The document summarizes key aspects of an elementary school teaching career in Pennsylvania including: - Requirements include a bachelor's degree in elementary education from one of 93 approved Pennsylvania colleges and a student teaching experience along with passing certification exams. - Teachers must complete continuing education requirements including six credits or 180 hours of approved training every five years to maintain certification. - The curriculum is set by state standards identifying what students should know at different grade levels. - A typical school day includes periods for math, content areas, specials, lunch/recess, and extended language arts. After school involves meetings, grading, and preparation. - Rewards include helping children learn and progress, support from colleagues, a respectable salary

1. Career Day Elementary Education April 26, 2007

2. Education 93 colleges in PA completion of state-approved teacher education programs including a student teaching or intern experience Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education

3. Certification Praxis I and Praxis II assessments Background checks The Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check (Act 34) The Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114) The Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)

4. Continuing Education Act 48 six collegiate credits or six PDE-approved in-service credits or 180 continuing education hours or any combination of the above every five calendar years. Master’s Degree, Administrative Certificate, Supervisory Certificate

5. Curriculum Standards Identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels. Anchors The Assessment Anchors clarify the standards assessed on the PSSA and can be used by educators to help prepare their students for the PSSA.

6. PSSA’s Pennsylvania System of School Assessment Standards based criterion-referenced assessment used to measure a student's attainment of standards Determines the degree to which schools enable students to attain proficiency of the standards. Grades 3 through 8 and grade 11: assessed in reading and math . Grades 5, 8 and 11: assessed in writing .

7. Attitudes and Beliefs All children can and do learn Learn at different rates Types of learning styles Tactile, Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic

8. Sample Schedule Opening Activities, Morning Announcements Math (1.25 hr) Content  Sci., S.S., Health) Special (Art, Music, Phys. Ed., Technology) Lunch/Recess Language Arts (3 hrs!!!) Read Aloud, Word Study, Writing, Reading Pack-Up, Planners, Organize

9. At the end of the day… The job is not done. Meetings Prepare for the next day Grade papers, tests, projects, etc. Report cards

10. Perks and Rewards Helping children learn Seeing them “get it” Solve their own problems, get along with others, etc. Support from team members, Admin. Respectable salary Time off in the summer Opportunities for growth Continuing education

11. Questions?