What I Need to Become a Teacher

From WITTIE

  

In Our Schools/Spring 2010
This article is part of In Our Schools/Spring 2010, an Educational Foundations text developed by the students of Old Dominion University's ECI 301. · Foundations · Assessment · In Today's Schools · · About the Authors · How to Use this Book · · Chapter Review · · Student Soap Box ·

What I Need to Become a Teacher
Author	User:Ainmo001
Book	In Our Schools
Edition	Spring 2010
Section	Foundations
Chapter	Chapter 1 - Being a Teacher
Topic	Teacher's Checklist -- What I Need to Become a Teacher
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The Fruits of Teaching and the Qualities for Success

By: Amanda Inmon-Pollock

Targets for Learning:

• Readers will be able to identify the seven fruits of teaching.
• Readers will have a basic knowledge that each state has different requirements involving teacher credentials and degrees.

Inroduction:

There are many aspects which define a good teacher. Teaching is one of the most demanding careers which involves certain necessary traits to be an effective instructor.

These are values that must be used constantly without fluctuation and must be delivered without reprieve. There are seven values needed to be a competent educator.

Thirty teachers were asked what was needed in order to be a successful teacher, this is what they said.  I compiled their answers and created the following fruits of teaching based on their opinions. 

It is important to understand that while the fruits are my creation, the thoughts behind them come from real teachers in the field of teaching.

Fruits: From Insightful Teachers

Love:

The first fruit a teacher must possess is: loving their occupation. A teacher must have an altruistic love that gives freely without expecting reimbursement.

"A teacher must never consider the value of the subject they teach, but instead see every person for the uniqueness they hold within," says Ms. Robyn Inmon a counselor and psychology teacher. This is the basis on which teacher’s can build positive relationships with students and provide an effective learning experience that will never be forgotten.

                                                                             

                                             (FQA, 2010)

Joy:

The second fruit of learning is joy. A happy teacher will release good energy which the students will feed on. Happiness can make the most intense environments relaxed and engaging.

This is the best way to inspire your students that learning is fun. A teacher must be excited about the content for the day and execute class discussion in an invigorating manner.

"Inspiration is a key value in the success of teaching students, as well as, giving these children a reason to thirst for knowledge," says Sue Painter a 30 year math teacher at Hereford Texas High School.

                                             (FQA, 2010)

Peace:

The third fruit of teaching is tranquility. Teachers must be calm and poised from the beginning of the day to the end. "Teachers cannot let the pressures of everyday life interfere with their educating," says Vernon Peters a history teacher at Illonois Leland High School.

Stress is a mundane fact of life and being able to control it is pertinent to successful instructing.

                                                                       

                                           (FQA, 2010)

Patience: 

Many of the teachers I interviewed said, the fourth fruit of teaching was the most challenging to accomplish. Patience requires endurance and leniency. A teacher must actively face situations with an unwavering disposition.

"Students will test their instructors to great limits to see how far they can take their boundaries," states Mrs. Hammond a fifth grade teacher at Nazarene Christian Academy.  Dealing with these situations is challenging, and when doing so a teacher must not get angry or lose their temper.

                                                  (FQA, 2010)

Kindness: 

The next fruit is kindness. A serene teacher’s character will allow a teacher to deal pleasantly with those around them.

"Sometimes being kind does not always mean being nice, but instead is the ability to pursue in the well-being of the entire classroom, despite those who aggravate one’s patience," says Mr. Chambers a sixth grade teacher at Athens Middle School.

A kind teacher is one who looks for ways to help their students without expecting recognition, and is able to easily accommodate the individual attributes of every child.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                               (FQA, 2010)

Faith:

Teachers themselves feel that the most important fruit to the student's is faith. "Teachers must believe that their students can accomplish the tasks that are being presented," says Mrs. Johnson a seventh grade teacher at Crossroads Middle School.

This simple act will inspire the students to give their best effort and this will allow them to be one step closer to success. This will not only make outstanding students, but will leave the teacher distinguished.

                                           (FQA, 2010)

Self Control:

Interviews revealed, the most important fruit for the teacher to remember is self control. "Teachers are under many pressures and must stay professional at all times," says Mrs. Lynne Fuller a teacher at Terriblanca Elementary School. This effort takes a vast amount of willpower.

The only way to gain control of this fruit is to practice intently. Anger is not welcomed in any work environment. Showing frustration will lead to a stressful atmosphere, therefore a good teacher never acts on impulse.

This fruit must be exercised daily, because any change in position would mean complete pandemonium. Teachers work hard for the respect they get and it would be a shame to throw it all away due to an irrational tendency.

                                                             

                                           (FQA, 2010)

Differences in State 

Teaching requirements and credentials can be a tricky business.  Every state has its own guideline of requirements in order for an individual to be certified for that particular state. 

Some of these differences may seem small, but must be met in order to have smooth transitions within an occupation.  Many students go to colleges in a different state, and then after recieving their degree move back to the state they originally came from. 

In contrast, during the span of one's life, an individual is likely to move at least once.  This is why it is a good reason to be aware of each state's requirements and prepare the proper credentials and take the proper tests to meet these requirements.

In  some states, such as Illinois, one requirement is that an individual is an United States Citizen (ISBE, 2010).

Education:

To be accepted into the field of teaching an individual must have a Bachelor’s Degree and a Teacher’s Certification. Some teaching programs require a candidate to have a substantial amount of credits in their field to graduate; in Virginia a Bachelor's in Education is required to teach at any grade level (DCOE, 2010). Virginia also has a program for Highly Qualified Teachers which requires a Master's Degree (DCOE, 2010).

