getting hired tt day 1

56
Finding a Teaching Finding a Teaching Job Job How ACP Candidates Get How ACP Candidates Get Hired Hired

Upload: bambam242

Post on 14-Jan-2015

1.261 views

Category:

Technology


2 download

DESCRIPTION

 

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Finding a Teaching JobFinding a Teaching Job

How ACP Candidates Get HiredHow ACP Candidates Get Hired

Page 2: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Where to LookWhere to Look

• Job Fairs

• District websites

• Newspapers

• Word of mouth

Page 3: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

The ApplicationThe Application

• The profile

• The attachments

• The survey

• Attach your application to a specific job

Page 4: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

The Job FairThe Job Fair

• Attire

• Resume

• General interview

• Specific interview

Page 5: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What You Should KnowWhat You Should Know

• Information about district- AEIS report from Texas Education Agency website

• Information about community

• Make a few phone calls.

• Check out the district’s and school’s web site.

Page 6: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

The PortfolioThe Portfolio

• Portfolios provide a means of presenting a collection of work, and sharing that collection with others.

• Portfolios are used for many purposes in learning and assessment such as displaying achievements and progress, showcasing experiences and collections of work, or collecting self-reflection.

Page 7: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some characteristics of What are some characteristics of effective portfolios? effective portfolios?

• Structured

• A structured portfolio should be organized, complete, and creative in its presentation. Some questions for you to think about might be: Is my portfolio neat? Are the contents displayed in an organized fashion? Are the contents representative for the purpose that it is intended?

Page 8: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some characteristics of What are some characteristics of effective portfolios?effective portfolios?

• Representative• In addition to being structured, a portfolio

should also be comprehensive. The documentation should represent the scope of one's work.

Page 9: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some characteristics of What are some characteristics of effective portfolios?effective portfolios?

• Selective• The natural tendency for anyone preparing a

portfolio is wanting to document everything. However, if a portfolio is being used for a prospective job, or for summative or formative purposes, careful attention should be given to conciseness and selectivity in order to appropriately document one's work. Limit the contents of your portfolio to what is required by the reviewer while also keeping the purpose in mind.

Page 10: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some key functions of a What are some key functions of a teaching portfolio? teaching portfolio?

• It is a way to collect evidence of your teaching ability.

• It provides the reader with a context for your teaching.

• It provides summary data on your teaching in a simple, readable format.

• It is focused on quality, not quantity.

Page 11: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some key functions of a What are some key functions of a teaching portfolio?teaching portfolio?

• It is organized and its various sections relate to each other.

• It is an ever-changing, living document.

• It allows for self-reflection.

• It provides an opportunity to be unique and showcase your personal style of teaching.

Page 12: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What are some key functions of a What are some key functions of a teaching portfolio?teaching portfolio?

• And most importantly for ACP candidates…

• IT HELPS YOU GET HIRED!!!

Page 13: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

How does your portfolio get used in How does your portfolio get used in the job application process? the job application process?

• If it’s short enough and you have multiple copies give a copy to principals at schools where you really want to get hired. Along with a short cover letter that introduces yourself and tells why you want to work at that particular school.

• Take it with you to the job interview and refer to it.

Page 14: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What goes into a portfolio? What goes into a portfolio?

• statement of teaching philosophy,• description of teaching experience

(responsibilities),• teaching artifacts: sample course syllabi, lesson

plans, rules, procedures, assignments, assessments,

• evidence of teaching effectiveness: summary of student feedback, department evaluations,

• teaching awards and recognition,• professional development efforts.

Page 15: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Teaching PortfolioSample Teaching PortfolioTable of ContentsTable of Contents

• Curriculum Vitae

• Teaching Philosophy

• Representative Rules, Procedures, Lesson Plans, and Exams.

• Evidence of Actual Teaching (Pictures, Video Tapes, Student Work, etc.)

• Teaching Goals

• Awards/Letters of Recommendation

Page 16: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Be ready to answer these Be ready to answer these questions about your portfolio…questions about your portfolio…

• Why did you include it in the portfolio?

• How did you use it in the classroom?

• How do you know that it was effective, i.e. that your students learned as a result?

• How has your teaching changed as a result?

• What have you learned about yourself as a teacher?

Page 17: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Philosophy of EducationSample Philosophy of Education• I love being a student. There are few things that thrill me as

much as learning new ideas and stretching the bounds of my knowledge of the world. Throughout my student life, I have always admired teachers because I saw them playing an invaluable role as facilitators in the process of learning. As the daughter of two teachers, I was always proud of my parents and the role they played in the lives of their students. I always assumed it was the combination of their dynamic personalities, their knowledge, and their humor that made them wonderful teachers. Because I am similar to my parents, I always assumed that teaching would come naturally to me. When I was eighteen, I led my first class at an academic summer camp and I was literally overwhelmed with the difficulty of teaching. I had no idea how much preparation goes into a one-hour lecture or how much patience it takes to manage a classroom. This experience was important because it taught me that I love teaching, but it also gave me a healthy respect for the work that goes into creating both the materials for and the environment of a classroom.

