Teaching is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand careers in the job market. If you’re considering becoming a teacher, now is the time to make the leap and earn a teaching degree with this guide. Whether you’re considering teaching or you’ve been teaching for a while, you’re probably wondering how to be the best teacher you can be. Here are just a few of the essentials to become successful in the teaching field.
Incorporate New Study Materials
When you get a set pattern of teaching under your belt, it becomes too easy to get stuck in a rut. New materials are being made all the time to keep up with changing trends. Today, technology is constantly transforming the way kids learn and how we teach. IPads, internet applications and other new digital teaching tools are coming out all the time. Always do your research on reviews of the latest methods and discuss them with your peers to find out what works best.
Attend Teaching Conferences
Teaching Conferences happen all year-round. Are you a science teacher? Attend the NSTA Conference that occurs every year. For English teachers, find out when and where the next NCTE Conference is being hosted. Invest yourself in your state and national teacher councils and organizations to stay in the know. Conferences provide the opportunity to learn the latest teaching trends, news and to network with other teachers. Attend course workshops and look for presentations that have interesting and inspiring speakers. Teaching conferences aren’t just educational–they’re a great way to refuel and motivate yourself to exceed at your job.
Build Positive Relationships with Other Teachers
Build and maintain healthy relationships with other teachers early. Treat your work environment like any other–the more friends you make, the better. Make yourself known among your colleagues with a helpful attitude. Seek growth among your fellow teachers and bounce ideas off of them. Your senior teachers will have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom drawn from experience that may become your greatest asset. Likewise, if you have a particular strength, show your leadership potential by teaching others in your department what you’ve learned. Win the hearts of your peers and department head by using your skills to make the department better as a whole.
Consider Further Education
Even a teacher can always learn more. Today, colleges and universities offer scores of programs dedicated to certain fields and niches to match your career goals. You can earn an Educational Doctorate Degree online in areas like organizational change, educational technology, educational psychology, leadership, curriculum instruction, human resource development, educational administration and so much more. EdD’s are different than PhD’s in that they aren’t strictly research-affiliated. EdD’s help you direct research into practice with better and more effective teaching strategies.
Become a Department Head
If making more money is your goal, the only way is to move up. Before committing to pursuing a position as a department head, carefully consider if you have the right skills and motivation. A good department head isn’t just motivated by money. Department head roles entail a high amount of responsibility and pressure to manage the department and make sure every teacher’s needs are met. Despite this stress, many department heads find it to be a rich and fulfilling job to take on. As a department head, you have the opportunity to lead others and steer them all as a team to create a successful and rewarding learning environment for students and for teachers. If you want to become a department head, you can start by building your relationships, taking on other leadership roles and continuing your education.
Advance to Administrative Positions
Without a doubt, the most money is in administrative jobs. Administrators such as principals, assistant principals, athletic directors and guidance counselors leave the classroom to take jobs higher in leadership. To become an administrator, most work their way up the ranks beginning as teachers. In order to make the jump from teaching to administration, most people attend higher education and earn a master’s or PhD related to educational administration. But your efforts don’t go unrewarded—some administrators find themselves making double than many teachers.
Becoming a successful teacher is all about what your goals are. Whether you want to become the best teacher you can be or you want to seek more leadership and financial opportunities, you can find the route that works best for you.
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