If a person wants to be a high school science teacher, that person would have to study many different types of sciences. A Pre-K candidate would have to take many courses in many different subjects as well as early childhood development courses (EJE, 2009).

Each grade level has its own specific requirement which dictates what a person must learn to teach (DCOE, 2010).  To find the information needed for your state, visit their State Board of Education website that pertains to your state of choice or try the TeachersPortal.com and simply select your state. 

An individual must also complete a student teaching program and must have some kind of pre-student teaching experience in the field they wish to teach (ISBE, 2010).

Tests:

Before entering a teaching program many standardized tests must be taken and passed. For instance, an individual must take and pass Praxis I, Praxis II, and take the VCLA (Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment), to complete liscensure requirements in Virginia (VRA, 2010). 

Testing requirements differ from state to state and the State Board of Education website for that state will include the proper steps to obtaining a certification requirement to teach or transferring an existing certification from another state. 

Unfortunately these tests cost a lot of money and can take up a lot of time. When transferring to a new state, teachers must get certified in that state to continue teaching since there are different requirements for each state. 

However, some states will accept the scores from your previous tests from another state if the requirements of that state are closely related to their own. This process is thanks to the State Board of Education Certification who, in 2001, began reviewing and documenting other state's test requirements (SBEC, 2010).

Programs:

There are two different types of teacher training programs.  The first is for individuals who have not yet obtained a degree and require academic classes in order to recieve a Bachelor's Degree.

The other program is for individuals who have already obtained a Bachelor's Degree and only need certification and teaching training (DCE, 2010).   

However:

There are alternative programs that exist that do not fall under the traditional requirements of normal state liscensures due to teachers being in  high demand in some regions.  The American Board of Certification of Teacher Excellence program offers a liscence in some states to any person holding a bachelor's degree, who wants to teach with expertise in their field (TMA, 2009).

Sometimes it’s not easy.....

There are limits to those who can become teachers. Those with criminal backgrounds or people who test positive for tuberculosis will not be admitted into a teaching program (DHR, 2010).

Testing your Knowledge:

What is required in order for an individual to teach?

a.  Pass the Praxis I and Praxis II in content

b.  Bachelor's Degree

c.  Differs by state

d.  Teacher's Certification

What are two instances that will prevent a person from teaching?

a.  Race and Gender

b.  Bachelor's Degree instead of a Master's Degree

c.  Unpaid traffic tickets or other fines

d.  Criminal Background and testing (+) for tuberculosis

What types of programs are available to those wishing to be a teacher?

a.  There are no programs.  A person simply needs to get a bachelor's degree and look for a job.

b.  You can either obtain a bachelor's degree in education or simply get teacher training and apply for a job.

c.  You dont need a degree just simply pass the liscensure test or pass and take a content test in the subject you wish to teach.

d.  There are two routes one can take.  Either obtain a bachelor's and get a liscence in your state or if you already have a degree then   

     all that is needed is a liscence in the state you wish to teach in.

Anne lives in Texas and her husband recently took a new job in New Jersey.  Anne knows she needs to review the requirements for New Jersey state teachers and compare them to her own.  Anne visits the New Jersey Board of Education website for background information.  What do you suspect she realizes about her qualifications?

a.  They are perfect to fill any teaching job in New Jersey.

b.  Some of her scores and qualifications transfer but additional testing will be required.

c.  The only new requirement is a strict clothing attire, she will have to buy uniforms.

d.  New Jersey schools only require an individual to have a Bachelor's Degree.

Mark wishes to become a science teacher for 9th graders.   What courses will his degree mostly consist of?

a.  Mathematical courses and Physics

b.  Mathematical courses and Chemistry

c.  Biological sciences and Chemistry

d.  Chemistry and Physics

Answers 1.c, 2.d, 3.d, 4.b, 5.c 

References:

Darden College of Education. (2010). Master's degree with licensure. Retrieved January 21, 2010 from, http://education.odu.edu/eci/secondary/masters_w_lisc.shtml.

Department of Human Resources. (2010). Requirements for employment. Retrieved, January 22, 2010 from, http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/indexnew/sub/departments/dhr/employment.cfm

Education Journal:Enlighten your mind.  (2009).  Graduate degree concentrations.  Retrieved February 12, 2010 from,  http://www.petrapaskova.com/tag/journals.

Famous Quotes and Authors. (2010). Your online quote library. Retrieved February 03, 2010 from, http://www.famousquotesandauthors.com/

Teacher Magazine: Alternative teacher education on the rise. (2009). Retrieved Februrary 12, 2010 from, http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2009/10/26/alternativeteachereducation_ap.html?qs=Teacher+Certifications

Teacher Portal. (2010). Becoming a teacher. Retrieved January 29, 2010 from, http://teacherportal.com/become/california-become-a-teacher

The Texas State Board of Education Certification: How to become a teacher in Texas. (2010) Basic requirements. Retrieved January 28, 2010 from, http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/certinfo/becometeacher.

The Illinois State Board of Education: General requirements. (2010) Requirements to teach from other states. Retreived January 28, 2010 from, http://www.isbe.net/certification/requirements/outofstate.htm
Virginia Reading Assesment. (2010). VCLA and VRA Program Overview. January 20, 2010 from, http://www.va.nesinc.com/VA6_overview.asp.

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