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2 Becoming a Teacher 2

Identify the steps to becoming a teacher. © Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock 3

What Are the Steps to Becoming a Teacher? Step 1: High school preparation Step 2: College preparation and teacher training Step 3: Classroom experiences and student teaching Step 4: Gaining certification 4

Step 1: High School Preparation Starting the process Maximize educational opportunities Observe teachers Explore college programs Gain experience and improve skills 5

In what ways have you already started the process toward becoming a teacher? © Archipoch/Shutterstock 6

Maximize Your Educational Opportunities Explore through teaching academies Choose challenging high school courses Maintain a strong academic record Offer to help or tutor others 7

Observe Your Teachers Notice your teachers’ interaction with students teaching styles techniques of adapting material for different levels rules and procedures methods of earning student respect 8

Explore College Programs Gather information about teacher education programs Sources of information include guidance staff teacher recommendations online sources continued 9

Explore College Programs Types of financial aid for college include scholarships grants student loans © Melanie Kintz/Shutterstock 10

Compare ways of gaining experience with children while in high school. © Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock 11

Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Job shadowing provides insight into daily tasks can help identify needed skills can help establish employment contacts Volunteering is a way to interact with children can provide leadership experience improves problem-solving and evaluating skills continued 12

Gain Experience and Improve Your Skills Service learning fulfills a community need requires analysis, research, planning, performing, and evaluating Part-time work Child care centers Recreation programs After-school care programs 13

What are some specific examples of ways you can gain experience in your city or town? © Michael D. Brown/Shutterstock 14

Research the requirements for admission to a teacher education program. © Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock 15

Step 2: College Preparation and Teacher Training Teaching requires a bachelor’s degree Entrance requirements often include personal interviews prerequisite courses minimum grade point average proficiency tests continued 16

Step 2: College Preparation and Teacher Training Elementary and secondary education students must complete course work related to education © Goodluz/Shutterstock 17

Step 3: Classroom Experiences and Student Teaching Course requirements include observation helping teachers tutoring Student teaching Required in every state A cooperating teacher supervises and mentors 18

Step 4: Gaining Certification Certified teachers have met state requirements for teaching preparation receive a license or certificate verifying that they are qualified to teach Education programs usually follow the licensing requirements of the state continued 19

Step 4: Gaining Certification States with reciprocal agreements honor teaching credentials issued in another state A teaching license must be renewed, which may require additional education or training continued 20

Step 4: Gaining Certification Community college teachers need a master’s degree in an area of specialization College or university teachers may need a doctoral degree in an area of specialization 21

Would you be willing to earn a doctorate degree to teach at the college level? Why or why not? © Archipoch/Shutterstock 22

Getting Started Set a career goal Create a portfolio 23 © Yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock 23

Develop a personal career goal. © bitt24/Shutterstock 24

Set a Career Goal Consider what subject you want to teach what age group you would like to teach Use answers to these questions to write a career goal in specific terms This will help you identify interrelated goals continued 25

Set a Career Goal Outline steps to complete each goal Determine specific ways to complete these steps Reevaluate strategies periodically Consider roadblocks and challenges 26

What subject would you most like to teach? Why? © Michael D. Brown/Shutterstock 27

Begin developing a personal portfolio for teaching. © Shebeko/Shutterstock 28

Create a Portfolio A personal portfolio contains visual evidence of your knowledge and skills These artifacts should show your best work and accomplishments They show how you have developed over time 29

Characteristics of Effective Portfolios Have a clear purpose—record and highlight experiences and abilities Reflect your uniqueness—should be original and personal © Diego Cervo/Shutterstock continued 30

Characteristics of Effective Portfolios Show your progress—identify and date each item Include a statement about why each artifact is important Add items as you progress, showing differences in quality Reflect professionalism—well organized, neat, interesting, accurate 31

What Should You Include in Your Portfolio? Basic information about yourself An essay on your goals and interests Projects and assignments Journal entries List of high school courses you’ve taken List of community activities and community service continued 32

What Should You Include in Your Portfolio? Information about jobs you’ve had Academic letters, certificates, and honors Information and leadership positions Documentation of special skills 33

Using Your Portfolio Keep components of your career goals organized © Gina Sanders/Shutterstock continued 34

Using Your Portfolio Record your change and growth Shows meaningful reflection Use materials to apply for teacher preparation programs jobs 35

What materials can you think of that you would include in your portfolio? What do you still need to prepare? © Archipoch/Shutterstock 36

Electronic Portfolios Easily stored, transported, and accessed Take up less space Can be shared electronically Demonstrate the creator’s computer skills 37

Write your own philosophy of teaching. © michaeljung/Shutterstock 38

Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching Your ideas and opinions form your philosophy of teaching Articulate a statement of your philosophy of teaching to think seriously about your beliefs apply for teacher preparation programs apply for teaching positions continued 39

Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching What 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? continued 40

Develop Your Philosophy of Teaching 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? 41

Can you articulate your philosophy of teaching Can you articulate your philosophy of teaching? Do you think your philosophy will continue to change over time? © Archipoch/Shutterstock 42

Start exploring teaching while in high school Begin by setting a specific career goal Begin developing your portfolio Develop a philosophy of teaching 43

job shadowing, volunteering, service-learning, part-time work What are four ways to gain experience while you are still in high school? job shadowing, volunteering, service-learning, part-time work A ____ ____ is a collection of materials that shows how personal knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed over time. personal portfolio continued 44

Name three examples of artifacts. projects or papers, examples from a volunteer activity, awards What is a philosophy of teaching? a personal statement about your thoughts, views, and values as they relate to teaching 45

articulate. To express thoughts into words. artifacts. Physical items that are part of a portfolio, such as projects or papers, examples from a related volunteer activity, and academic and other awards. career goal. A concise statement of the specific career toward which a person is working. 46

certified teacher. A person who has met the state requirements for teacher preparation. cooperating teacher. An experienced teacher who supervises and mentors a student teacher. grants. Money that is given for a specific purpose, such as educational expenses, that does not have to be repaid. 47

job shadowing. Following a person on the job for a few hours, a day, or even longer to experience what the person’s career typically involves to gain valuable insight into the person’s daily tasks, activities, and interactions with others. 48

personal portfolio. An organized collection of materials and information that shows how personal knowledge, skills, and attitudes have developed over time. philosophy of teaching. A personal statement about your thoughts, views, and values as they relate to teaching. 49

prerequisite course. A course that must be complete before entering a program or prior to taking a high-level course. proficiency test. A test that measures skill and knowledge in a subject area. 50

reciprocal agreements reciprocal agreements. In teaching, agreements between states that allow teachers certified to teach in one state to teach in another state that is part of the agreement. service-learning. A type of volunteer effort that links classroom learning with hands-on experience in order to meet community needs. 51

student teaching. A period during which a teacher education student practices and acquires teaching skill under the supervision of an experienced teacher. teacher education programs. University or college programs that prepare students to become teachers. 52

teaching academies. Specialized programs within high schools that help students to explore the teaching profession through classes, observations, and hands-on experiences. teaching license. A formal document, issued by a state, verifying that a teacher is qualified to teach at specific grade levels or particular subject areas. 53