Decide on the grade level and subject that you want to teach before pursuing any kind of degree. The curriculum and daily classroom practices will be vastly different from kindergarten to high school. Choosing a grade level that you believe you work well with and a subject that you are passionate about will make a difference in the courses you must complete.
Complete your certification courses. Different states have different requirements for teaching degrees, so it is important to find out what you will need. A certification program will require you to enroll in an accredited college or university that offers a degree in education.
Complete your Practicum. Most teaching degrees require potential educators to complete a scheduled group of visits to classes in the grade level they intend to teach. For example, if you plan to teach the fourth grade, your Practicum will schedule you to spend time in a fourth-grade classroom to observe and assist in teaching. During Practicum you will be assigned a mentor, who will observe you in the classroom and evaluate your performance.
Complete your Praxis exam. The Praxis exam is a requirement for all teachers. The test assesses your understanding and mastery of the content area you plan to teach. Information on how to take the test and where to enroll can be found at ETS.org.
Apply for a teaching position. You may want to begin by checking for open positions in the district that you completed your Practicum or student teaching. If those positions are not available, begin by searching on district sites in your area or through a job site like Careerbuilder.com or Monster.com. You will be required to submit a copy of your current resume, certification, all official transcripts and references from your previous job experience.
Prepare for your first year. Once you have been hired for a teaching position in the school district of your choice, you will need to start gathering materials and resources for your classroom and lessons. You will most likely be assigned a mentor to guide you through your first year. A mentor will help you with questions you might have about how to implement lessons or work with students.
One of the most important things that a teacher can do is be familiar with the content he or she is going to teach. Obtain copies of the curriculum and textbook that are going to be used in your classroom. Spend time reviewing the information so that you are readily prepared to not only teach the content, but also to answer any questions that students might have.
Expect the unexpected. No matter how well organized you are as a teacher, there are always going to be unexpected moments. Prepare a backup plan for classroom time and lessons. For those students that are able to grasp the concepts quickly, you will want to provide enrichment lesson and activities. For those students that need extra work, it is a good idea to prepare remedial lessons.
Take advantage of professional development opportunities. Teaching is a profession that allows educators to earn professional hours for higher pay. This can be done by either completing coursework or enrolling in different professional development sessions that are offered by the district.
As you make it through your first year of teaching, you will accumulate a variety of materials. Keep the lessons, handouts, graphic organizers, etc., that you have worked with so you will not have to start from scratch during your second year. Teachers should not be afraid to borrow and exchange ideas. Become acquainted with your colleagues to see what materials are available.