On a recent episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invited Mary Katlin Davis, a renowned photographer, award-winning author, mother of two and soon-to-be certified teacher, to share her story. Mary discusses her journey to teacher certification, sharing the [...]

Army veteran educator Timothy O’Flaherty faced unexpected challenges when he moved to Florida with over 20 years of teaching experience. He previously taught Latin and Ancient Greek at a local boarding school in Massachusetts and expected an easy transition to a Florida classroom. [...]

“I love TeacherReady with my heart and my soul. I went through a traditional pathway. And I found I still was not prepared for the classroom in so many ways. But with TeacherReady, candidates learn the nitty gritty so they’re ready to be successful on day one. We’ve had [...]

Decatur Public Schools in Illinois has come up with an innovative way to tackle teacher shortages: offering long-term substitute teachers the chance to earn their teaching certificates through an online alternative certification program (TeacherReady) accredited by The University of West [...]

Photo: National Geographic Tuscaloosa Academy teacher Jaclyn Foster is about to embark on a journey that teachers all over the world often dream about. Foster was recently chosen for the 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship from the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions. She joins a [...]

Photo: Coker University, Davidson Hall Coker University is a private liberal arts college located in Hartsville, South Carolina that prides itself on being a student-focused, supportive and close-knit community. The university combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on [...]

Since the fifth grade, Dylan Meinburg has dreamed of becoming a teacher. He received his teacher certification overseas and now lives in Thailand with his wife where they have dedicated their lives to mission work. Additionally, he teaches music to middle schoolers in a small, private school in [...]

As the southern neighbor to the beautiful state of Georgia, we work with our fair share of students who either teach or are planning to teach in Georgia. Many students choose our program for the flexibility of online coursework and learning. Others move to Georgia before they complete our [...]

Originally published on Huron Insights | By Janet Pilcher, Robin Largue and Pat Greco Raising the quality of K-12 education in the U.S. is complex, with state and local agencies facing a convergence of challenges, including budget shortages, overcrowding, social and economic inequities, and [...]

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela Like Nelson Mandela, Dr. Reggie Todd is a firm believer that education can change the world. So much so that he has devoted his life to a career in education. Dr. Todd began his teaching career in [...]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), many teachers in Georgia are approaching retirement age. Nearly 20% of the teachers exiting the classroom have over 20 years of experience. While student enrollment projections continue to increase, the number of teachers joining [...]

In The Teaching Shortage in America, we examined the alarming teacher shortage that exists in America today. According to the Learning Policy Institute, the country faces a shortage of at least 110,000 teachers. Such a dilemma forces many school districts to hire uncertified teachers who lack [...]

A growing teacher shortage is disrupting the learning environment in the United States, and Florida is no exception with 3,500 vacancies entering the 2019-2020 school year. The consequences for students are concerning. Florida districts need qualified teachers, particularly in the subject areas [...]

A military career builds essential life skills. Service members develop self-discipline, structure and determination. We have found that these experiences create strong leaders in the classroom, where many veterans find a second career in service. Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of [...]

Passing teacher certification tests is a basic requirement for teacher licensure in most states. The test results are used to measure aspiring teachers’ knowledge and skills to ensure they are qualified to teach. Since each state sets its own standards, testing requirements vary from state to [...]

Many teachers don’t discover a passion for teaching until they have already finished college and worked in other careers. When you decide to make that transition from the cubicle to the classroom, you will need to begin researching teacher certification programs. While many schools hire [...]

Waldorf University (WU) is a private liberal arts school located in Forest City, Iowa. For more than 100 years, Waldorf has provided continuous academic excellence and civic outreach in and around the Forest City community. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central [...]

Teachers study Bloom’s Taxonomy in their education training program. Taxonomy means classification. Bloom’s taxonomy is a simple classification system that defines and distinguishes six levels of human thinking, learning and understanding. Teachers should include all learning levels in their [...]

There is an increasing need for teacher portfolios which document achievements and classroom experiences. These portfolios visually communicate a teacher’s experience in a professional and organized manner. Teacher portfolios are not always required but are highly recommended for several [...]

