Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 1 Chapter One Becoming a Teacher: Looking Forward and Backward at the Same Time

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 2 The Truth About Teaching 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 © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 3 What’s it really like to teach? Meet teachers, interview them, and ask them about the challenges and rewards of a teaching life! Watch the TeachSource Video Case, Becoming a Teacher and the Bonus Video, ”Essential Qualities that Teachers Must Possess.” –Which of your qualities match the attributes of good teachers?

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 4 “Reflective Practitioners” Modify their teaching based on classroom results –Identify attitudes, skills, traits required to excel –Lifelong learners –Open to ideas from students, research, & personal growth Understand their values, beliefs, dreams, schooling, and how life experiences shape teaching & learning styles -from educational researcher Donald Schon, 1983

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 5 Your Educational Autobiography 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

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 6 Qualities of Good Teachers A teacher needs to be: Committed Caring Courageous. Conscious Centered……..Teachers communicate, through their body language and speech, their own readiness to work with their students.

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 7 Picture Yourself in a Classroom These drawings show how 3 perspectives on a classroom. What would yours look like?

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 8 Being a Teacher Is Like Being a …or A teacher is a ……………… 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 simile or metaphor?

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 9 Philosophy of Teaching Statement Describes your ideas about teaching & learning and how that will guide practice Should be based on educational research Forms an important part of teaching portfolio

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 10 Teaching Portfolio Documents your work, goals, and teaching philosophy Includes: sample lesson plans, student work, videos of you in action May need for job applications, certification Prompts reflection

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 11 Is teaching a profession? 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

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 12 A Highly Organized Field Teachers’ unions: –American Federation of Teachers (AFT) –National Education Association (NEA) –Provide legal services, collective bargaining, support network, professional development National Board of Professional Teaching Standards –Nonprofit developing voluntary certification

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 13 National Education Association (NEA) Code of Ethics 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

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 14 Ethics in Practice 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

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 15 To Become a Teacher Standards vary by state, do you need: –Bachelor’s degree in subject area? –To pass tests for teaching certificate, license? –Master’s degree? –To attend certain seminars? Make checklist to coordinate your coursework with state required activities

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 16 Can you tell the school climate? Social atmosphere, the way students experience school –Orderliness, clarity & enforcement of rules –Teaching practices, diversity, relationships –Halls friendly or silent? –Nurturing vs. authoritarian

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 17 School Culture Also Matters Deep patterns of values, beliefs, traditions that create school’s reputation –What behavior is rewarded? –Who are school heroes? –Ceremonies, stories, cultural networks –Academically driven vs. “party school”

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.1 | 18 What does it take to be a teacher? Teaching and learning are two sides of the same coin….. Every teacher is a student…. Every student is a teacher………… What does that mean?