Page 18: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• I believe that my skills as an instructor are constantly evolving. Over the past two years, I have watched at least six other instructors teach. I enjoy going to watch other instructors because I believe that all other teachers can teach me something through their skills and strengths that are often different from my own. A fellow instructor asked me why I still observed others, as this is typically something only done by new instructors. I struggled to respond to this question because I think experienced teachers, as well as new teachers, can benefit from watching others. I believe that my surprise at the other instructor’s question really illustrates my general attitude toward teaching. I do not think of teachers as “good” or “bad”; for me, the measure of a teacher’s success is whether or not he or she is working to improve. One of my goals as a teacher is to never take my teaching skills for granted. To that end, I treat each group of students as a new set of teachers who can help me learn how to better meet the needs of students in the future.

Page 19: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• I have also been selected to facilitate workshops in the Psychology Department for other instructors on leading classroom discussions and grading papers. This summer, I was selected by the Psychology Department to serve as the graduate TA for the practicum component of the summer teaching course in psychology (Psychology 852). In this role, I will provide feedback to new instructors on their lecture preparation strategies and presentation style. At the university level, I participated in the Office of Faculty and TA Development’s New TA Orientation in the fall of 2004. At this university-wide program, I led sessions on managing the classroom, developing effective presentation skills, preparing for the first day, and teaching for an inclusive classroom. I will participate in this New TA Orientation program again in 2005 as both a facilitator of individual sessions and as the keynote speaker. I have found professional development opportunities very helpful in my own teaching, and feel strongly in giving back to those programs whenever I can.

Page 20: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• There are several overarching goals that I have for my classroom, all of which are based on my beliefs about how students learn. First, I believe that students learn the best when they feel comfortable. As a result, I always try to create the kind of classroom where students know I am excited to teach them and an environment in which students feel encouraged to participate. I am genuinely interested in the lives of my students and I try to express this to them. For instance, I like to arrive to class fifteen minutes early and play music while talking to my students about their week. Many students have commented that such conversations put them at ease. I also believe that it is important to be explicit about my desire to make sure they are having a good experience in my classroom. I invite them to share their concerns with me at any time and I stress the importance of my mid-term evaluations as an opportunity for students to help me tailor the class environment to their needs. I begin my class each quarter with a discussion of the importance of respect in our classroom, which enables me to facilitate discussions in such a way that students are more likely to be respectful of each other. Another way in which I empower student participation is by providing positive feedback wherever appropriate. Finally, I know that students have a variety of learning styles and not all students are comfortable with making comments in class. Thus, I try to create many opportunities for a variety of types of participation; I conduct in-class experiments, do demonstrations and take frequent in-class polls to encourage less-verbal students to participate.

Page 21: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• Third, I believe that critical thinking skills are important to student success and that teaching critical thinking through course content can improve student learning. In addition, I believe that teaching students scientific writing must be conducted with a focus on critical thinking and the logical placement and progression of ideas. Many of my assignments in the form of quizzes, tests and papers require students to answer questions with no “correct” answer. Rather, I prefer to ask my students questions that force them to synthesize the topic and defend a position. This allows me to build practice for critical thinking into my classroom. By forcing students to fully think out ideas, and not just to take notes on my lectures, I am able to promote critical thinking skills, which I believe to be integral to future academic success. When I have students write papers, I give detailed grading criteria and long paper prompts so that students can develop the logical structure of their argument in both written and oral communication. In addition, I teach students the background of the scientific method, so that they can become informed consumers of knowledge; instead of relying on intuition, they will have a flexible strategy for answering a myriad of questions in psychology.

Page 22: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• When reading my mid-term and end of the quarter evaluations, it seems that my students perceive the practices related to these goals on my part. Students consistently comment that the class environment is comfortable, that I am genuinely interested in their learning and in them as people, and that the class activities are helpful. I usually try to include at least one active learning activity in each lecture and I try to incorporate some discussion in every class. These activities range from group work to create advertisements for different parts of the brain to an in-class experiment in which students determine the effect of candy on memory as a way of learning the components of the scientific method. Former students have told me that these active learning methods stay with them after the course, which attests to the effectiveness of such activities in promoting ownership of learning, even after the conclusion of the class

Page 23: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

• Teaching psychology is my passion. There is nothing else in my professional life that brings the same joy and exhilaration to me as giving a lecture where students are learning and engaged. While I am fortunate to have found something I am so passionate about, I feel that I have a responsibility to work hard for my students. It is a great gift and a great responsibility to share the subject matter I love with others. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to teach Psychology and I only hope that I am always doing a service to my students.