To become a certified teacher, most states require a bachelor’s degree, student teaching and a passing score on teacher certification exams. Although student teaching provides invaluable training, it rarely allows enough time for new teachers to learn everything they need to know when they [...]

Most educators agree that mentoring programs (induction) are essential for beginning teachers to meet the needs of their students. Although available mentoring programs have doubled in the past two decades, approximately half of the states still offer no formal mentoring for new teachers. There [...]

To become a certified teacher, you must: 1. earn a bachelor’s degree 2. complete student teaching (also known as field experience, internship, practicum) 3. pass several teacher certification exams Through coursework, you study methods and practices of teaching (called pedagogy). Through [...]

If you want to earn the highest level of teacher certification, you should consider ‘National Board Certification’. We researched all the details and put together this simple overview to tell you about how to get this certification and how it can help you in your teaching career. What is [...]

In teaching, the term ‘state reciprocity’ refers to using an existing teacher certification to get a teaching license in another state. Because teachers are more and more on the move, most states developed certification agreements to outline the process to accept teacher [...]

This month we are going to talk about the teacher shortage in America –  why it’s happening, what is being done about it and how an online teacher certification program can help. The teaching shortage is a major issue in America that exists in many states. The Guardian conducted a survey [...]

In Part 1 of this series, we learned that English is the most spoken non-native language in the world which is why so many people want to learn this language. In Part 2, we talked about finding a teaching job abroad by first deciding what type of school setting you prefer and what requirements [...]

In part 1 of this series, we explained why so many people want to learn English. According to the data, English is the most spoken non-native language in the world today. Since over 1 billion people are currently learning English as a second language, there is a huge demand for teaching English [...]

 The English language is the most studied language in the world. According to the British Council, an estimated 1.5 billion people across the globe are currently learning English. There is a universal desire and need for people to learn the English language. This has opened a robust job market [...]

After many years of working in other career areas, Leigh Ann Conrad became a teacher. She enrolled in TeacherReady 3 years ago and is now teaching 2nd grade in Leon County, Florida. The TeacherReady team recently had the chance to catch up with the entire Conrad family to learn how this online [...]

Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Robin Largue founded an online teacher certification program which is a tough, tiring and tremendous task! It took vision and passion, knowledge and experience, determination and dedication, patience and persistence . . . and sheer nerve. Through the [...]

Most of us want passion and purpose in our career. Since we spend nearly as much time at work as at home,  we need joy and satisfaction from our job. Follow the nine suggestions below if you want to be a great teacher!  No one ever said that teaching is easy; but if done well, it will give you [...]

Many people change careers over 5-7 times during their lifetime. The story below describes David, a 68 year old, who has had 5 careers so far! From serving his country, to translating historical writings and to operating construction equipment, some may say that he’s seen it all. After [...]

The traditional model of our education system is shifting. Many classrooms have integrated hands-on approach to next-level engagement. Our students demand that we review our practices daily. It’s been proven that students want teachers who visibly care about them, engage them in the learning [...]

When it comes to earning a online teaching certification and teaching in private schools there are some misconceptions about the certification. We are here to set the record straight and help you decide which is best for you. Here are some of the facts: Certification positions you as a top [...]

Welcome back to school to all the students and educators around the world! Becoming familiar with new personalities and finding your groove can present some anxiety. We’ve curated a few tips to help you make those first 90 days stress-free while focusing on what counts – guiding the [...]

Before she was serving future teachers in the TeacherReady online teaching certification program, Dr. Sarah Miller spent 17 years in the classroom as a Special Education teacher. Dr. Miller’s experience and background in education give her a unique advantage in building the support [...]

Interview and Job Advice from An Online Teaching Certification Program What does it take to get a teaching job in America? It takes time, know-how, determination, dedication, preparation, patience, self-confidence, stamina, insight, a positive attitude and a proactive spirit. Do more teachers [...]

Providing Students Every Opportunity. Two stories were shared with us recently that reminded me of the passion and purpose to do worthwhile work and to make a difference. Teaching requires a special kind of passion as Dr. Sarah Miller shared in her story about her husband Chris. Did you relate [...]

