Your best friend just decided to run a marathon. They are excited about it, telling friends and family about the new goal, buying gear, and reading through running blogs for advice.
Next time you see them, you probably ask how training is going, right? Training for a marathon is no joke. It takes time and lots of gradual work to build up to running those 26.2 miles. If they choose the wrong training program or don’t take training seriously, that race is going to be very tough.
Committing to a good training program is important for marathon success and just as important for success in a teaching career. Teaching is a rewarding, impactful career choice, but teachers need preparation and support as they step into the classroom.
Before we dive into exploring why teaching excellence matters and how teacher preparation programs make that happen, it’s worth giving a bit of background.
What Are Teacher Preparation Programs?
Teacher preparation programs in California are any state accredited program that prepares students for work in the classroom and for receiving their California teaching credential. Some teacher prep programs offer multiple credentialing specialties or options to pair a credential with a master’s degree in education.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why your choice of teacher preparation program matters.
How Can Teachers Help Students Be Successful?
Before we talk about how quality preparation supports your career goals, let’s talk about student success.
Ultimately, every good teacher wants their students to thrive, and there’s evidence that teachers have a powerful impact on student learning.
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) is an organization that researches and reports on ways that school systems and teachers work together to ensure learning for all students. Consider this powerful statistic from a TNTP report, The Irreplaceables: the top 20% of teachers generate 5 to 6 more months of student learning each year than a poor performing teacher does.
While there will be many things you cannot change or control in the life of your students, you can be one of these “irreplaceable” teachers, the kind of teacher who generates meaningful and measurable learning gains for their students. The key is in your passion and your preparation.
A Quality Teacher Credential Program Can Help You Become an Irreplaceable Teacher
No one becomes an irreplaceable teacher overnight - it takes time and experience to learn the skills and strategies needed to become an outstanding teacher. Here's why it matters where you get your teaching credential:
A good teacher preparation program offers you:
- Access to great faculty and teacher mentors
- Extended time as a student teacher
- Information about how to incorporate technology in the 21st century classroom.
It also offers you a community of fellow student teachers who you can learn from and grow with. Above all, it should inspire you and challenge you to become a leader in your classroom, working for social justice, cultural sensitivity, and greater equity, one child and one interaction at a time.
The Two Ways to Think About Choosing Your Teaching Credential Program
Option #1
It is possible to do a teacher preparation program quickly and inexpensively, and this option is the right choice for some people depending on what they’d like to do, how long they want to teach, what their other life circumstances can allow. Choosing a basic teacher prep program can still get you in the door at a school and allow you to begin teaching and shaping young minds.
But the challenges of the teaching profession are very real. Once you are in that classroom, you may find yourself feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and isolated. While you may have saved time and money when choosing your program, the practicality of your decision may seem short-lived.
Option #2
The second approach is to see your teacher preparation program as a chance to invest in your long-term happiness and success. While it may be more expensive or more demanding when you choose a program with a reputation for excellence you are expanding your paths for job offers that excite you and for future career growth.
You are also giving yourself space to dream a little. If you invest in a program that also invests in you, you’ll be encouraged to think big about your influence in the world and how you can create change as a teaching professional.
Ensure Your Success in the Classroom by Choosing a Good Teacher Prep Program
Your career is a marathon of sorts. Do yourself a favor, and prepare properly at the outset.
A quality teacher preparation program gives you access to a network of possibilities through its alumni, reputation, and faculty contacts. It also prepares you to shine on your own merit once you get into the classroom. Look for a program that is well established with schools in the community and that has a high employment rate post graduation.
USD SOLES offers future educators three program pathways to obtaining a teaching credential in California. These pathways include a Preliminary Credential Only Program, an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with credentials, and a Bilingual Authorization with Spanish Emphasis.
With the right preparation and a passion for teaching, there are few limits to where your career in education could go. Are you ready to begin? Schedule a meeting with our graduate admissions team to learn more about taking the next step in earning your teaching credential at SOLES.
If you want to learn more, check out our full resource, How to Become a Teacher in California: Your Guide to Getting a Teaching Credential.
