4 And Now What? The Path Forward
13
And Now What? The Path Forward
You may already be envisioning with excitement your journey toward becoming a teacher, perhaps by walking across a stage to accept your diploma and later getting the keys to your very own classroom. While this is an important first step in your path toward becoming a professional educator, your journey does not end as soon as you have completed your teaching credential. You will have a lifetime of opportunities to continue learning, growing, and leading in the ever-changing and evolving field of education.
So far together, our journey through this book has surveyed the various roots of teaching in the United States, including an overview of the teaching profession, various influences on student learning, philosophical and historical foundations, structures of schools, ethical and legal issues, curriculum, and classroom environment. But now what? What is the path forward?
In this chapter, we will close with a brief look at the path ahead.
First of all, you will continue to learn and hone your craft as a teacher through many venues. You may choose to complete additional courses, future advanced degrees (maybe even a doctorate so you can work with preservice teachers as a college professor), or certificates (like becoming a Google-certified teacher[1]).
Another important way to stay informed is to become a member of professional organizations that support teachers. These organizations are often focused on specific sub-fields, like literacy, math, or science, but some organizations support teachers in general. These organizations often have both state and national (or even international) networks and conferences, which can be an exciting way to keep your learning current while meeting other educators like you. Sometimes students and early-career teachers can join these organizations or attend conferences at a discounted rate–sometimes even for free. Table 8.1 lists a few of these professional organizations.
Table 8.1: Professional Organizations for Educators
Name of Organization |
International, National, State |
Focus of Organization |
| AERA (American Educational Research Association) | International and regional chapters | All areas of education with special interest groups, such as teacher research |
| ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) | International; state chapters (and even college chapters) also exist | General K-12 (and sometimes K-16) education |
| ILA (International Literacy Association) | International and state chapters | A global, literacy-focused professional organization serving K-12 and higher education |
| NABE (National Association of Bilingual Education) | International, regional, and state chapters | Professional organization devoted to representing bilingual/multilingual students and bilingual and dual language education professionals |
| NAFME (National Association for Music Education) | National, state, and local chapt