Search found 9 matches

by al295801
Sun Mar 27, 2022 1:00 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Columbia Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Workshops in PYP
Replies: 0
Views: 76028

Columbia Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Workshops in PYP

Are you teaching in an international PYP school implementing the Columbia Teachers College Reading and/or Writing Workshops? If so, please take a few minutes to complete a survey for my research project on PYP/TCRWP integration. For every response I receive, I'm donating $10 to #PSIKyiv's Rally Up campaign.

More information on the website please share!!

https://al295801.wixsite.com/researchproject
by al295801
Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Hello,

I appreciate your thorough research and consideration. As for school requirements, we do not have any except that it serves students somewhere in the Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade range. (e.g. elementary school, middle school, high school, combinations, etc.)

However, we do require that your mentor:
Have at least three years of outstanding teaching experience at the P-12 school level
Have taught at the level (e.g., elementary or secondary) at which the candidate is seeking certification, and preferably in the same subject field as the candidate.
Be recommended by the school district or school, and
Complete the virtual training provided by TEACH-NOW staff
It sounds like the person you have in mind would be perfect. However, if the person is not available next year, you could look for another suitable person or request a virtual mentor. The biggest difference is the increased amount of recording. With an onsite mentor, you'll be recording your teaching once a week for approximately 15 minutes. With a virtual mentor, you'll need to have week videos of 1-hour in length.

Let me know if you need additional information.

Have a great week!






Michael Herndon
Director of Training &
Certification Officer

TEACH-NOW and the Educatoré School of Education
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20006
by al295801
Mon Jun 06, 2016 10:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Continuing in my research, and again chatting with a guy at Teach-Now. He says people complete their teaching in language schools even.

Is it true? He says he did his teaching for the program at a public college in Taiwan.

I'm practically begging for a list of criteria that need to be be met by the school in order for it to be an accepted place to complete the teaching component. Apparently there isn't one, and all different kinds of schools can work.

Should I be distrusting this...?
by al295801
Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

For example, there is a local teacher-training program that offers and MA in TESOL, but I am not sure that having an MA from a school in Turkey is actually LESS useful than an online degree from a proper US school.

I want the best option that I can afford
by al295801
Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:04 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Okay, so let's pretend that my current job is actually NOT acceptable to TeachNow or Teacher Ready. I don't know if they would accept it or not but just in case...

I don't want to leave my school for the next couple of years because i am happy here, but at the same time I really want to be using the next couple of years to develop myself and make my resume more attractive, while at the same time keeping the budget for that around $10,000 and manageable while already teaching full-time.

What would be your suggestion in that case? What is the best step for me to take?

I am already taking full advantage of my current position, doing recruitment, hiring and mentoring of other teachers at my school, curriculum and materials development etc.

I want to further my education/credentials in the most useful way possible given the fact that I am currently located in Turkey 11 months/year.
by al295801
Sun Jun 05, 2016 8:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

I'm now thinking just to do the Teach-Now credential program, not the MEd. After PsyGuy's advice I decided that would be the better route. That's if I can confirm with them that the school where I work will be approved for the student teaching component, and that some sort of mentor arrangement can happen where I am currently employed.

For MEd I will most likely be looking at online again, but there are lots of online degree programs that are offered through regular universities, and those degrees don't say anything about the degree being an online degree.

Of course, the more observant HR person will notice that the degree was received while also residing and working overseas and put two and two together. This is or course a possibility, but actually my intentions aren't to work at the most prestigious schools or even super competitive ones. In Istanbul I don't really need any of these qualifications - I don't want to switch schools, and it's a very small teacher community (albeit a very big city) - your reputation and your contacts are much more important, and the government doesn't require the advanced degree or state certification for work visas. Some of the more prestigious schools here SAY they only accept teachers with advanced qualifications, but in fact if you know the right people and have the right timing you can get the job without.

BUT, in maybe two years my Turkish partner and I are thinking of relocating to SE Asia and then possibly back to the States. It's in preparation for those next steps that I want the paperwork. And I mostly just want the paperwork for the foot-in-the-door. Once I'm in the door I work my ass off - I've felt short on opportunities to grow, expand and advance my career.

