Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
45
Chapter 2 Becoming a Teacher
Elementary and secondary education students must complete
course work related to education. Some courses provide background
about education as a profession and how schools function. Others help
students learn specific teaching strategies and classroom management
techniques. Students focusing on elementary education also take
courses to prepare them to teach all subject areas. Students preparing
to teach for middle grades and high school, study one or two subject
areas in much more depth, such as science or physical education.
Step 3: Classroom Experiences and Student
Teaching
An important part of preparing to become a teacher is gaining
necessary experience. As part of course requirements for teacher
education students, most classes require working with children or
teens. Students may observe, help a teacher, tutor students, teach
a lesson, or be involved in some other capacity. There are real
advantages to this practice. Teacher education students gain more
experience, improve their skills, and see how they like various aspects
of teaching.
Teacher education culminates in a student teaching experience.
This experience involves placement of student teachers in public or
private school classrooms to immerse themselves in the practice of
teaching. There, they have at least one cooperating teacher—a
classroom teacher who supervises and mentors the student teacher.
A professor at the college or university oversees the student teaching
experience. All states require teacher education programs to include a
student teaching experience.
Student teachers begin by observing in the classroom. By the end of
their experience, which usually lasts one semester, they are often taking
over for the cooperating teacher while under his or her supervision. This
includes planning and teaching material, assigning work, evaluating and
assessing learning, and interacting with parents and school personnel.
Step 4: Gaining Certifi cation
Teaching kindergarten through high school requires certification in
the state where teachers want to teach. A certified teacher is one who
has met the state requirements for teacher preparation. Typically, this
includes having a bachelor’s degree or higher, successfully completing
an approved teacher education program (including student teaching),