How to Become a Teacher

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Categories: How Tos

  • If you are interested in learning how to become a teacher, this page will outline the steps you need to take to pursue a career in education, with details on both the traditional and not-so-traditional paths to working in a school. Teachers influence the way the next generation thinks, so having schools staffed by qualified, passionate teachers helps provide a better future for our kids.

  • Introduction

    • You have a passion for sharing knowledge with others, enjoy working with kids, and bring dedication to everything you do. If this sounds like you, teaching could be your future. Teaching isn't easy, but it offers meaningful rewards for those who persevere. To begin the journey, though, you'll need to make some decisions and gain some critical training and knowledge.

  • Step 1: Get Involved

    • You should get involved with kids as soon as you know that you want to become an educator. Seek out work and volunteer opportunities at schools or in educational settings--they will help you to get valuable experience while you beef up your resume.
    1. Volunteer in your local community. Get involved with kids' programs or adult learning through the community center or other organizations.
    2. Get a job that provides relevant experience. Consider becoming a tour guide, museum docent, or camp counselor.
    3. Tutor students in your favorite subject areas. Advertise your availability on community bulletin boards at the local library and other public locations.
    4. Ask local schools about after-school programs that you could help out with. You could aid students with their homework, teach enrichment or art classes, or be a sports coach.

  • Step 2: Decide Where You Want to Teach

    • Before you begin the process of obtaining your teaching credentials, you should decide what kind of educational environment appeals to you. Would you prefer a job at a private or a public school? In which state do you plan on teaching? The requirements for and benefits of becoming a teacher will vary according to your choices.

  • Private School

    • Though you don't legally need any special training to become a private school teacher, teaching in any school presents unique challenges that you may not be equipped to handle without some background in either education or working with kids.

    1. Discipline, lesson planning, time management, and assessment are just a few aspects of the job that prove difficult for all first-year teachers.
    2. If you want to teach in private school, you may still want to consider completing some of the preparation required of public school teachers.
    3. Enrolling in some college-level courses in education, if not a full degree program, could be helpful.
    4. Many private schools cater to a particular religious community (Catholic and Jewish day schools are common), or subject (such as art or science).
    • Requirements:
    1. Bachelor's degree
      • Most private schools demand that candidates possess a bachelor's degree, though it need not be in education.
      • If you want to teach secondary school (high school), private schools tend to seek out candidates who have a degree in the field they wish to teach.
      • Elementary schools, on the other hand, like teachers to have some background in early childhood education and development.
      • The National Association of Independent Schools has more information on what private schools look for in teaching candidates.
    2. No legal accreditation requirements
      • When it comes to teaching qualifications, private schools are not subject to the same state and federal laws as public schools.
      • Each school determines its own requirements. Some schools still prefer candidates with appropriate teacher licensure.
    3. Career experience
      • Experience in a related field can also be helpful, especially for those wishing to teach math or science.
    1. Safer
      • Private schools experience less school violence than public schools. If you're concerned about safety and discipline, private school may be right for you.
    2. Simpler
      • There is less government red tape to complicate the bureaucracy of private schools.
      • However, private administrators can weave entanglements of their own.
    3. Smaller classes
      • Smaller class size provides more time for teachers to spend with each student.
    4. More control
      • Private school teachers are typically given more authority to mold the curriculum and educational program in their classes than public school teachers.
      • While this is a great benefit for teachers who know how they want to teach, it can be too much freedom for beginning teachers.

  • Public School

    • Each state has somewhat different requirements for teacher credentials, so you'll need to research the specific state you want to teach in. For specifics, see the Academic Employment Network's state-by-state listings. Most public schools, however, do have certain requirements and benefits in common, regardless of state.
    • Requirements:
    1. Bachelor's degree
      • A bachelor's degree is absolutely required for public school teachers.
    2. State accreditation
    • Benefits:
    1. Better Pay
      • Higher salaries make public school jobs more attractive to prospective teachers.
      • However, teaching salaries vary from state to state and from school to school, so do some research before counting on a higher paycheck.
      • See the National Education Association's state-by-state listing of teachers' salaries.
    2. Shorter Hours
      • According to one study, teachers in public schools work fewer hours, on average, than those in private schools.
    3. Diversity
      • Public schools often enjoy more diverse student populations.
      • If you're interested in teaching kids from many different backgrounds, public schools in big cities are a good bet.
    4. Subsidized professional education
      • Public school teachers are more likely to participate in professional development programs, in order to stay up-to-date on teaching standards and methods.
      • While many states require teachers to continue their professional education year after year, many public school systems help teachers pay for relevant classes. Private school teachers often have to pay out of their own pockets.

  • Which State?