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTBecause I want to improve my teaching, I have participated in a variety of development activities to continue growing as a teacher. I have attended workshops for instructors on managing the classroom, leading a discussion, creating classroom goals and assessing progress, preparing a teaching portfolio, and engaging students. In addition to these workshops, I was selected as a Psychology Department representative for a university-wide Writing Across the Curriculum workshop.

Page 24: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Do you Do you REALLYREALLY think any principal or think any principal or teacher on an interview committee will teacher on an interview committee will

read that read that LONGLONG philosophy? philosophy?

Page 25: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Philosophy StatementPhilosophy Statement

• No more than ½ to ¾ of a page.

• Do NOT bad mouth TAKS, Education in General, Teachers of the Past, etc.

• Say only POSITIVE things.

• Turn any perceived weakness into a strength! Put a positive spin on things.

• Don’t be general, be specific… it’s YOUR philosophy, not all teachers.

Page 26: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Philosophy of EducationSample Philosophy of Education

• I believe the children are our future...• I believe each and every child has the potential

to bring something unique and special to the world. I will help children to develop their potential by believing in them as capable individuals. I will assist children in discovering who they are, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas. I have a vision of a world where people learn to respect, accept, and embrace the differences between us, as the core of what makes life so fascinating.

Page 27: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Philosophy of EducationSample Philosophy of Education

• Teach them well and let them lead the way...• Every classroom presents a unique community of

learners that varies not only in abilities, but also in learning styles. My role as a teacher is to give children the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge. To accomplish this goal, I will teach to the needs of each child so that all learners can feel capable and successful. I will present curriculum that involves the interests of the children and makes learning relevant to life. I will incorporate themes, integrated units, projects, group work, individual work, and hands-on learning in order to make children active learners. Finally, I will tie learning into the world community to help children become caring and active members of society.

Page 28: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Philosophy of EducationSample Philosophy of Education

• Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride...

• My classroom will be a caring, safe, and equitable environment where each child can blossom and grow. I will allow children to become responsible members of our classroom community by using strategies such as class meetings, positive discipline, and democratic principles. In showing children how to become responsible for themselves as well as their own learning, I am giving them the tools to become successful in life, to believe in themselves, and to love themselves.

Page 29: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Sample Philosophy of EducationSample Philosophy of Education

• Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be...

• Teaching is a lifelong learning process of learning about new philosophies and new strategies, learning from the parents and community, learning from colleagues, and especially learning from the children. Children have taught me to open my mind and my heart to the joys, the innocence, and the diversity of ideas in the world. Because of this, I will never forget how to smile with the new, cherish the old, and laugh with the children.

Page 30: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

OK, that was good, OK, that was good, butbut……

• It was still a bit too long.

• If you want MOST people to actually read it, keep it short.

Page 31: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Short (but good) PhilosophyShort (but good) Philosophy

• I believe that all children can learn and do amazing things. I believe that as teachers it’s up to us to find ways to make every child successful. I realize that this means HARD WORK, but I am prepared to work as hard as I can to have a class where small successes occur each and every day. I want my kids to love learning and to practice self-discipline so they can grow up to become happy and productive members of society.

Page 32: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Short (but good) PhilosophyShort (but good) Philosophy

• I realize that I am a beginning teacher, but I will use this to my advantage. I DON’T know everything so I will learn from my principals and fellow teachers. I am a fresh slate. I have no bad habits. What YOU think is important, I think is important! I am a positive person. I do not complain. I will never give up and never get discouraged. I have a goal to be the best teacher I can be, and with the right principal and the right school that will happen.

Page 33: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

District InterviewDistrict Interview

• Attire

• Notebook/portfolio

• System interviews

• Subject specific questions-TEKS, TAKS

(Look for these at the TEA website)

• Classroom management questions

Page 34: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What you should askWhat you should ask

• New teacher support

• Staff development

• Instructional support

• Instructional resources

• Instructional arrangement

Page 35: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Campus InterviewsCampus Interviews

• Principal/ AP

• Campus team

• Sometimes parents may sit in

Page 36: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What You Should KnowWhat You Should Know

• Information about the campus

• Information about the student body

• What you can bring to the campus

Page 37: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What You Should AskWhat You Should Ask

• Instructional arrangement

• New teacher support

Page 38: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

What You Should AskWhat You Should Ask

• CAUTION: Be careful about asking questions! Asking too many questions makes you come across looking HIGH MAINTENANCE!!!

• If you are perceived as HIGH MAINTENANCE you will NOT get hired!!!

Page 39: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Comparing DistrictsComparing Districts

• New teacher support

• Staff development

• Salary

• Benefits

• Professional Growth

Page 40: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Tips on Getting Hired!!!Tips on Getting Hired!!!

