This document discusses key questions about becoming a teacher:
1) It explores reasons for wanting to teach such as a passion for working with children, a passion for one's subject area, and a desire to serve others.
2) The benefits of teaching include good salaries, fringe benefits like healthcare, and time off during vacations. However, challenges include long working hours and high-stakes testing pressures.
3) As a teacher, society will expect one to be trustworthy, competent, effective, and accountable in creating a safe learning environment and equalizing educational opportunities.
2. Focus Questions
• Why do I want to teach?
• What are the benefits of teaching?
• What are the challenges of teaching?
• What will society expect of me as a teacher?
• What is the job outlook for teachers?
• How will I become a highly qualified teacher?
3. Why Do I Want to Teach?
•Primary reasons to Teach
– Desire to work with children and young people
4. Why Do I Want to Teach?
•Passion for teaching
– Teachers often teach because of the following
• Passion of Subject
• Passion for the Teaching Life
• Passion for the Teaching-Learning Process
•Influence
Positive relationships with previous teachers may have influenced the desire
to teach.
…. “Do my actions show my values to my students? So I
have become a kinder more honest Ms. Gray”…. Salina
Gray
5. Why Do I Want to Teach?
•Desire to serve
– Teaching is chosen out of a desire to serve others
– Wanting life’s work to have meaning
– Influenced by experience volunteering in
educational settings
– Desire to give something back to society
7. What are the benefits teaching?
•Salaries have been on the increase
•1999-2000 the national average was $41,807
•2009-2012 the national average was $55,350
•2015-2016 a 5% increase is estimated
•Fringe benefits
•Medical insurance
•Retirement
8. What are the Challenges of Teaching?
• Long working hours
• High Stakes Testing
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(ESEA)
• 2002: NCLB
• 2011: A Blueprint for Reform
• Race to the Top
• Tech-Savvy Students
9. What Will Society Expect of Me as a
Teacher?
•To be Trustworthy
•To Be Competent & Effective
• Help all learners succeed
• Need to stay informed of exemplary practices
•To be Accountable
•Create a safe effective learning environment
•Equalize educational opportunity
10. What is the Job Outlook for Teachers?
•Teaching and the Economic Recession
• The 2008 financial crisis led to school district cuts
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
•Tenure-job granted to teachers usually after 2 – 5
years of satisfactory work
•Demand
•Teachers of Color; with Disabilities; by Region &
Specialty
• The number of minority & disability student
populations is increasing, teachers who can specialize
or are willing to move will find favorable positions
11. How Will I Become a Highly Qualified
Teacher?
•Highly Qualified Teachers (HQTs)
1. Have a bachelor’s degree
2. Full state certification
3. Knowledge of subject taught
•Professional Standards
• Sets of standards from professional associations that
evaluate progress toward becoming an effective
teacher
•Certification and Licensure
• Teaching certificate – a license to teach
12. How Will I Become a Highly Qualified
Teacher?
•Praxis Series
• “Putting theory into practice”
• The evaluation process of becoming a teacher
• Praxis I. Pre-Professional Skills Tests
• Praxis II. Subject Assessments
• Praxis III. Classroom Performance Assessment
•State Licensure Certification Requirements
•Alternative Certification