Online Teaching Certification. Real World Impact.     Jack McMullen helps aspiring teachers earn their teaching certification online. Jack graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor’s in public Relations and then returned to earn a Master’s in Strategic [...]

Through sheer determination and continued perseverance, Paulette is about to complete our online teacher certification program and become a certified Physical Education teacher and coach. Nebraska, Junior High School, 6th grade Paulette was identified as a “special needs” student [...]

It is important that our students have the expertise and support they need for their journey towards becoming successfully equipped, certified teachers. When candidates call our Alternative Online Teaching Certification Program, located in Pensacola, FL, many may not realize the significance of [...]

Advanced Concepts For A Brighter Future: Ahead at Every Turn Now more than ever, education is facing “reform” on a continuous cycle. Though the world’s greatest education leaders attempt to “reinvent” or “reform” education, very little change is actually taking place. Specifically in the United [...]

Become A Teacher A study commissioned by Blue Star Families found that 43% of military spouses are jobless. In addition, the study estimates that military spouses who hold a bachelor’s degree earn 40% less and are increasingly underemployed. At TeacherReady®, we are working tirelessly to [...]

A key piece of curriculum in the TeacherReady® Online Certification Program is Using Assessment Data. What makes this specific portion of the online teaching certification process so important? We have found that when teachers effectively use student assessment data in the classroom, they can [...]

TeacherReady® was founded in response to high turnover and attrition within the teaching profession, as well as mass teacher shortages in various areas of the United States. This online teacher certification program offers increased flexibility, allowing aspiring teachers to maintain current [...]

For most of us, the careers we choose align to our passions. This passion is typically derived from a personal life experience that ignites a spark within—something that truly inspires us. For Todd Nemyo, a current TeacherReady® teacher candidate, his desire to earn his online teaching [...]

Dr. Aleta Schexnayder, a TeacherReady® instructor, knew she wanted to become a teacher at the young age of six or seven. Most of us did not know our calling at such an early age, and many of us may still not know. Recognizing your passion and following your calling in life can take time. [...]

Why provide feedback? It is vital to provide feedback to parents that recognizes what students are doing well. We often express what students do wrong, but seldom reward and recognize good performance. Similar to most people, students respond when they are recognized. Using research findings [...]

As we work with teachers, we engage in conversations about domains of teaching. We introduce the Teaching ALWAYS Actions™ as a way of “making the complex, simple.” The Teaching ALWAYS Actions are five actions teachers must do every day in their classrooms to ensure students are [...]

Why I am proud to be a teacher… Growing up, for me, involved a lot of change. I was always interested in becoming an artist or animating for Disney. As I made my way to high school, that began to change. I enrolled in a specialized program for gifted artists that wanted to explore graphic [...]

Learning targets are essential to student success. They ensure students fully understand learning expectations. When creating these targets, it is important to be both strategic and intentional. We take a very systematic approach to developing learning targets, with the help of Bloom’s [...]

For students to learn they need to know what is expected of them and they need to know what success looks like. Therefore, teachers must create and effectively communicate clearly defined learning targets. These targets need to be posted in the same place in the classroom every day. With the [...]

Have a resume built, but need a little help perfecting it? When applying for a teaching position there are a few simple things you can do to make your resume stand out from the rest. Gayle Furlow, TeacherReady® Field Placement Advisor, shares a few key tips to add to your resume and help you [...]

Do you ever stop and think to yourself, “Wow, if I hadn’t had that particular experience, I wouldn’t be in the place and position I am in today?” For Quisha Wesley, a TeacherReady® alumna, this was a familiar and frequent thought that came full circle this month at Studer Education’s℠ What’s [...]

Promote What You Want to See in Your Students for a Happier and Less Stressful Start to the New School Year Students generally respond better to rewards than to verbal scoldings. Rather than getting overtly upset when a student doesn’t remember how to line up on the first week, try verbally [...]

Prepare in Advance for a Happier and Less Stressful Start to the New School Year Experienced teachers know that the sooner they get started collecting and organizing items for their classrooms (or take them out of storage), the better they feel about the first few days of school. Likewise, [...]

