Education by Shala Books

  • Home
  • Resources
    • FSL Resources
    • ESL Resources
    • Reading Resources
  • Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Support
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Contact
    • Opportunities
  • Login
  • Home
  • Resources
    • FSL Resources
    • ESL Resources
    • Reading Resources
  • Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Support
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Contact
    • Opportunities
  • Login

THE EDUCATION BLOG

BLOG HOME PAGE
Let's Talk Education
Educational Frameworks
Planners
Reading
ESL
FSL
Modern Foreign Languages
Mother Tongue
Tips for Educators
Tips for Parentss
Education Quotes

Blog

January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018

RETHINKING TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

13/5/2019

 
If we are expecting educators to be able to create links between subject areas and to be flexible in their thinking, then perhaps we need to rethink the way universities are currently preparing new teachers – the approach being used and the manner in which the courses are offered. Perhaps one of the reasons teachers are reluctant to collaborate and adapt to meet school and student needs is simply that they haven’t been taught the necessary skills.

As I can recall, and it still seems to be the case, each subject area in an undergraduate program is a stand-alone course, both at the elementary and the secondary levels – how to teach math, how to teach science, etc. And so, new teachers are being trained to see each subject area as a stand-alone – they aren’t being pushed to find the links and make the connections between each of the courses they are taking. What if universities could offer the courses in a manner in which their students would be asked to find the links as they are planning? In a way that required students to plan with others, not only in the classes they are taking, but to make connections with those students attending classes for training in specialty areas, such as music and P.E., etc. How would that change the way graduating teachers arrived at their new schools? What difference would it make if new educators were aware of the necessity to collaborate with others and to link subject areas together, and were taught the skills enabling them to do so?

As for flexibility in thinking and the ability to change with the times, it comes down to the planning tools that universities have been and are currently providing to their students. A single unit planner and a single lesson planner … the same ones are used for all courses … they don’t change.  Students are taught there is one way, and one way only. But what if the various styles of unit planners and lessons planners presented were dependent on the course? What if students were encouraged and taught how to develop their own unit planners and modify existing planners based on both subject area and potential school scenarios, such as split-classes, multi-level classes, team planning, etc.? What if students were taught that planners are fluid, that they do change over time, and that they change in order to meet different teaching philosophies and teaching methods? Would graduating teachers be more flexible in their thinking? Would they, over the course of their careers, be able to adapt to change more easily, knowing that they have the ability to modify and create new planning tools to assist them in doing so?

Flexibility, adaptability, collaborating and making connections are all valuable skills for a teacher to have throughout their career. What if instead of schools having to encourage staff to be open to change, teachers already came prepared with the mentality, the tools, and the ability to adjust? What if, instead of schools needing to teach their staff to find the links and make the connections, teachers already knew how because it was the way they were taught to look at things. Isn’t it time we rethink the undergraduate university programs in the field of education … you be the judge.
Producing Better Prepared Teachers
Explore Other Education Articles

Curing the Stagnation of Education
Answering the Whys in Education

Rethinking Report Cards
A Building Does Not Solve Educational Issues - People Do
The Problem With Current Professional Development and How to Solve It


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    SHARE ARTICLE

    Welcome to
    The Education Blog

    Christina Shala
    Christina Shala
    About Christina Shala

    Recent Post

    Quick Links


    FSL Resources
    ESL Resources
    Beginning Readers
    Consulting Services

    Have a Question?

    CONTACT US
Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
OUR COMPANY
About
Blog
FAQ
Contact
Opportunities
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
FSL Resources
ESL Resources
Emergent Readers
Transitional Readers
Consulting Services
Vertical Divider
CONNECT WITH US
© Copyright 2023  Education by Shala Books Inc.