When the Teacher Becomes the Student?

Answer 1

Long gone are the days where those who failed at their preferred occupations opted to teach instead. The reputation of teachers as less skilled professionals whose work days end at 2:30pm may linger in ignorant minds, but proper teaching actually involves a rigorous workload with a tremendous amount of pressure. In fact, due to the No Child Left Behind policy, the government now mandates that all teachers be highly qualified in their fields and complete a full program from teacher training colleges.

The requirements for entry into programs vary from state to state depending upon the grade level you desire. For most secondary education programs, for example, you must have at least a Bachelors degree in the subject you wish to teach. If you did not take any education courses as an undergraduate, you will take them during your teaching program. More states are now requiring that teachers receive their Masters degrees within five years of teaching, so your education program can coincide with a masters in your major.

Whichever state you teach in, though, and whichever grade level you choose, you must pass that state’s teaching exam to obtain your initial licensure. A Bachelors degree and your initial license will get you into the classroom, while completing a program from the teacher training college advances you to a preliminary license, which has a much longer period of validity and may be renewed once without taking any further action. The best plan, though, is to receive your Masters degree. On completion of the program, after a certain amount of time you will have earned your professional licensure, which never expires.

You will most likely need to complete a practicum experience during your teacher training, involving at least one semester of supervised student teaching. This is often the most stressful period but can be extremely rewarding. Creating daily lesson plans and adapting everything to meet the state’s curriculum standards is not easy, but your program will guide you.

A teacher training college is the first step in your professional development, but it’s important to remember that teachers are constantly revising their lessons, taking new courses and keeping ahead of educational trends. The students in your classes aren’t the only ones who should be always learning. The more credits you earn, the higher your salary, and the positive presence you’ll soon bring to students’ lives is priceless.

Answer 2

When the teacher becomes the student, it signifies a shift in roles and a commitment to lifelong learning. It shows humility and a willingness to continue growing and developing. As a student, the teacher can gain new knowledge and perspectives, and ultimately become a better educator.