Teaching Career Preparation Key Concepts

Answer Key
Educational Requirements
Essential Questions
1. What are the educational requirements to become a professional in the education
industry?
2. What is a teaching assistant?
3. What are some popular teaching degrees?
4. What are curriculum standards?
5. What are state governing bodies responsible for in the education industry?

Education (Part 1)
· Is a diverse industry which involves working with students to help them
acquire certain knowledge or master specific skills
· Involves formal education requirements and passing examinations
· Includes high school requirements:
- taking required core curriculum
· mathematics
- geometry, algebra I and algebra II
· science
- biology, chemistry and physics
· social studies
- U.S. history, world history and world geography
· English language arts
- English I, II, III and IV

Education (Part 2)
· Includes high school requirements:
- also taking additional classes
· electives
- such as, information technology, speech and communications or
home economics
· foreign language
- such as, French, Spanish or German
· physical education
- such as, school sponsored sports, physical education or health
· fine arts
- such as, art, theater or music
Further High School Requirements
· May Include:
- becoming involved in student organizations
· Family, Career and Consumer Leaders of America (FCCLA)
· Future Educators Association
- gaining experience and confidence working with students’
· volunteering to be a teacher’s assistant
· job shadowing or observing a teacher in the age group desired

Education Requirements
· Include earning a bachelor’s degree and receiving state certification to obtain
licensure
- to earn a teacher’s license, an individual must complete an approved
teaching program and pass a state licensure exam
- individuals who choose to teach in postsecondary schools typically need
to earn a doctoral degree

Undergraduate Education (Part 1)

· Is the most basic requirement for teaching professionals across the country
- many states require elementary school teachers to major or minor in
education
- secondary school teachers are often required to have a bachelor’s degree
in the subject they wish to teach and take classes specifically on education
· for example: biology teachers should major in biology

Undergraduate Education (Part 2)

· Includes many education programs:
- typically incorporated into undergraduate education for students to
prepare to become teachers, specialists or administrators
- include classes on the philosophies of education, psychology of learning,
methodology and technology
- require students to job shadow, observe or assist
· gain real world knowledge about their potential job position
- require students to gain teaching experience as a student teacher, under
the supervision of a licensed teacher
· may also be referred to as a teaching internship

Teaching Assistant
 · Is defined as a student who assists the teacher with lesson planning, grading,
overseeing the students and attendance
· Can work in a college or high school setting
· Requires skills such as:
- communication, organization and writing skills
- knowledge about the subject
- persistence and empathy
- awareness of pedagogical practices

Job Shadowing
· Is a short-term experience where a student observes and assists a
professional in the education industry
- allows the student to gain better knowledge of the teaching position
· the student can determine if they are fit for the job
· Can be completed as a college or high school student
· Is a process of both observing and hands-on experiences

Observing
· Is when the student observes a professional in the education industry and
then completes an analysis detailing information about the job
- observe by taking notes of the skills required and tasks being completed
- allows the student to gain insight within the specific job position

Education Programs
· Provide teachers with the knowledge and skills needed
- pedagogical skills to implement teaching strategies
- reflective skills to analyze student data
- communication and collaboration skills to build relationships
- management skills to arrange successful learning environments
- technological skills
· Have a purpose of producing effective teachers
- committed to students and their learning
- knowledgeable in their subject matter and subject matter pedagogy
· pedagogy is the method and practice of teaching
- responsible for managing and monitoring student learning
- effective thinkers and learn from experience
- members of learning communities

Popular Teaching Degrees (Part 1)

 · Includes early childhood education
- is for aspiring teachers who are interested in teaching and working with
young students
· can include kindergarten through fifth grade
- emphasizes on principles and theories in early childhood education and
development
· giving individuals the skills they need to work specifically with children
· Includes secondary education
- for individuals who want to work with middle and high school students
· earning a secondary education degree prepares an individual to teach in
middle school as well
- prepares individuals for the unique challenges of a high school classroom
while providing extensive knowledge in the subject they wish to teach

Popular Teaching Degrees (Part 2)

· Includes special education
- for those who wish to pursue a career in working with children with special
needs
- prepares individuals to handle the unique needs of students with learning
or developmental disabilities
· Includes physical education
- for individuals interested in coaching athletic programs or helping develop
athletic and physical capabilities
- focuses strongly on athletic training
· at all levels

Popular Teaching Degrees (Part 3)

· Includes education administration
- degree pursued after having several years of teaching experience
· for those who intend to pursue their doctorate and move into research
and curriculum development
- allows graduates to move freely among the various teaching levels
· Includes higher education
- for individuals who are interested in teaching at a trade school, community
college or four-year university
- often requires a bachelor’s, a master’s and sometimes a doctorate degree
- allows an individual to become an expert in their field and be able to teach
others on a higher level

Curriculum Standards
 · Communicate educational requirements for various subject areas
- vary by grade level for expectations for students’ learning and teachers’
deliverance
· Included in all popular teaching degrees
· Learning goals of what students should be able to know after finishing a
course
· Vary by state

State Certification
· Includes becoming licensed in the state in which the educator will be
employed
· Vary by state
- rules for licensure are set by each states’ board of education
· Involves completing a standardized test to demonstrate subject competency
and mastery of basic skills
· Includes the Praxis exam:
- standardized test measuring teacher knowledge and skill
- used to ensure educators are qualified to teach
· each state determines their own passing score requirements

Career & Technical Education Certification (Part 1)

· Also known as CTE certification
· Allows teachers to teach a specific subject in a career and technical
education program, such as
- auto repair
- health care
- culinary arts
- agriculture
- business

Career & Technical Education Certification (Part 2)

