The Process To Become A High School Teacher

Submitted By IsmaelPolanco1
Words: 1242
Pages: 5

Ismael Polanco
Prof. Samaniego
English 101
April 22, 2013 The process to become a high school teacher
Teaching high school history requires a love for facts and making history come alive. By going through the process of becoming a credentialed or certified history teacher, one will be authorized to teach history and other social sciences in a departmentalized class in grades seven to twelve. Here are the requirements to teach high school history. Bachelor's Degree a four-year bachelor degree is necessary for going into teaching. While it is not necessary to hold a bachelor's degree in history, social science or education, it is always helpful to have more content knowledge in the area one teaches. If you do not take any education classes during your undergraduate degree, realize that there may be some undergraduate prerequisite courses to take later on. Prerequisite courses may include an introduction to teaching or a beginning field experience course. Some states offer four-year degrees in specific secondary education content. For instance, Arizona State University offers a BA in secondary education in history.
Certification Teachers interested in high school history will need to be licensed. If you have a BA and want to become a high school history teacher, you will now have to apply to graduate school. In California, this is called a single subject credential program. To apply, one will have to send transcripts, letters of recommendation and a letter of intent or statement of purpose. Some schools are requiring that graduate students take the GRE. Additionally, one may have to satisfy a U.S constitution requirement with a class or an exam. Typical classes will include those dealing with technology and teaching, reflective teaching, inclusive and equitable teaching methods, research and assessment. Of course, there will then be courses that deal specifically with Secondary History and social sciences teaching practices. Some secondary credentials for history are listed under social science. This enables someone to teach history, along with courses like economics and government. During the certification process, candidates will undergo an internship as a student teacher in a high school history class under the guidance of a qualified high school teacher.
Examination Teachers seeking certification in secondary education will need to pass basic skills tests. Different states have different tests. In order to prove that prospective history teachers have proper content knowledge they are required to take an examination with an emphasis on history. The CSET is one test that tests subject matter competence in social sciences or history. This test is divided up into three subtests: world history and world geography, U.S. history and U.S. geography and civics, economics and California history. Another common subject area exam is the Praxis II. Click here for an example of the format and types of questions on a world and U.S. history Praxis exam.
Other Requirements Candidates will have to get fingerprinted and have a background check to ensure they do not have any criminal history. Teachers will also have to get a tuberculosis test. Requirements and teaching examinations sometimes change. Ask a college counselor about specific requirements for your college and state. Career as a high school history teacher requires that candidates first complete a bachelor's degree program. Most prospective high school history teachers earn a bachelor's degree in history, which takes about four years of full-time study. Students aware of their intent to teach high-school history enter into a secondary teacher education program during their undergraduate college career. Typically, students must wait until their sophomore year before entering this supplementary program. Teacher education programs prepare students by providing training in common teaching methods and classroom computer use in addition to including student-teaching internships.