Becoming a

Professional
Teacher
Kathy ODell
Edu 201

Why is your induction into

teaching important?
Some beginning teachers eventually give up their
chosen profession because their problems and
concerns go unattended. The following can cause new
teachers to think about leaving the profession:
Maintaining classroom discipline
Motivating students
Responding to individual differences
Assessing students work
Maintaining positive relationships with parents
Organizing classroom activities
Securing adequate teaching materials & supplies
Dealing with problems of individual students

What can you learn from

observing in classrooms?
Students report that
field experience help
them make a final
decision about
becoming a teacher
Most become more
enthusiastic about
teaching & more
motivated to acquire
the essential
knowledge & skills

 Field experience
Exposure to various How can you
aspects of teaching gain practical
from curriculum
experience
development to
for becoming
classroom
a teacher?
management
Student teaching
Observing & aiding in
a classroom

How can you develop your

teaching portfolio?

Lesson plans & curriculum materials

Reflections on your development as a student-teacher
Journal entries
Writing assignments given by your instructor
Sample tests that you have prepared
Critiques of textbooks
Evaluations of students work at the level that you are
going to teach
Sample letters to parents
Your resume

How can you benefit from having a

mentor?

Prescription giving:
Remedy given by the mentor
with a rationale, example,
alternatives, parameters of
use or rules
Personal storytelling: The
mentor gives an example of
his/her own classroom
experiences to set a context
for the prescription
Rehearsal: Verbal practice
by the mentor & novice
teacher, with problem
anticipation & trouble
shooting

Role playing: Both student &

teacher roles are played
Modeling: Verbalization by
the mentor of a teaching
strategy or interaction
technique with demonstration
Oral blueprinting: Oral
planning by the novice
teacher with critique by the
mentor
Replay: Reconstruction of the
days events by the novice
teacher with probing &
clarifying questions &
feedback from the mentor

What opportunities for continuing

professional development will you
have?
Reflection & Self-Assessment for profession
growth
How far do you want to go with your career? (Ex. National Board
Certification)

Teacher workshops (interact with other teachers)

Professional Development Schools (fine tuning as
a teacher)
Supervision & Mentoring of Student Teachers
Graduate Study

What new leadership roles for

teachers are emerging?

Teacher leaders teach

staff development, work
closely with the principal on
curriculum, textbook
selection; they are similar to
Hybrid teachers combine
part-time teaching with
leadership roles in a school or
district
Teacherpreneurs devote
time to both teaching
students and working to
improve policies and practices
beyond their schools and
districts

How do teachers contribute to

educational research?
Teachers put research into practice
Some teachers become teacher-researchers who
research to improve their teaching
Five-steps in classroom-focused research:
1. Teacher identified questions, issues or problem
2. Observation/data gathering
3. Reflection
4. Hypothesis generation
5. Testing the hypothesis in the classroom

 Participate in professional
teacher organizations
Sharing ideas with
colleagues
Become a mentor to new
teachers
Working with parents
Create a partnership with
the community
Create partnerships with
colleges & universities to
prepare future teachers

How are
teachers
providing
leadership for
school
restructuring &
curriculum
reform?

What can you expect as a

beginning teacher?
New teachers need to prepare instructionally and
learn about their students well in advance
Rely on experienced teachers advice on
planning, organizing and classroom management