Plan for Success For a Happier and Less Stressful Start to the New School Year How do you do this? Consider and answer the following questions in advance of the school year: Look back over the standards appropriate for your grade level and subject matter. Think about those in blocks of [...]

Why? An instructional calendar is a valuable tool for mapping out curriculum standards, to ensure appropriate pacing, and to support student mastery of required content. Creating this instructional calendar is one of the most important things you can do before the school year begins. What? The [...]

The first 90 days back to school can be filled with stress and anxiety, especially if you are at a brand new school or teaching for the first time. In an attempt to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes, getting on the wrong side of a new co-worker, or making a mistake, it’s often [...]

Lesson Development Process When teachers plan lessons, we suggest they view learning through a student’s lens. Effective teachers align the skill set required of a lesson to a student’s learning level. A teacher’s number one goal is to guide students to exceed their expected [...]

A curriculum calendar and lesson plans ensure you are teaching all the necessary material throughout the year. Without these items, you may find yourself behind in teaching all content. We suggest you start the process with a broader curriculum calendar and then develop individual lesson plans. [...]

Building an effective communication plan should be part of the school year planning process. Typically, when teachers are preparing for the first day or week, they treat a communication plan as something that will come together over time. A communication strategy should be carefully developed [...]

An effective management plan is vital to the success and efficiency of your classroom and most importantly, your students. Well thought-out classroom procedures should be in place on day one. Keep in mind, you won’t be able to teach every procedure on that first day. What are the key [...]

Preparing for the First Day: Organizing your classroom Prior to the first day of school, there are many classroom organization details to consider. You want to be sure to have your classroom organized and ready for students to step through the door that first day back. An organized classroom [...]

Structuring Back to School Pre-planning time is limited and there is a lot to do! Determine and prioritize the actions you must take prior to Day 1. It is also important to consider which actions can happen after the first day of school. Some things to begin thinking about are classroom [...]

During the busy school year, it can be easy to forget the impact we, as teachers, may have on each individual student. When the chaos subsides, it is important to reflect on our work and take notice of how we touch the lives of our students. Kara McAlister, a TeacherReady® alumni, reflects on a [...]

Bright Ideas The coaching probes and rounding sessions (as described in the previous two blog posts) provide ways for school leaders to harvest intellectual capital from teachers. Through our research in high need schools, we’ve found that the use of collegial coaches and coaching probe [...]

Rounding In a previous blog post, we discuss the benefit of applying the Coaching Probe Tool with collegial coaches and teacher learning teams to reflect on student success. Rounding is another effective tool to aid teachers in the reflection process. Collegial coaches use various strategies to [...]

Coaching Probes: A collegial coach of a teacher learning team can be someone in the school or someone at another school. Alternatively, the role can rotate from team member to team member in the teacher learning teams. Regardless, the teams work together to create individual or team 30-Day [...]

Reflect on How Well Students are Learning: In performance-driven classrooms, teachers constantly reflect on how well their students are learning. Success should be measured by how well students have learned rather than how well teachers think they taught. Data help teachers know if and when [...]

Amie Canter TeacherReady® certified teacher, leader, and advocate for students and teachers, Amie Canter, is continuing her work making a positive change in education. Canter’s innovative classroom can serve as an example for fellow teachers of what is working well. She is presenting [...]

Most people have at least one bad habit, if not, more than one. The bad habits can be in their personal lives and in the workplace. Many teachers have bad habits they probably don’t even notice. Some of these bad teaching habits include: Using a textbook as the script for teaching. Saving [...]

A Standout Teacher in the Making Sheri Green, a teacher candidate currently completing the TeacherReady® program, says she always wanted to be a teacher. “I wanted to inspire, motivate, encourage and help develop our children. My biggest motivation was just giving back to our youth, which [...]

What does engaged and effective teaching look like? There is no single definition or bullet point that shows what effective teachers should look like. We do know, effective teaching doesn’t require any fancy programs or cost a lot of money. John Hattie’s evidence-based [...]

