How do I become a Teacher?

In order to become a teacher there are many obstacles that I will have to face. The first of these obstacles is my desire for teaching. I believe that without a strongly rooted desire for teaching I can not become a great teacher. I want to wake up everyday and want to go to work not because of money, not because of advancement in another place, but because I am making a difference in someone's life.

The second obstacle is my learning. I need to succeed not only in my classes but I need to pass the tests required to become a teacher. I must pass my Praxis to begin my practicum. I also need to complete my practicum and my student teaching. I must complete all four years here at UMF and I strive to do so with honorable grades while gaining valuable information. I will then need to follow the steps to obtain my certification and to ensure as well as keep up with my teacher certification. This includes fingerprinting, criminal background check, several skills tests, as well as conferences or meetings in the following years.

The final obstacle I must face is myself. After having completed my tests, certification and continuing my learning, I must strive everyday to be a better teacher. I hope to be a teacher, a true teacher by making a difference to the children that I teach.
I learned many things so far in EDU 101 about the ways to become a teacher. I have seen the actual process for certification, the differences between states, as well as how to continue my learning and teaching once I have become certified. I hope to learn more about why teachers are paid so less when they are the most valuable profession.

Why I Want To Teach

When I was a child, I wanted to be many things, but a teacher somehow was not one of them. I wanted to be a lawyer, a pediatrician, and even an archaeologist. But when I entered high school I found myself becoming more and more intrigued with English. I was studying Shakespeare and poetry at the time and fell in love. Not only was the material interesting but it became exciting to go to class. I began to develop a passion for reading and writing as well as English in general. My teachers saw this excitement inside of me and helped that to grow. I believe that without the support of these amazing teachers this passion for learning and teaching would have never developed. Over my high school career this passion and enthusiasm grew and blossomed into a new dream, the dream of becoming an English teacher.

I want to teach High School English. Some say I am crazy, some say good luck, but I say bring on the challenge. I want to teach children the way that I was taught. I want to help those who are unexcited and uninterested in school. I want to bring out that passion and interest that I never knew I had within me. I will strive to not only teach but to learn with my students as well. There are so many things that can change and that can develop over the years. I believe a great teacher can transform into a student, to learn new things each year. To become a great teacher I will strive to possess an in-depth knowledge of the material at hand, help others to understand that material, to find a balance between work and play, and to be an individual. I want to be patient, friendly, open-minded, and most of all a role model for all of my students.

I want to teach because I want to help children. It is very important for children to not only have academic skills but social skills as well. Children need a person they can turn to, especially if they do not have a strong home life. I believe helping these children through some of the hardest years of their life will change their future. But the most important thing is that these children find the will to learn and use that to help change not just their future but our future.