Chapter # 2 Fall 2010

1. Chapter # 2 Fall 2010 EDU 103

2. The Teaching ProfessionChapter 2 EDU 103

3. Learning Objectives • Describe the beliefs of beginning teachers. • Explain differences between traditional and alternative licensure and the essential factors involving a desirable job. • Identify factors that contribute to a successful first year of teaching. • Describe career-long professional development opportunities available to teachers.

4. EXPERIENCES OF TWO TEACHERS • Shelley, a new third-grade teacher – reflecting upon her first faculty meeting • Urban school • Low income homes • English is not the first language • Teachers tend to “write the students off” • Teachers “assume the students can’t learn” • Shelley “can’t believe how much there is to do”

5. Beliefs of Preservice and Beginning Teachers • 1. When I begin teaching, I will be a better teacher than most of the teachers now in the field. • As I gain experience in teaching, I expect to become more confident in my ability to help children learn. • The most effective teachers are those best able to clearly explain the content they teach their students.

6. Beliefs of Preservice and Beginning Teachers • I will learn about most of the important aspects of teaching when I get into a classroom. • If I thoroughly understand the content I’m teaching, I’ll be able to figure out a way of getting it across to students.

7. Check Your Understanding • How effective do beginning teachers believe they will be compared to teachers already in the field? • Describe beginning teachers’ beliefs about what makes a teacher effective. • Describe how beginning teachers’ confidence in their ability to help students changes as they gain experience.

8. Entering the Profession • Traditional and alternative licensure • Developing a professional reputation • It starts now – suggestions for how to do this • Making yourself marketable • Building a portfolio and a resume • Credentials file • Writing a successful letter of application

9. Entering the Profession • Finding a job • Where are the jobs? • How to interview effectively • Possible questions • Tell me about yourself is usually the first question • Additional questions – page 50

10. Entering the Profession • Assessing prospective schools • Check the restrooms, observe students, teachers, & administrators when you are in the school building, talk with people who live in the city, but don’t teach or work in the school • Interview is a two-way street • Private school employment • Pros & cons

11. Check Your Understanding • What are two differences between traditional and alternative licensure? • What are the two most essential factors involved in finding a desirable job? • In which areas (places and content) are teaching jobs most plentiful?

12. Your First Year of Teaching • What will it be like? • What types of problems will you face? • Survival skills for the first year • Book by Harry Wong is helpful • Organization • Classroom management

13. Your First Year of Teaching • Teaching effectively • Knowing your students • Induction and mentoring programs • Teacher evaluation • Formative and summative • Merit pay • Pros and cons

14. Check Your Understanding • What are four factors that will determine whether or not your first year of teaching will be successful? • Describe the characteristics of successful induction programs. • How are teacher-evaluation systems created and used?

15. Career-Long Professional Development • Membership in professional organizations • Pros & cons • NEA or AFT • Student chapter of KEA • Union or professional? • Curriculum content organizations • NSTA

16. Action Research • Designing action research projects

17. Attaining certification • The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards • Designed for experienced teachers • At least three years of teaching • Must pass exams, submit video tapes, portfolios, etc. • Indicates a high level of skill & professionalism • Significant increase in salary • Only good for a certain number of years – Ten years, as I recall