We recently wrote a post about the importance (or rather lesser importance) of degree majors. Sure, there are plenty of people who go to school with a laser-focused path. They know exactly what they want to do, and they choose their degree field with calculation and intention. But, that’s [...]

What problem do new teachers face? “Nearly half of all beginning teachers will leave their classrooms within five years, only to be replaced by another fresh-faced educator,” Owen Phillips told nprEd. When asked “What can schools specifically do to address the problem of [...]

When I decided to go to school to be a journalist, I had big dreams. I was going to chase down stories reminiscent of Citizen Kane. I would spend long days ferreting out the truth behind conspiracies and sleepless nights clobbering the keys of a typewriter. I was young. It didn’t take [...]

If you don’t know how your students feel about the environment in your classroom, you should ask them. Our goal as teachers is to create learning environments where students want to learn and gain confidence when they experience success. In order to do this well, teachers must reflect on [...]

A Veteran and Mother in Italy After 20 years in the United States Army, Bernadette Hanley retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. She was living in Italy with her two sons, suddenly finding more time on her hands. She focused her newfound free time on her family, specifically her sons. It wasn’t long [...]

There is a high learning curve during your first year of teaching. We do everything we can to prepare before entering the classroom, but there are somethings you can’t always anticipate. Diana Shenkel, proud TeacherReady Alumni, finished her first year of teaching at Holy Family School in [...]

Once the end of the school year rolls around, it can feel like everyone is dragging their feet. Students and teachers can see the light at the end of tunnel and are ready for summer vacation. This can be a challenge because the end of the school year is when all of the major testing happens. [...]

The need for more teachers is a reality school leaders have every year. All over the United States, school leaders are continuously looking to fill teaching positions. Filling these positions has become harder and harder in recent years. Teacher shortage throughout the U.S. Typically, school [...]

For the love of Football Before leaving college, Zack Fleming knew teaching was his passion. He realized this during his collegiate athletic career. Zack wasn’t one to sit on the sidelines and watch the game. While experiencing some significant injuries, he asked his coach what he could [...]

Choosing the right program is extremely important to your development and success as a teacher. It is easy to become overwhelmed with all the options for becoming a teacher, whether it’s other online teaching certification programs or even traditional routes. It is important to weigh all [...]

Remember Bill Nye the Science Guy? He was a staple in my education, and he is still teaching science in a way that makes it fun and understandable. Bill Nye got into our classrooms via a rolling cart, a color tube TV, and a VHS cassette. In the classroom is where he planted a seed that grew [...]

As a parent, you are always trying to help your child in any way possible. You want what’s best for them and you will do whatever it takes to make sure that’s possible. As your child gets older, you seem to have to help them less and less as they become more independent. Here are [...]

What is “rounding”? Rounding is a tactic used in hospitals, and it is one of their most successful practices. Think back to being in a hospital and having the doctor or nurse come around every so often to ask a list of simple questions: How well is your pain being managed? Do you [...]

Communication is key when working with students and their parents. Parents know that their child’s education lies in your hands. Teachers must help to remove the anxiety from parents and a great way to do this is to introduce yourself. This sounds simple, but it can go a long way and [...]

Why would we ever let students lead a conference? After a long year full of hard work, students and teachers want to showcase what they have been doing all year. Teachers and schools always invite parents into classrooms at the beginning of the year for Open House. What about at the end of the [...]

While working in classrooms in the United States and overseas, Spencer Hays discovered his true passion: teaching. Hays has taught several subjects to a range of age groups at different schools. At one point, Hays quit teaching to pursue another opportunity in school administration, be that [...]

If you are starting to feel that career change itch… that nagging thought growing louder and louder: “I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life,”  you are not alone. According to The Wall Street Journal, the average person entering the workforce in 2010 are [...]

Improving student learning is the number one goal for teachers and school leaders. Parents play a major role in achieving this goal.  It is vital for parents to be partners in their child’s education. We work with thousands of teachers, everyday. Here is what they shared with us when we [...]

