Principles of Education and Training Chapter 2: Becoming a Teacher

Principles of Education and

TrainingChapter 2:

Becoming a Teacher

Becoming a Teacher

· 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

Objectives:

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

What Are the Steps to Becoming a Teacher?

Get a jump start by starting the process earlyMaximize 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

Becoming a TeacherStep 1: High school Preparation

· Tutor others in classes you do well in“If you really want to know a subject well, try

teaching it to someone else.”

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 questions about teaching· Most will be happy to share their knowledge

and experiences

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


· Ask about financial aid if cost is a concern· Ask about scholarships (what are the criteria)· Are grants available · Student loan information

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


If a job shadowing opportunity isn’t arranged for you, make arrangements to do so yourself.

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


What other volunteer ideas can you think of?

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

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.

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


· 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 What are prerequisite courses and

proficiency tests?

Becoming a TeacherStep 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

Becoming a TeacherStep 2: College Preparation and Teacher Training

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

· 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

Becoming a TeacherStep 3: Classroom Experiences and

Student Teaching

· Evaluating and assessing learning· Interacting with parents and

school personnel

Becoming a TeacherStep 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)

· 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

Becoming a TeacherStep 4: Gaining Certification

· 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)

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

Becoming a TeacherGetting Started

your career goal· When you know what you want to achieve,

you are more likely to achieve it!

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


A personal portfolio is an organized collection of materials and information that shows how personal knowledge,

skills, and attitudes that have developed over time.

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

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


· Source of personal reflection, such as a visual journal

growing

· 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

Becoming a TeacherCharacteristics of Effective Portfolios

· Reflect professionalism· Well-organized, neat, and easy to understand· Should be error free (have it proofread)

· 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

Becoming a TeacherWhat Should You Include in Your Portfolio?

exceptional computer skills)

Look for the Add to Your Portfolio section at the end of each chapter

· 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 TeacherUsing Your Portfolio?

· 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

Becoming a TeacherElectronic Portfolios

Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching

· Gives others insight into what is important to you

· Can be updated or rewritten to reflect changes in thinking

· 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 TeacherDevelop Your Philosophy of Teaching

Becoming a Teacher

Questions to guide you in writing your philosophy statement

Develop Your Philosophy of Education

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: ______________

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Principles of Education and Training Chapter 2: Becoming a Teacher