Comments on: What It Takes To Become A Teacher http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/29/what-it-takes-to-become-a-teacher/ Ramblings about art, education, Linux and a lot more Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:46:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mary http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/29/what-it-takes-to-become-a-teacher/#comment-83531 Mary Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:39:42 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/29/what-it-takes-to-become-a-teacher/#comment-83531 Its a great question and topic. Many many people really think to become teachers because they were inspired to make a positive difference in the world. This may have come from a precious experience when they were in school and one or more teachers made a lasting impact on their life, or they have simply been drawn to that profession out of want to make a lasting difference in a child or adults life. Why else would you go through all of that for such a low income level? To further the question here, I don't think its just... What it takes to become a teacher, but rather "what it takes to become an good and effective teacher" is the real question. Lets face it, even after once goes through all of this to become a teacher, they may lose that passion and enthusiasm for many many reasons. Internal school politics, lack of support from the school district and principal, dealing with discipline issues ALL days long rather than being to concentrate on teaching, dealing with difficult parents who just don't get it where their children's lives are concerned, and on and on and on. One of the keys to being better prepared for all possible contingencies involves a good teacher prep degree program that covers best teaching practices and techniques and requires a LOT of in the classroom training. This can be a huge eye opener for many soon to be teacher candidates. Secondly, once a teacher, a supportive administration that provides and even pushes their teachers to regularly attend professional development classes that help them to be more affective in the classroom with both teaching as well as the emotional and personal issues that also are a part of a teachers life. For the busy full time parent looking to fit a rigorous teacher prep degree program into their life and dreams, there are a few different options. However, I often find that online programs with an "in the classroom component" tends to work best. There are many schools out there that are both regionally and NCATE accredited but very few allow you to get this "more complete" training online. There are a few options though. The best I recommend so far are the Teacher Certification programs at Western Governors University http://www.wgu.edu/education/teacher_certification.asp . They offer NCLB compliant programs for teacher in mathematics, science, education, special education, and more. They offer both bachelors and masters programs as well. May be worth a look anyway. As far as the ongoing professional development classes and courses. There are many options and again, for working adults, online often times can work best. FOr this I recommend a few places. iEARN is not bad http://www.iearn.org/professional/online.html as well as http://www.teacheronlineeducation.com/. ANyway, I admire, all who take on such a noble cause and profession. We need more with passion in this area. I appreciate the subject being brought up. I hope this helps some. Its a great question and topic. Many many people really think to become teachers because they were inspired to make a positive difference in the world. This may have come from a precious experience when they were in school and one or more teachers made a lasting impact on their life, or they have simply been drawn to that profession out of want to make a lasting difference in a child or adults life. Why else would you go through all of that for such a low income level?

To further the question here, I don’t think its just… What it takes to become a teacher, but rather “what it takes to become an good and effective teacher” is the real question. Lets face it, even after once goes through all of this to become a teacher, they may lose that passion and enthusiasm for many many reasons. Internal school politics, lack of support from the school district and principal, dealing with discipline issues ALL days long rather than being to concentrate on teaching, dealing with difficult parents who just don’t get it where their children’s lives are concerned, and on and on and on.

One of the keys to being better prepared for all possible contingencies involves a good teacher prep degree program that covers best teaching practices and techniques and requires a LOT of in the classroom training. This can be a huge eye opener for many soon to be teacher candidates. Secondly, once a teacher, a supportive administration that provides and even pushes their teachers to regularly attend professional development classes that help them to be more affective in the classroom with both teaching as well as the emotional and personal issues that also are a part of a teachers life.

For the busy full time parent looking to fit a rigorous teacher prep degree program into their life and dreams, there are a few different options. However, I often find that online programs with an “in the classroom component” tends to work best. There are many schools out there that are both regionally and NCATE accredited but very few allow you to get this “more complete” training online. There are a few options though. The best I recommend so far are the Teacher Certification programs at Western Governors University http://www.wgu.edu/education/teacher_certification.asp . They offer NCLB compliant programs for teacher in mathematics, science, education, special education, and more. They offer both bachelors and masters programs as well. May be worth a look anyway.

As far as the ongoing professional development classes and courses. There are many options and again, for working adults, online often times can work best. FOr this I recommend a few places. iEARN is not bad http://www.iearn.org/professional/online.html as well as http://www.teacheronlineeducation.com/.

ANyway, I admire, all who take on such a noble cause and profession. We need more with passion in this area. I appreciate the subject being brought up. I hope this helps some.

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