Chapter Two

1. Chapter Two Teaching Stories

2. U.S. Public School Teachers…by the numbers . • Female: 70 % • Caucasian: 87% • Married: 73% • Under age 30: 10% • Ages 30-39: 21% • Ages 40-49: 27% • Ages 50 and over: 42% • Master’s degree or higher: 60%

3. What do these numbers mean? • Teacher workforce doesn’t match the growing diversity of the student body; • More men are teaching than were 5 years ago; • More teachers have at least a Masters degree today than they did 5 years ago.

4. Why do people become teachers? • They really liked school! • They care deeply about children and adolescents! • They want to make a contribution to the social good.

5. Joys of Teaching • Most exciting aspects of teaching? • That aha! moment when students “get it,” especially if they’ve been struggling • Possibilities of each new day, new year • Student growth • My growth

6. Some of the Challenges • Keeping current with recording data; attendance, grades, progress reports • Meeting expectations of state testing protocols • Being over-prepared each day

7. Other Challenges • Your salary is not what you hoped it would be. • The students’ parents are very demanding. • The administration is not as supportive as you hoped. • Building relationships with colleagues is sometimes difficult.

8. Reality Teaching • Watch TeachSource Video Case, “The First Year of Teaching: One Colleague’s Story” • What ways did Will find to cope with the challenges of his first year of teaching?

9. Add to Your Teaching Philosophy • Who we are influences what we do • A teacher who’s a musician might use music in his lessons in ways you cannot, no matter how much you wish you could • A teacher who loves sports may use local ball games to make a point in class

10. “Hidden Curriculum” • Social norms (or “culture”) of your classroom and school taught through: • Your interactions with students • Communication of expectations regarding student achievement & demeanor • Your passion for teaching & learning -Term coined by sociologist Phillip Jackson in 1968

11. Possible Support for Teachers • Colleagues • Mentors (inc. your college professors) • Administrators • Students • Parents • Other community members

12. Use Your Support Effectively • Listen • Reflect: Write down what you learn about your school, community in teaching diary • Expectations • Culture • Ways to connect • Join mentoring program

13. Mentor Programs (“Induction”) • Goal: Acclimate and help you become a reflective teacher who responds to students’ diverse cultural, social, linguistic backgrounds • Program generally offers: • Mentor (trained master teacher) • Weekly participant sharing meetings

14. Begin Your Education Journal • May wish to include: • Your educational autobiography • Drawing of yourself as a teacher • Strengths, weaknesses as new teacher • Discoveries about the profession • Field placement experiences, feelings • Create your story online or on paper – but do it!

15. Field Placement • Teacher candidates’ experiences in actual school in grade of their choice • Begin as observers, then become participant-observers, then teach lessons • Perhaps only 10 hours/week to start, building to “student teaching”: Full-time teaching • Student teaching required for certification in many states

16. “To Teach Is to Learn” • Globalization affects students & teachers • Changing interests, access to information • Teachers must constantly adapt, ask “what will work best for these students today?” • “Learning community”: Classroom(s) or school organized to promote active learning, collaboration between teacher & students, sense that everyone is a learner

17. Professional Development • Lifelong improvement of skills, knowledge • Advanced formal courses • “In-service” experiences • Personal reading, reflection, & analysis • Conferences • Membership in professional organization • Informal experiences (museums) • $ incentives for annual continuing education offered in many districts

18. Prof. Development Resources • American Federation of Teachers • National Education Association • National Assoc. for Ed. of Young Children • eduScapes • National Council for the Social Studies • National Council of Teachers of English • National Science Teachers Association • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

19. Interview a Classroom Teacher • Subject, grade-level match, 30 minutes • What made you become a teacher? • Most exciting aspects? • Challenges? • How do you know you’re successful? • Professional development, sources of support • How do you define teaching? • What advice would you offer a future teacher?

20. The Hidden Curriculum • What students learn as they participate in the act of going to school….. • School: an arena for socialization… • How teachers treat and react to students is part of the hidden curriculum • Students “know” if teachers are happy to be there, respect themselves and their students, and treat students equitably!

21. What does it take to be a teacher? • In addition to our earlier thoughts: • Self-reflection • Good analytical skills • Desire to be a lifelong learner • Hard work and preparation • Centered presence in classroom