What I don't want is to end up in SE Asia at a shit school that doesn't pay very well, as the idea for going to SE Asia is actually to save money as Istanbul is a bit hard in that regard. In SE Asia I don't have a reputation or contacts so I'm going to have to show some paperwork if I want to land a decent job.

And then there's the States - I really don't want to end up coming back to the US facing an M Ed and licensure program that will set me back two years and $50,000.

And definitely NOT interested in teaching in the Middle East - Turkey is as far into the region as I'm willing to dip my toes at this point :).
by al295801
Sun Jun 05, 2016 6:02 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Ah, and sorry one more thing as you had said that I can't have a virtual mentor... Teach-Now actually states on the website and the representatives I spoke with confirmed that if there is no suitable mentor present they will appoint one for you. You will record your lessons and your mentor will review and give feedback.

As far as someone in admin at my school signing off on whatever needs signed off on, they are more than willing to do that.

Is what they are saying over at Teach-Now about the remote/virtual mentor actually not true?

Thanks for the help, really!
by al295801
Sun Jun 05, 2016 5:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Re: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Thanks PsyGuy for your response.

So perhaps the MEd option is not the best idea, but the state certification would also be quite useful for me in itself.

I definitely understand the idea that an MEd should provide you with a lot of experience/train you for something higher than simply to be a teacher etc. For my part I am not particularly interested in admin positions, although I generally find myself pushed into leadership/admin duties because employers find me efficient, capable, and good at working with other teachers, so they want to take advantage of those things. My interest in an MEd at this point is simply to get interviews at better schools.

Can you think of a better course for me to take than Teach-Now? I haven't got a lot of funds to work with and going back to the US is not an option for me right now.

And one more question about Teach-Now - wouldn't I be able to get my teaching position approved by Teach-Now BEFORE I commit to it and pay them anything? I mean there's no way I would pay the tuition without knowing for sure my set-up would be appropriate. I just don't know exactly what the requirements are. I know one of the employees I chatted with had done the certification program while working in Ivory Coast at a school with a French curriculum. But I don't know how they evaluate the school.

And yes, I am fully aware that the people in the live chat at Teach-Now are trying to sell me the program... that's why I came here for help! :)
by al295801
Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:09 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know
Replies: 22
Views: 44929

Some questions about Teach-Now for those in the know

Hi all,

I just joined this forum specifically because I am researching the Teach-Now program and there seem to be a lot of people who know a lot about it who have posted in other threads.

I am from the US, living in Turkey and teaching English. I have a BA and a TEFl but I want to get a US State certification so that I am eligible for more prestigious jobs in the future teaching abroad, and so that I have the possibility to teach if and when I return to the US. I am also very interested in getting an MEd.

I have been reading a lot and chatting with the folks over at the Teach-Now website, but I have a couple of questions for those who would be a bit more candid and honest.

Firstly, what about their MEd? While of course having a brick-and-mortar school MEd is the best and this MEd is a bit iffy because it is not currently accredited, I am still considering it. Why? Well, where else will I be able to obtain an MEd for $6,000? And after completing the certification part of their program I will already be familiar with the platform and the methods so it will be much easier than switching to a different MEd program after that. I see from their website that they currently have an "Accreditation Possible" status. Who has any information on the likelihood of that turning into a Accreditation in the future? And if their accreditation is approved, that would mean I would retroactively have an MEd from an accredited program, correct?

The truth is I will most likely continue teaching overseas for the next five years at least, and I know most schools abroad are much more interested in seeing what experience you have than where the degrees you have are from (but, at the same time, the degrees and certificates are also necessary to get a foot in the door).

Can anyone talk me OUT of doing the MEd part of the program?

Question #2: The two people that I chatted with over at Teach-Now seem to think that the school I teach in will be fine for my teaching component, but they also didn't ask many questions. I noticed on this website everyone says you need a "Qualifying IS". But I don't work in an International School, I work in a private Armenian school in Istanbul. They are of course accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Education but their curriculum is in Armenian and Turkish. However, I am a full-time teacher of record at that school and they are willing to help me with whatever I need. I don't have an on-site mentor (I have more experience than the other English teachers actually) so I will have to have a virtual mentor through the Teach-Now program.

Does anyone see why this arrangement WOULDN'T be appropriate?

I really appreciate any and all feedback.

Thanks so much.