Open House is a highly anticipated event for teachers and parents. Kim Rhodes, TeacherReady® Instructor, held a webinar to help teachers host a successful Open House where they can establish a bond with parents. Rhodes shared some of her best tips for maximizing Open House as the first [...]

To achieve improved student learning, it is important to enlist the parents of our students as partners in the teaching and learning process. High School Teachers Make Phone Calls to Parents Some high schools may be reluctant to consider positive phone calls to parents, but one of our local [...]

Amie Canter, TeacherReady Alumni, is turning the traditional classroom experience on its head. Amie became a certified teacher through the TeacherReady program in 2011. Ever since, she has been changing the way her students learn in her ground-breaking class: Advanced Concepts for a Better [...]

Students are challenged when tasked with developing assessments. In order for students to be successful test makers, they need to know how to apply good criteria to create accurate and quality assessment tools. How to Set Students Up For Success Before we ask students to develop assessments, we [...]

As teachers, how do we become better and better each day? We want to be the best we can possibly be so we can improve student performance and increase student achievement. Five Tips to Increase Student Achievement Align instructions to learning standards. Instructions for an assignment should [...]

When Jason Walters retired from the military, he knew he wasn’t finished serving. While in the Army, Walters coached little league baseball and football. He discovered he had a passion for teaching and watching his students learn and improve. Jason knew, then, that he wanted to continue [...]

What is a Minute Paper? The Minute Paper is a feedback tool that teachers can use with their students to help get feedback about themselves while also giving students a chance to self-reflect. This tool gives students the opportunity to reflect on the day and where they are in the learning [...]

When students don’t have benchmarks to compare their work, there’s no opportunity for feedback until their work is reviewed by the teacher. If given the opportunity, students have the potential to recognize their own learning gaps through “Meeting of the Minds.” Why hold [...]

Students Teach Students: A Method to Improve Learning “While we teach, we learn,” said the Roman philosopher, Seneca. When we give students a concept to teach, students learn what they know and what they don’t know. Teachers in successful classrooms often recruit their students as teachers. How [...]

Students want to be rewarded and recognized for their performances. Once given positive feedback, students will respond better to all feedback given. Ideas for Providing Positive Feedback Send thank you notes to students. If a student receives a thank you note expressing your appreciation for a [...]

A flipped classroom is when what happens in the classroom and what happens at home are basically “flipped.”  Students listen to lectures, read lessons, and complete guided practice at home and then come into school ready to practice and review what they have learned with the teacher.  Homework [...]

1. Provide Feedback to Recognize Good Performance We often express what students do wrong, and rarely recognize them for good performance. Most people respond better when positively encouraged. When trying to give feedback to students, be sure to recognize good performance. Here are some [...]

Why Give Feedback and Use Formative Assessment? When you provide feedback to your students in creative and fun ways, they are more likely to succeed.             D. Royce Sadler, a Professor Emeritus of Higher Education at Griffith University, points out that students must be able to recognize [...]

Building relationships make a difference Checking in with your students makes such a difference. Not only does is it improve student grades, but it is also key to building relationships between teachers and students. According to edutopia, checking in with your students is a technique used for [...]

Why hold teacher-student conferences? As teachers, we know there are so many things to get done in a school day. It can sometimes be overwhelming to think of trying to add anything else to that list. Teacher-student conferences can be the most valuable time we spend in a day or week. [...]

If something is important enough to give an assignment, it should be important enough to assess. Many teachers hear the word asses and their minds immediately go to grading, and how dreadful it can be to grade every assignment. An easy way for teachers to assess, not grade, is by using [...]

Six Traits To Help Meet Students Expectations As teachers, we always want try to meet students expectations by create learning environments where students want to learn and gain confidence as they experience success. We do this by building the teacher-student relationship. For this to happen, [...]

How much is too much? The answer is you can never check for student understanding too much. Frequency is key when trying to asses where students are during a lesson. Many teachers struggle to decide how often to check for understanding of the material at hand. According to KIPP:Blog: Check for [...]

One goal for school leaders and teachers is to improve student learning. To achieve improved student learning, it is important to enlist the parents of our students as partners in the teaching and learning process. As school leaders or teachers, there are many ways we can create opportunities [...]

