Introduction to the Teaching Profession

Course Description: An enriched, integrated pre-service course and content experience that provides active recruitment and institutional support of students interested in a teaching career, especially in high need fields. The course provides students with opportunities to participate in early field observations at all levels of P-12 schools with varied and diverse student populations and provides students with support from college and school faculty, preferably in small cohort groups, for the purpose of introduction to and analysis of the culture of schooling and classrooms. Course content should be aligned as applicable with State Board for Educator Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities standards. Course must include a minimum of 16 contact hours of field experience in P-12 classrooms. Must be TSI-complete in reading and writing.

Co-Requisites and Pre-Requisites: Passage of a background check.

For students in this course who may have a criminal background, please be advised that the background could keep you from being licensed by the State of Texas. If you have a question about your background and licensure, please speak with your faculty member or the department chair. You also have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the applicable licensing agency.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Identify current issues influencing the field of education and teacher professional development.

2. Analyze the culture of schooling and classrooms from the perspectives of language, gender, socioeconomic, ethnic, and disability-based academic diversity and equity.

3. Provide examples from classroom observations and course activities that demonstrate understanding of educational pedagogy and professional responsibilities of teachers.

4. Evaluate personal motivations, educational philosophies, and factors related to educational career decision making.

5. Recognize the various multiple intelligences/learning styles in order to be able to implement instructional practices that meet the needs of all students.

Lab Fee

NONE

Recommended Textbooks

Textbook: Those Who Can, Teach, 14th edition by Kevin Ryan and James Cooper

Evaluation Standards

Grades will be taken at the discretion of the instructor. Semester grades are based on the following:

Attendance/Participation/Discussions 20%

Assignments 20%

Projects 25%

Observations 25%

Assessments 10%

At the end of the semester, you will receive a letter grade based on the following averages:

A = 90 – 100%

B = 80 – 89%

C = 70 – 79%

D = 60 – 69%

F = 0 – 59%

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.

Hope Statement

Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).