    • Unfortunately, not all teaching licenses are transferable between states, though certain regions have agreed to honor licenses issued by neighboring states. You'll need to have a fairly good idea of where you intend to apply for jobs before deciding on a path. Aside from personal considerations, take into account the factors.
    1. Teacher salaries
      • Salaries differ widely from state to state.
      • According to the American Federation of Teachers, for the 2004-2005 school year, Connecticut teachers averaged the highest salary at $57,760, and South Dakota teachers the lowest at $34,039.
    2. The cost of living
      • The price you pay to live in certain regions may negate the benefit of a higher salary.
      • Make an assessment with CityRating.com's cost of living chart.
    3. State departments of education
      • State government can affect the quality of schools, as well as the kind of support that teachers receive.
      • For information on school systems across the nation, read Education Week and scout teacher discussion forums.
    4. License requirements
      • The standards in some states make it more difficult to get started as a teacher.
      • Teacher-World.com provides state-specific information about licensure.
      • Check out each state's department of education's website for official information on how to become a teacher.
    5. License reciprocity

  • Step 3: Choose a Path

    • Many states allow several pathways to becoming an educator. The route you choose will depend on your current level of education and the amount of time and money you're able to devote to preparation—among other things.

  • Traditional Pathway

    1. Enroll in an accredited teacher education program.
      • Such programs involve courses in pedagogy, classroom management and child or adolescent development—and will likely include student teaching, as well.
      • You can enroll in a program as part of your undergraduate or graduate degree studies, or separately.
      • See your chosen state's department of education's website for a list of accredited teacher education programs.
    2. Pass certification tests.
    3. Apply for your license.
      • Your teacher education program will help you with this process.
      • You may need to undergo a background check and pay an application fee, along with filling out other forms.

  • Non-Traditional Routes

    1. Teach for America
      • This non-profit organization aims to combat educational inequities by placing specially trained teachers in economically disadvantaged school systems.
      • After five weeks of intensive training, the program places its members in cities and regions especially in need of teachers.
      • Training includes traditional course work, as well as practice teaching in real classrooms.
      • Teach for America works with individual states to certify their candidates according to state-defined requirements. Often those requirements include the completion of teacher certification tests and ongoing professional development courses.
      • For enrollment information, see the official Teach For America site.
    2. Troops-to-Teachers
      • Through the Troops-to-Teachers program, the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense assist military personnel in beginning a second career in education.
      • They help members of the armed forces identify routes to certification, as well as provide placement assistance when it comes time to find a job.
      • If you're already in the military, you should look into this option.
      • For specifics, go to Troops-to-Teachers.
    3. Regional Programs
    4. Emergency licenses
      • When a state experiences critical teaching shortages, it issues emergency licenses, allowing it to hire teachers who don't meet the state's legal requirements for teacher licensure.
      • Shortages generally occur either in high-need geographical areas, such as urban schools, or certain subject areas, such as math or science.
      • More information on these licenses can be found at the National Center for Alternative Certification's website.

  • Step 4: Find a Job

    • Once you've obtained your teaching certification, you can begin applying for jobs. Actually, as long as you can provide proof that your state will soon issue your license, schools will usually consider your candidacy.

    1. Research school districts
      • Use the US Department of Education's school district comparison tool to find demographic and educational snapshots of different communities.
      • Wealthier communities often have smaller class sizes, more up-to-date textbooks and resources, and more support for new teachers—though this is not always the case.
      • On the other hand, the government offers tax and loan benefits to teachers in less affluent, urban areas.
      • Less affluent areas also grant you the opportunity to provide a good education to students who are more in need.
    2. Research schools
      • In order to compare individual schools within each district, use SchoolMatters' school search tool.
      • Use this tool to navigate to schools' official website—the link appears in the left-hand column of each school's SchoolMatters profile. Official sites often contain listings of available jobs.
      • Also use teacher discussion forums to glean anecdotal information about particular schools.
      • The knowledge you gain from your research can also be used to personalize your cover letter and make a good impression on interviewers.
    3. Use connections
      • Speak to any school and education-industry contacts you may have, either from student teaching or elsewhere.
      • Often, teachers and other school officials know of open positions before they are posted for the public. It's time to do some networking!
    4. Search job listings
    5. Prepare your resume
      • Make sure to highlight opportunities you've had to work with the age group you intend to teach, as well as leadership, educational, and teaching roles.
      • Student teaching experience is of particular importance.
      • See Mahalo's article on How to Write a Resume for more help.
      • Boston College's Lynch School of Education also provides specific resume advice for teachers.
    6. Write your cover letter
      • Here is where your school-specific and community-specific research comes in handy.
      • Show each school that you're interested in teaching there by demonstrating your knowledge of the school's stated goals, programs, and community.
      • Also, highlight your strengths as an educator and your reasons for becoming a teacher.
      • Again, the Lynch School has good advice for teacher cover letters, and Mahalo provides a guide on How to Write a Cover Letter.

  • Conclusion

    • If you've decided to embark on a career as an educator, congratulations and bravo! You'll find rewards in the relationships you develop with students, parents and colleagues, as well as contributing to the education and development of young minds. However, you never finish "becoming" a teacher. The best educators continue their own education indefinitely, constantly learning about subject matter and innovations in teaching techniques. They also hone their interpersonal skills as they work with students and discover how best to serve them.

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