What You Should Consider Before Education Graduate School

Great post

Nice blog you got here. It would be great to read a bit more about that matter.

Foot in the door

I'm just beginning the process of entering into an "alternate pathway" to teaching. I have a Masters degree in Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I'm changing professions because I want to help minds grow. However, I am a little nervous that the "alternate pathway" requires only 2 classes and teacher observation the summer before you get a job after which you start teaching your own classroom (if you find an employer). Of course during this year of teaching you are required to take night classes to expand your knowledge, but it still makes me a little anxious. Although I may question the process, I am very thankful that this is an option that allows me to change careers without quitting my job and going back to school full time.

I do plan on pursuing a higher degree in Education and would appreciate knowing which colleges (the mysterious 100) are truly worth the time and money. Additionally if you know of any additional resources that you swear by that will help me feel more prepared, I would greatly appreciate having them passed on.

Thanks in advance for any and all insight provided, including the above dialogue.

Quality of Teacher Education Programs

Face it, it is very dificult to replicate the real experiences in the field with school experiences. Thats true with many careers- teaching is no different. Teacher prepration programs that do not emphasize the core learning strategies and learning styles of students are doing future teachers injustice. There is no substitute for having your own classroom and being "in the trenches" getting first-hand, hands on experience. Thats where great teachers are born. You either rise to the challenge or settle into mediocrity.

Also, it is unfair for critics to blame the vast majority of the educational systems' problems are teachers. If they haven't figured it out- success in education requires a team effort. Teachers do not hold the responsibility on their shoulders and can not "fix" the problem on their own. Monitoring the successes and failures of a teacher can not be based solely on high-stakes testing. What policy makers should look at is if individual or groups of students are increasing by grade levels, not if they "passed" a standardized test.

Policy makers should look at creating policy using a collaborative effort.

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Reply to Teaching

It is that narrow minded attitude that promotes failure in our classrooms. I wonder why you even earned that Ed.D if earning a doctorate in education is intended to improve teaching practices, employ policies for the benefit of student learning, and help to cultivate cultural change intended to help all students learn.

We need to professionalize the teaching profession because it is our moral duty to educate all of America's youth.

We should be ashamed of ourselves if the only goal of graduate school in education is to replace teachers who have been ineffective and to fill the dearth in certain areas. That would be irresponsible to inject our classrooms with teachers who not only are ineffective in lacking subject matter and pedagogical knowledge, but do not even have a passion to help students.

We need to take it upon ourselves to ensure the prosperity of this country and it starts with educating our students today effectively.

Need Better Teacher Prep

I changed careers from the field of technology (i.e., I gave up a BIG paycheck) to be a teacher (more personally rewarding). I love my job, and fortunately I'm good at it. However, in hind sight, I am disappointed to realize that my Master of Arts in Teaching did not prepare me well enough (for my standards) to teach. Luckily, I have taken enough professional development courses to fill the gaps I perceive. Schools that teach elementary teachers should require extensive courses in how to teach literacy skills using research-based methods. That's where I think my education was lacking. I had ONE COURSE in how to teach reading and writing. Ha! It should have been three courses: 1) Teaching reading in the primary classroom, 2) Teaching reading in the intermediate classroom, 3) Teaching writing in the elementary classroom. Schools must think the internship phase will fill in all of the gaps, but new teachers need to be better prepared from the start.

Teacher Education

I have 2 Master Degrees in Education, one of which is in special education. I have been teaching for 32 years, so I have been around the block a few times with the education race. The first thing we need to do: Make sure kids master basic skills. Many of my students have made 2-3 years growth in reading,math and written language in 1 year, because I have gone back and taught them the basic skills they were lacking.All of them gained 1-3 levels on the MEAP.Why do my students do so well? Because I have learn to teach the skills the students need, five different ways depending upon the learner's style of learning. I went to Eastern Michigan Unv.there I learned one way of teaching things, then the schools I have taught at have all had very good inservice programs that have taught me other ways of teaching the same skills. Prof.groups such as CEC have had workshops that teach new methods. Learning how to teach does not stop at the door of the college, it takes a community of educators to support and train new teachers. Also some of my best teachers were my students, who taught me how they best learn new material! Another thing is that you need Admin. that knows how to help,train and keep the best young teachers. I did not get into the field of education to get 3 months vacation in the summer or a big paycheck or as one individual said,because I could not do anything else. I choose to be a teacher because I have and wanted to make a difference in a person's life. Nothing is a greater reward than to see a student, who at one time thought they were too dumb read, finish their first real chapter book.

Teaching

What's the old statement about teachers: those who can, do; those who can't, teach; and those who can't teach, teach teachers. Schools of Education are filled with teachers (professors) who can't teach or have never been in a classroom. Graduate education for teachers is made up of "feel good" classes and projects that have little if any value.

Education

I am tired of placing the blame on teachers whats going on in our schools especially in the inner city. Teachers are used as a an escape goat, when we really need to blame the politicians that do not seem to get the real picture. That no child left behind is a way to keep schools that are progressing from ever showing improvement, especially since scores from special needs students are grouped in their scores and passing scores are raised every year. Society needs to wake up and realize that not until we hold parents accountable students will never improve, how is it that a mother that collects welfare has kids that are consistantly out do not show up for teacher and parent conferences and DFYS fails to follow up or act in any way to correct this matter. I know of a in that has severe disability and hearing problems has been evaluated since pre school and this child is still in school without the proper help because the parents refuse to show up to school conferences, and DFYS has not addressed or resolved the problem because if the child is not beaten this is not considered neglect. Not until politicians get down to the matter and reform the system we will continue to have failing schools, drug infested areas and inner city kids that live a die every day because it isa a vicious circle. I have seen a cops parked waiting to catch someone for a traffic violation while down the street there is a prostitute standing high waiting to pick up a customer mind you this was early in the day while kids are gpoing to school. I believe that for a parent to receive welfare their children must mantain an A or better, their attendance be more than perfect and partcipate in parent meetings, atend all parent and tachers conerences once this is done you will see an improvement.

A Pre-Service Teacher asks all of you to "Please, Be Honest!"

A would-be, hopeful, pre-service "New Teacher," I find myself overwhelmed by the veteran criticisms of my generation of teachers' perceived inadequacies. Most, er, many of us REALLY do want to be excellent at what you have done for decades. We seek out competitive programs, strive to mesh our traditional experiences with the alternative, performance-focused and inquiry approaches we now study in college and, believe it or not, crave your constructive criticisms. My question is: "How did you get so good at it?" At what point would you say our (and your) undergrad and graduate training isn't the real issue? I'm not being cynical; I'm asking if you would agree that what we need most is a little humility, patience, long-term commitment to the profession and a healthy respect for our elders? To the veteran school principal, where did you learn "everything you need to know?" Were your course descriptions so different from ours? I really value your input and beseech your guidance to us newbies. I truly do. Afterall, you might be the one who decides whether or not I have a job next Fall :-)