• Get all the training you can. Attend workshops and put that on your resume.

• Get certified in more than one area…Special Ed, ESL, etc.

• Principals love any workshop or training that has to do with TAKS.

• Mention all the RECENT training you’ve had in the job interview.

Page 41: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Focus on what Focus on what YOUYOU bring to the bring to the table.table.

• Try and turn any perceived fault into a positive.

• No experience = clean slate ready and Eager to learn YOUR way. No bad habits.

• Older teacher = you get all the life experience and wisdom of a veteran teacher for the cost of a brand new one!

• Drinking problem = you’ll fit in with the other teachers.

Page 42: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Should I substitute?Should I substitute?• Can be a sure fire way to get hired.• Can be a HUGE waste of your time if you

choose the wrong school!• Make sure there will be positions available.• Make sure the district is alternative certified

friendly.• WORK YOUR BUTT OFF. Stay and grade

every last paper, clean the room before you go...• You will get teachers BEGGING to have you sub

for them and when the time comes they will recommend you.

Page 43: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

So why NOT sub?So why NOT sub?

• Subbing eats your time.• The GOAL is to help kids.• To help kids you need a job!• If you can get a job without subbing, do it!!!

You’ll be helping kids that much faster.• My advice is sub only if you can’t get a job any

other way, but if you do sub… be the VERY BEST SUB!!!

Page 44: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Tips on Getting Hired!!!Tips on Getting Hired!!!

• Take your resume to the school you are interested and (if possible) meet the principal and give it to her personally.

• Stress to the secretary, receptionist, etc. you are NOT wanting an interview, you simply want 30 SECONDS to shake hands and introduce yourself.

• Wait if you have to!!!

Page 45: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Tips on Getting Hired!!!Tips on Getting Hired!!!

• Arrive EARLY for the interview• Dress professionally (you can wear jeans

AFTER you get the job)• Smile and laugh (not a nervous laugh) so

they committee sees you as yourself

Page 46: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

The InterviewThe Interview

• Don’t be a show-off or a smarty-pants (nobody liked it back in third grade and nobody likes it now)

• Show you are a positive person.

• Keep your answers kid centered.

Page 47: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Keep Your Answers Kid CenteredKeep Your Answers Kid Centered

• Don’t say, “I teach exciting lessons.”

• Say, “My students get excited about learning.”

• Don’t say, “I teach respect.”

• Say, “My students show respect.”

• It’s not about you, it’s about your kids! You score maximum points when you put kids first.

Page 48: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Tips on Getting Hired!!!Tips on Getting Hired!!!

• Don’t broadcast your shortcomings.

• Be honest, but don’t say more than you have to about some things.

• Some statements can instantly kill your chances of getting job!!!

Page 49: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Watch out for trick questions!Watch out for trick questions!

• How would you handle a problem child, problem parent, etc?

• Say, “I don’t see children or parents as problems… they are challenges.”

• PROBLEMS=CHALLENGES!!!

Page 50: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Tips on Getting Hired!!!Tips on Getting Hired!!!

• Be careful about the question, “What do you prefer to teach, math and science, or language arts and social studies?”

• “Wow, that’s a tough question since I would feel comfortable doing either one. I might prefer ________, but please put me wherever you need me most.”

Page 51: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Most Important: Show you can fit in Most Important: Show you can fit in with the team and the campus.with the team and the campus.

If the Others Teachers Don’t Like You

Or Think You Don’t Fit In, You Probably Won’t Get Hired

Page 52: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Recent Interview QuestionsRecent Interview Questions

• Tell us a little about yourself.• What do you consider or how do you

define a team?• What do you do or how do you plan to

grow professionally?• What do you consider your best

subject/grade to teach and why?• If you could use any discipline what

would you use?

Page 53: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Recent Interview QuestionsRecent Interview Questions

• What was your favorite subject as a child?• Have you ever heard of Love and Logic?• If we walked into your classroom what

would we see?• What extra duties do you feel are in an

elementary school- your extra responsibilities?

• What was your most challenging subject in school?

Page 54: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Recent Interview QuestionsRecent Interview Questions

• Name one book your have read or one professional development class you have completed. How do you feel it will benefit your class or your ability as a teacher?

• How would you use technology in the classroom? What do you know how to do with technology?

• How would you deal with a student having a meltdown?

Page 55: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Recent Interview QuestionsRecent Interview Questions

• How would you assess your students’ progress?

• How would you motivate a student who refuses to do his work?

• How can you help our TAKS scores?

• If you’re not ready to do something, what should you do?

Page 56: Getting Hired  Tt Day 1

Recent Interview QuestionsRecent Interview Questions

• How do you feel you should dress at school?

• Why do you feel you would be a good candidate for this campus?

• Is there anything you would like to tell us about you that we did not ask?

• Do you have any questions for us?