· Requirements vary by state
- meeting state’s typical teaching requirements
· obtaining a bachelor’s degree
- obtaining a valid classroom teaching certificate
- taking classes in the CTE concentration or specialization
- obtaining substantial work experience in the CTE concentration or
specialization
 - passing an exam specific to the CTE concentration or specialization

Alternative Licensure
· May be provided to prospective teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree but
lack the experience and education necessary for immediate certification
· Allows individuals to begin teaching immediately under the supervision of an
experienced teacher, while simultaneously taking the appropriate education
classes
· Available to compensate for shortages of teachers or to qualify more
individuals to teach in high needs areas
· May be obtained through the following:
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

· Strives to improve educator preparation through evidence-based certification
- assuring quality and supporting continuous improvement to strengthen
student learning
- prepares future educators who seek licensure or certification from the
state in which they wish to teach

American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence

· Non-profit organization established by the U.S. Department of Education as
an alternative teacher certification program
· Dedicated to preparing, certifying and supporting teachers
· Accepted as an approved route for full teacher certification in some states
and international schools

National Board Certification

· Advanced teaching credential offered by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards
· Recognizes effective and accomplished teachers
· obtained by successfully completing a voluntary assessment
· Can only be obtained by a licensed teacher with a bachelor’s degree
- minimum of three years of experience

Obtaining a National Board Certification

· May be obtained by completing four key components:
- component one includes topic knowledge
 · a computerized exam to determine pedagogical and subject
knowledge
- component two includes differentiation in instruction
· examples of student work and a description of how the work shows the
teacher’s abilities
- component three includes teaching practices and learning environments
· a classroom video and a written analysis representing student-teacher
interaction
- component four includes effective and reflective practitioner
· requires the teacher to collect information on assessments and practices
- how the student benefits from this learning
· proof of parent, community and colleague interaction

Fingerprinting
· Is required by most states as part of a national criminal history background
check
· Is required to obtain the following:
- standard teaching certificates
- probationary teaching certificates
- educational aide certificates
- one-year teaching certificates
- temporary teaching certificates

State Governing Bodies

· Are responsible for the management and operation of schools
· Are responsible for state standards or guidelines the school must follow:
- state curriculum standards
- methods of teaching
- instructional materials such as books or online resources
· Are responsible for fixed obligatory graduation requirements

Federal Governing Bodies

· Are responsible for the constitutional rights of students and teachers
· Are responsible for each students’ access to education
- students are defended against discrimination
· Provide funding to states to give to their school districts for education

Personal Characteristics
Essential Questions
1. What are some personal characteristics teaching professionals should possess?
2. What characteristics captivates student’s interests?
3. What are some effective teacher tributes?

Personal Characteristics
· Important for teaching professionals
· Should be considered prior to career decisions
· Teaching professionals should not only have professional knowledge and
skills, but personal characteristics which are important for teaching, including:
- patience
- empathy
- enthusiasm
- creativity
- dedication
- discipline

Patience
· Quality of accepting or tolerating actions or speech which may make an
individual annoyed or angry
- without complaint, loss of temper or irritation
· May be the most important characteristic of a good teaching professional
- patience helps for the long-term retention of skills and knowledge
· Some examples can include:
- remaining positive by isolating the good qualities in each student and
recognizing each students' strengths
- preparing what needs to be taught with each student in mind which aids in
avoiding running into unnecessary frustration
- adjust teaching to each student’s needs to deal with bad moods or lashing
out

Empathy
· Ability to understand and share another individual’s feelings and emotions
· Important characteristic of teachers
· Some examples can include:
- sitting with a kindergarten student who is crying for her parents on the first
day of school
- being patient, understanding and available to talk with middle school
students who are entering adolescence
- providing insight and wisdom to high school and college students who are
faced with planning their future
Enthusiasm
· Showing enjoyment, interest or approval
· Important characteristic for teachers to portray
- to excite and inspire students and fill the classroom with positive energy
· Some examples can include:
- greeting students at the door with a smile everyday
- introducing lessons in a powerful way
- engaging students in learning discussions
- being active and moving around the students
- rewarding and promoting success

Creativity
· Ability to go beyond traditional ideas to create new meaningful ideas or
methods
· Is key to captivating students
- showing a student something they have not seen before is a great way to
leave an impression which lasts for years
· Some examples can include:
- incorporating projects which require more painting or drawing than writing
- integrating role-playing and games to teach a concept
- using hands-on manipulatives to teach mathematics

Dedication
· Is an individual committed to a task or purpose
· Requires teachers to be flexible and adapting to each student in order to
ensure an effective learning process
- teaching is not always easy, and teachers occasionally have their bad
days, but a dedicated teacher continues trying to reach each of their
students and never gives up
· Some examples can include:
- making time for students after school
- maintaining high and rigorous standards
- performing job requirements and establishing good teacher-student
relationships in accordance with professional values
- teaching and re-teaching hard to learn concepts

Discipline
 · The practice of training individuals to obey rules and punishing bad behavior
in the correct manner
· Important characteristic for teachers to have to bring structure and
organization to the classroom
- as well as establish trust and communication with students
· Some examples can include:
- creating a classroom discipline plan which includes student standards and
consequences
- displaying the proper behaviors and actions in front of students
- reacting confidently and quickly in situations which require the
management of student behavior
- being consistent with classroom rules

Effective Teacher Tributes

· Include:
- bringing out the best in students and recognizing student’s potential to
become great individuals
- becoming caregivers who build self-esteem, treating students in a moral
way and helping them succeed by providing opportunities for success
- holding strong personal standards and continuing to be learners
throughout life
- providing positive reinforcement
- being respectful of students and their parents
- being highly conscientious and resourceful
- being aware of themselves as facilitators of moral growth
- having the ability to develop trusting and respectful classroom
atmospheres