TEACH SCIENCE TO TOUCH LIVES
WHY BE A TEACHER
Teachers need to be passionate about student learning and their learning. They must be life-long learners and instill that habit into their students.
You want to impact the future generation positively. You enjoy sharing knowledge.
You take pleasure in helping children explore their curiosities.
You want to create experiences so children can enjoy learning and develop socially and intellectually. You can explain things that nurture interest.
SIGNS YOU SHOULD BE A TEACHER
Considering a career in education requires one to ask questions about themselves. You must be committed to fulfilling many responsibilities and dealing with challenges without commensurate recognition or compensation.
¤ You care about our future.
You want to make a difference. You are organized. You are optimistic.
You can give directions and have others follow. You are patient.
You have a sense of humor and can be self-deprecating as needed.
You are good at storytelling. You like challenges.
You love the prospect of working in a classroom.
THE BENEFITS OF BEING A TEACHER
The primary benefit of teaching is the opportunity to influence student lives positively. However, there are other benefits to becoming a K-12 teacher.
• Job fulfillment that produces tangible results.
• Confronting and resolving unique obstacles.
• Experiencing new undertakings each day.
• Collaboration opportunities with colleagues, students, and parents.
• Exploring and creating curriculum and instruction that foster student growth.
• The opportunity to engage in action research. Action research is a process for improving educational practice. Its methods involve action, evaluation, and reflection.
• Set working schedules with time off during the summer and holidays. Of course, you may have the opportunity to teach summer school at the high school level.
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YOU DECIDED TO PURSUE TEACHING, NOW WHAT?
After contemplating the questions and statements above and believing teaching is for you, the following steps are suggested.
CONTACT DR. AOKI
Contact Dr. Jon Aoki, Associate Professor of Science Education and Biology, in the Department of Natural Sciences. Dr. Aoki will provide an overview of teaching and the Texas teaching credential requirements.
CONTACT
CST ADVISING CENTER
Contact the College of Sciences and Technology (CST) Student Advising Center and schedule a meeting to discuss your degree plan (B.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences with Secondarylevel Teacher Certification), projected coursework, and timeline.
CONTACT CPS ADVISING CENTER
Contact the College or Public Service (CPS) Advising Services or the Department of Urban Education, which offers the Secondary Teacher Preparation Program. The Urban Education advising will assist students in preparing for and obtaining teaching certification as a 7th-12th grade teacher. The Guide for Teacher Certification in Grades 7-12 has additional information.
STEPS TO BECOME A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN TEXAS
In Texas, there are five requirements to become a certified teacher. Enrolling in the Secondary Teacher Preparation Program (bit.ly/stprepprog) at UHD will guide you through this process.
TASKS TO COMPLETE
1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
The Texas Administrative Code requires that candidates completing a Texas program must have a degree from a university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
2. Complete an Educator Preparation Program
You must pass the appropriate teacher certification exams. The department of Urban Education will assist in the exam approval process. There are two exams you must pass:
• TExES Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities (PPR)
• TEXES Content Exam (Science Composite exam is recommended)
4. Submit a State Application
After all requirements are met, you must apply to be certified. Do not apply until you have verified with your program that you are eligible.
5. Complete Fingerprinting
All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a national criminal background check.
TE x ES EXAM PREPARATION
QUICK
LINKS
bit.ly/teacertet bit.ly/texpedpr bit.ly/texcontex
The UHD W.I. Dykes library (bit.ly/uhdlibrary) has a science TExES science 7-12 (236) study guide (bit.ly/tex712sg). The exam preparation study guide is in the Reserve section and can be checked out for two hours.
You must complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program bit.ly/uhdnsbs
bit.ly/stprepprog bit.ly/aepptex
3. Pass Certification Exams
Dr. Jon Aoki
Associate Professor of Science Education and Biology
Department of Natural Sciences | N614-A aokij@uhd.edu ADDITIONAL
COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Department of Natural Science bit.ly/uhdns
STB426 | 713-221-8015 ns@uhd.edu
CST Advising bit.ly/CSTadvising
N725 | 713-221-5001 cstadvising@uhd.edu
CPS Advising Center bit.ly/CPSadvising C420 | 713-221-8906 Department of Urban Education uhd.edu/urbaned C440|713-221-2759
CONTACT INFORMATION
RESOURCES Texas
Educator Certification Examination Program | bit.ly/texas-ecep Texas Education Agency Certification | bit.ly/teacert