If you think about feedback and student emotions together, test anxiety might come to mind. Most teachers, parents, and students are familiar with the apprehension that builds up to an assessment, but emotions play a much larger role in learning. The student’s anxiety about [...]

Recognize and Reward. As educators, we’re responsible for shepherding Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z and giving them the tools to attain their personal and professional goals.[1] Each of these groups shares as many commonalities as they do differences. Our students come from vastly [...]

  School leaders and teacher leaders must train and support teachers to get student learning results that last. Training and support begins with communicating expectations to teachers. Just as we communicate expectations for student learning to our students in our classrooms, a school [...]

Using Assessment Data in the Classroom. As teachers, we have so many tools at our disposal that it can become overwhelming to sort through all the items in the toolbox and select the one that will most benefit our students. So often I have found myself planning that perfect lesson for my [...]

Write Clear Learning Objectives for Student Achievement. Dr. Wes Gordon presents on writing clear, data-driven, learning objectives to drive student achievement. Learn how to assess without teaching to the test, lesson plan, and help students take ownership of their learning. In the [...]

What Mentor Teachers are Saying. Our experience preparing new teachers over the last 11 years shows the relationship between a teacher candidate and his/her clinical educator or mentor teacher grounds the development of the teacher candidate and helps to solidify the teacher candidate’s [...]

School District HR Employee Seeks to Become a Teacher. We recently caught up with TeacherReady teacher candidate, Aimee Kirkpatrick, a clerk in the human resources department in an Alabama school district. Aimee is setting the stage to earn a professional teaching license and apply to one of [...]

As teachers and leaders we want to move our low performing students to middle- and high-performing and move middle-performers to high performers. To do this we focus on consistent feedback and formative assessment; these are actions teachers take every day to become better and better teachers [...]

   Teach in Alabama. We recently caught up with one of our 2015 TeacherReady graduates, Keith Owens. Upon completing TeacherReady and earning his professional teaching certificate in Florida, Keith was hired to teach Business Education at the high school level in Alabama that summer. This [...]

  Retaining New Teachers. The school leaders and clinical educators / mentor teachers we work with in TeacherReady know the best way for new and early career teachers to learn and grow their skills is to complete tasks themselves with coaching and support from them. School leaders and [...]

The gift of knowledge has no boundaries, or state lines.  Education is a universal gift that remains in high-demand, presenting unique opportunities for teachers to seek international positions. Like many other educators we connect with, TeacherReady teacher Tom Gates wanted to teach [...]

The Art of Teaching. Mr. Stephen Freer is a 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher and Level Leader, and Middle School Debate Coach in Istanbul, Turkey. This is his sixth year teaching at the Hisar School! What a pleasure it was for us to welcome Stephen and his early career teaching [...]

The University of West Florida’s TeacherReady has worked with individuals who want to become teachers by offering them an opportunity to earn a professional teaching certificate. These students live across all 50 states and in 95 different countries. Today, we share some experiences of [...]

Teaching requires a special kind of passion. It is the kind that is unmistakable; the kind that spreads to students, parents, and the community. These are the teachers that light a fire in their students. Their passion makes them a success in the classroom. Find your passion Chris started his [...]

Earlier this month we received a letter from a proud educator sharing about the Satsuma City System Teacher of Year Nicole Salter White. Nicole completed TeacherReady in 2012, earning her professional teaching certificate in social studies. An excerpt from the letter:   The letter began, [...]

Today we celebrate TeacherReady in the News! Thanks to Pensacola News Journal reporter Thomas St. Myer for connecting with us at TeacherReady to learn more about alternative certification and its influence on teacher preparation. TeacherReady is state-approved and is a member of the NCATE [...]

Meet TeacherReady teacher Laura Corder. Ms. Corder earned a professional teaching certificate through TeacherReady, an online alternative certification program and a member of the NCATE accredited educator preparation institute of the University of West Florida. As an alternative certification [...]

