How to get a teaching degree and work as an instructor

 

A position as a K–12 teacher may be a perfect fit if you are looking for a career that will enable you to leave a positive legacy and give back to your community, especially if you enjoy interacting with children and value high energy. , curiosity, and sincerity that often characterize childhood.

According to Stanton Wortham, dean of Boston College's Lynch School of Education and Human Development, "There's nothing like taking a young child and helping them move toward a productive, fulfilling life."

According to Wortham, educators play an important role in ensuring that essential ideas are passed from one generation to the next. "I sincerely hope that the scientific method and basic ethical principles will still be in use in 100 years, and if they are, it will be because someone gave some wisdom to a young person."

Here's a handbook for aspiring teachers who aren't sure if this is the right career for them and who want to know what kind of education and skills the sector requires.

How to make a decision about teaching

According to Claudia Lyles, CEO of Keystone Academy Charter School in Philadelphia, becoming a teacher is not a good idea if you don't have an interest in helping others or getting along with kids.

The doctorate-educated Lyles claims that when evaluating job prospects for teaching positions, he is particularly interested in those who have extensive volunteer work experience, such as a stint in the Peace Corps.

As a teacher and an educator, you are serving a community, he explains, so the service element is very important. "Comparing teaching to other professions, it's less obvious. We really get involved with families, the surrounding community and our students."

According to Lyles, good teachers usually have a great desire to advance society and care enough for the welfare of all people. Future educators must have a kind heart because one of their main responsibilities is "to help develop children into good citizens," according to Lyles.

She claims that the majority of effective teachers share the quality of actually liking children. "In order to accomplish the work, you really need to enjoy kids and teenagers. You can't be iffy about it. And throughout the years, I've discovered that those who aren't very tuned into children (don't) succeed in the field. Many of them depart."

Since there are many careers that need a similar level of education to teaching but pay far more, educators advise against becoming a teacher if making money is your top priority.

Jennifer Russell, assistant professor of education and chair of the education department at William Peace University in North Carolina, noted in an email that "teacher salaries vary significantly from state to state and in some cases from district to district." "In the United States, starting income ranges from $35,000 to $55,000 per year."

Russell, who holds a doctorate in education and is an assistant professor of education, continued: "Having worked in education for over 30 years, I can attest that most people choose this line of work because they are called to it. Most educators work. Education. Because they enjoy it. They enjoy changing the world."

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for US kindergarten and elementary school teachers in 2020 was $60,660. In that same year, the median salary for middle school teachers was $60,810, and the median salary for high school teachers was $62,870.

According to Russell, schools will sometimes pay teachers with a bachelor's degree $2,500 to $10,000 more than if they only had a bachelor's degree.

Although this is often not the case at the most prominent private academic institutions, and parochial K–12 schools typically pay the least, educators generally agree that K–12 public schools pay better than K–12 private and parochial schools.

It's ideal for those who want to pursue extracurricular interests in their spare time, according to New York education expert Karen Aronian, who earned her doctorate in education at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. . It is also ideal for parents as teachers usually get time off from work at the same time their children are off school.

Aronian feels that teaching is a pretty basic profession and volunteering with children is an excellent way to judge whether they would enjoy working as a teacher.

How long it takes to become a teacher and important steps in teacher training

There are many ways to become a teacher. Some people choose to become teachers after pursuing a career outside of education, while others choose to do so after earning a bachelor's degree in education, which typically takes four years to complete.

Various teacher preparation programs exist. Some are housed in academic institutions, while others are affiliated with charter school networks. Additionally, there are teacher residencies that allow students to work as an apprentice under a master teacher who mentors them when they enroll in classes.

According to Wortham, university-based teacher preparation programs typically offer substantial theoretical courses on child development as well as the history, psychology, and philosophy of education. The faculty of these programs usually consists of both academics and researchers.

On the other hand, most instructors in programs not affiliated with universities are academics, and thus place less emphasis on theoretical discussion and argumentation.

Gwyneth Price, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, lists some of the characteristics of a high-quality teacher preparation program.

Courses that provide a strong foundation for good programs include educational psychology, multicultural education, English as a second language, adolescent or developmental psychology, content literacy, teaching with technology, among others. "As students progress through the programs, courses become more specialized by content and grade level, but they should still cover assessment, teaching strategies, subject-specific methods, and classroom management. In addition, each course should have a special education component."

Price, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology and worked as a K–12 teacher for 15 years, observed that master's degrees in education tend to be more specialized than bachelor's programs in education.

Majoring in education in college is not required to work as a K–12 teacher in the United States. But regardless of whether or not it offers a formal degree, prospective K–12 teachers must complete some form of state-approved teacher education program to be eligible for state licensure. Programs for graduate teachers that are full-time, last at least one year, and sometimes lead to a master's degree

According to experts, teacher preparation programs allow students to study and practice teaching on various teaching topics under the supervision of experienced educators.

Leena Bakshi, a professor with a doctorate in education who teaches at the University of California—Berkeley Graduate School of Education and Claremont Graduate University in California, said in an email that the programs demand a lot of writing, reflection and reading. The plan. The preparation they leave with for their first year of teaching includes a clear vision for teaching, lesson plans, and even family engagement strategies.

The following certifications are generally required for a teaching career, while the criteria for teaching licensure varies from state to state.

• A graduate degree.
• Completion of a teacher education program that is state approved.
• A positive background investigation
• Passing a general certification or licensing exam for teachers.
• A high result on an exam in the field of study is what the potential instructor is most interested in.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Teaching

Faculty in the School of Education recognize that effective teaching requires a high level of expertise.

Teaching a school of rambunctious children requires skill and keeping them all focused and engaged, but the best teachers have the ability to completely control a room, according to education experts. A great teacher can captivate and engage his audience because they are great performers and captivating storytellers.

Tom Ryan, principal of Cristo Rey Boston High School, a Catholic school in Massachusetts that caters to low-income students, believes that education is a force for change and can transform any child regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Although teachers have some wonderful benefits, such as a large amount of vacation time, according to experts, they also experience some disadvantages in the workplace. For example, if the knowledge and skill levels of students in a class vary, it can be challenging for the teacher to meet the needs of each student.

According to experts, providing emotional support to children dealing with difficulties in their personal lives, which may harm them academically, as well as understanding how to support students with learning disabilities or language difficulties are both challenging tasks.

Every profession has its disadvantages according to value. "I'm sure many people will mention mounds of paperwork, lack of budgets, agenda-driven school boards, or helpless parents when discussing education. However, with practice, patience, and perspective, one learns to sail through choppy waters with their focus on the sea of children. What is needed to be kept aside."

According to current and former classroom teachers with experience in those schools, a rewarding part of teaching in K–12 institutions is the opportunity to encourage students to believe in themselves, think independently, and identify their special talents.

"I still get mail from students I taught over ten years ago," Bakshi says. "I can proudly claim that this person was my student because they now start businesses, rule the tech industry, and accomplish many amazing things! The impact on society is priceless."