who will supervise and mentor you Will be overseen by a college professor Required by all states Usually one semester of college Often starts with observation Ends with the student teacher: Planning and teaching material Assigning work Evaluating and assessing learning Interacting with parents and school personnel

Becoming a Teacher Certified teachers Step 4: Gaining Certification Certified teachers Have completed state requirements for teacher preparation which usually includes Bachelor’s degree or higher Successful completion of an approved teacher education program (including student teaching) Any additional state requirements Receive a teaching license or certificate which specifies Grade levels Subject areas (sometimes) Most states require a 4 year degree, but some require an additional 1-2 years of coursework Not all private schools require teachers to have a teaching license, but most do

Becoming a Teacher Step 4: Gaining Certification Planning to teach in a different state than where your college or university is located? Programs are usually keyed to the state’s licensing requirements so find out the requirements of the state you plan on teaching in as soon as possible Work with your advisor to develop a plan States usually have reciprocal agreements meaning they agree to honor the licenses and certificates of other states Teaching licenses are formal documents, issued by the state, verifying the specific grade levels and subjects the teacher is qualified to teach They are good for a specific period of time Master’s—many teachers begin working toward it part-time shortly after beginning teaching Want to teach college? You’ll need at least a master’s to teach at community college and may be required to even have doctoral degree to teach at a four year college or university…….these are usually not in education but rather in a particular subject area or specialized area They must be renewed and in order to renew the state might require: Documentation of additional education or training Eventual completion of a master’s degree (some states)

Becoming a Teacher Getting Started Set a Career Goal Dreams rely on chance while goals take concerted effort…. ….make your dreams reality by turning them into your life’s goals! First think about your desires to become a teacher and ask yourself: What do you want to teach? Do you have a passion for a certain subject? Who would you like to teach most (age level)? Use this “what” and “who” as a basis for writing your career goal When you know what you want to achieve, you are more likely to achieve it!

Becoming a Teacher Getting Started Set a Career Goal A career goal is a clear, concise statement of what you want to accomplish in specific terms. Helps you move toward your goal Forms the base for identifying interrelated goals that will help you achieve it Think of the process like a tree Trunk = main career goal Main branches = related goals Smaller branches = steps to achieve the related goals Outline the steps you need to complete your goals Determine the specific things you need to do to achieve each of these steps Consider possible roadblocks and how you’ll get by them

Becoming a Teacher Getting Started Create a Portfolio Professional portfolios are used to showcase abilities and work Used by artists, photographers, architects, designers, and writers but can be used in all professions Becoming increasingly common in education Used in addition to written résumés Visual résumés expand on and give visual evidence to back up the written résumé Now is the time to start developing a personal portfolio for teaching A personal portfolio is an organized collection of materials and information that shows how personal knowledge, skills, and attitudes that have developed over time.

Becoming a Teacher Getting Started Create a Portfolio Should include materials and reflections that illustrate your learning, accomplishments, strengths, and best work Pieces included in a portfolio are sometimes called artifacts Artifacts might include: Projects or papers prepared for class Examples from volunteer work Academic awards Shows how your knowledge, thinking, and skills are growing Source of personal reflection, such as a visual journal

Becoming a Teacher Characteristics of Effective Portfolios Have a clear purpose Record and highlight your experiences and abilities NOT a scrapbook about your life Reflect your uniqueness Should not be the same as anyone in your class Include different artifacts Show your progress Identify and date items Include a statement about each item and why it’s meaningful and what it demonstrates Make sure your portfolio is current Characteristics of Effective Portfolios Reflect professionalism—written items should be accurate, clear to the reader, and grammatically correct Reflect professionalism Well-organized, neat, and easy to understand Should be error free (have it proofread)

Look for the Add to Your Portfolio section at the end of each chapter Becoming a Teacher What Should You Include in Your Portfolio? Portfolios vary but should include: Basic information about yourself (name and year in school) Essay focusing on your career goals and personal interests Projects, assignments, or examples that display your skills Journal entries about your experiences related to teaching List of high school courses taken List of community activities and community service Information about jobs you’ve had Academic recognition (letters, certificates, or honors) Leadership positions you have held or demonstrated Documentation on special skills (ex: foreign language or exceptional computer skills) Look for the Add to Your Portfolio section at the end of each chapter

Becoming a Teacher Using Your Portfolio? It’s easy to lose track of what you’ve done and the importance of individual activities Portfolios help you record these important components and show how you’ve changed, grown, and what you’ve learned from the experiences Can be used to gain part-time employment Colleges and universities often use them to assess students’ levels of knowledge and experience when applying to teacher preparation programs Starting a portfolio now will assist you in building a solid foundation that can move with you through your college career

Becoming a Teacher An alternative to an actual physical portfolio Electronic Portfolios An alternative to an actual physical portfolio Benefits include: Information can be easily stored, transported, and accessed Can be shared electronically Demonstrate creator’s computer skills A philosophy of teaching is a personal statement about your thoughts, views, and values as they relate to teaching Helps you think seriously about your current ideas and beliefs Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching Gives others insight into what is important to you Can be updated or rewritten to reflect changes in thinking

Becoming a Teacher Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching Can be used when applying to a college teacher preparation program May be used when applying for your first teaching position Most difficult part of writing your philosophy of teaching is to articulate your thoughts, or put them into words Made easier by starting with questions Use language that everyone will understand Use a first-person or “I” perspective Keep it short (2-3 paragraphs for students)

Becoming a Teacher Develop Your Philosophy of Education Questions to guide you in writing your philosophy statement Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching The following questions can help you in developing your personal philosophy of teaching. Think about each of them, and jot down your thoughts. Your philosophy statement may include some, but not necessarily, all of these points. Why do you want to teach? What characteristics make a teacher effective? How do students learn? What is an ideal classroom? What should the relationship between teacher and student be? What motivates students to learn? What should be the primary goal of a teacher? Who is the best teacher you have ever known? What made him or her so special? What is the most important role of a teacher?

End of Chapter Two Review Date: _____________ TEST Date: ______________