Meet TeacherReady teacher Sara Rabb at Oakcrest Elementary School in the Escambia County School District, Florida. Ms. Rabb earned a professional teaching certificate through TeacherReady, an online alternative certification program and a member of the NCATE accredited educator preparation [...]

TeacherReady engages with students and teacher candidates who teach abroad in 95 different countries! Excited to work with them and provide them an opportunity to get certified. Here’s what a few of them shared about their TeacherReady experience. “Having just completed your course [...]

Teach in China! Check out this video from Silas, one of our TeacherReady teachers, who is teaching in China. Whether you’re teaching in China or across the globe, TeacherReady provides an opportunity to earn a professional teaching certificate from the State of Florida in as few as 9 [...]

Meet Master Sergeant Matthew Knight, United States Marine Corps Reserves and Physical Education teacher at Indian Peaks Elementary School, Denver, Colorado. In his drive to become a classroom teacher, Matthew participated in the Troops to Teachers program. Matthew represents one of the [...]

Interested in becoming a teacher? Individuals can earn K12 teaching credentials while earning a master’s degree, thanks to a continued partnership between CSU-Global and TeacherReady. Since 2014, more than 160 adults have engaged in the CSU-Global / TeacherReady partnership for an opportunity [...]

As the U.S. celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week and National Military Appreciation month, our colleagues at TeacherReady share their continued commitment to Service men and women, their families, and the education programs and centers of the military. Nearly 900 active duty, reserve, and [...]

The Colorado Department of Education (DOE) regards TeacherReady, a state approved and nationally accredited teacher preparation program affiliated with the University of West Florida, for initial teacher certification licensure in Colorado and its teachers “highly qualified.” More than 316 [...]

Educators change lives. There are many reasons why candidates, just like you, choose our flexible online teaching certification program. However, all have the same purpose behind the decision: to pursue a passion in teaching and make a difference. Why have you decided to enter our online [...]

Recognize Student Strengths. Today’s Exercise asks teachers to reflect on whether they consistently recognize student strengths. Historically, teachers have encouraged unsuccessful learners to act in particular ways by using grades as a punishment tool, such as assigning zeros on [...]

Students’ progression from one learning target to another works best when students receive descriptive feedback to help them improve. Provide feedback to recognize good performance. As teachers think about how we generally perform two teaching actions related to feedback: My students receive [...]

The power of identification is often the jumping off point for individuals on their way to achieving great results. As educators, we might argue that without the power of identification nothing can be accomplished. Celebrated, yet now deceased renowned educator Rita Pierson, conveyed this in a [...]

What’s the problem with new teachers? “Nearly half of all beginning teachers will leave their classrooms within five years, only to be replaced by another fresh-faced educator” Phillips told nprEd. When asked “What can schools specifically do to address the problem of [...]

It has been five years since The International Educator reported findings from Gates Foundation research that the “key to better learning is more effective teaching and better-prepared teachers” (October 2009). Although a review of research since this time reports inconsistency in the [...]

Often times it can be difficult to see the changes and the differences we’re making in the lives of students each and every day. Recently, a TeacherReady student teaching abroad in Thailand reminded us of why we do what we do to help teachers do what they do each and every single day. I [...]

“I had 30 years of experience working with young people, but had never been a classroom teacher.” – Ms. Lillian Pfluke, TeacherReady alumna  Ms. Pfluke is one of more than 900 TeacherReady alumni teaching in 49 different states and 71 countries. As a second career teacher, Ms. Pfluke [...]

TeacherReady is the state of Florida approved Educator Preparation Institute of the NCATE accredited Professional Education Unit at the University of West Florida. At the completion of TeacherReady, you can transfer up to 6 hours to the University of West Florida’s comprehensive master’s [...]

ESL Job Link is a teacher recruitment agency based in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Our mission is to help teachers find reputable teaching jobs in South Korea. We are excited to partner with TeacherReady because our partner schools in South Korea are eager to hire certified teachers. TeacherReady is [...]

The Scientist in the Classroom Partnership (SCP) Program is a partnership between Vanderbilt University and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools focused on enhancing the teaching and learning of STEM in elementary and middle school classrooms. All participants in the program are graduate [...]