New Prospects
I've recently taken a new job in the district. In addition to my usual teaching, I'll be tutoring other teachings in preparation for the Physics MTEL. The MTELs are a set of standardized tests in Massachusetts that are required for a teaching license. Specifically, teachers must complete the Communication and Literacy test as well as the test for their subject area. Now many teachers teach more than one subject, but as long as a course is 20% or less of their workload they don't need to take the subject test for that subject.
So two problems recently arose which require this new position. First, Introduction to Physics, a freshman course recently got redesignated as a physics course rather than general science. Second, many Physics courses are double periods which account for 40% of a workload. With these changes, many teachers now needed to become licensed for Physics. The Physics MTEL is also considered to be one of the hardest tests on par with covering 4 college semesters worth of subjects in physics, running the gambit from mechanics, E&M, nuclear, relativity, thermo, and so forth. All in all, a heck of lot more physics than students will be learning in high school (unless they end up taking physics a second time around their junior or senior year). I remember when I took the MTEL, I was shocked to find the breadth of material that was there. Fortunately for me, I'm good both at physics and taking tests.
So with this, I've decided to step up to this job offering to teach the teachers. It seems to go along well with the other major professional advancement I've been working on. I've recently finished, submitted, and received notification of my portfolio for becoming a professional developer for SIM-CERT. That stands for Strategic Instruction Model and Content Enhancement Routines for Teachers. Basically it's a push by the University of Kansas to rethink how teaching is done. Primarily CERT focuses on the use of graphic organizers to help improve student learning, study strategies, organization, and high order thinking. I got pulled into it my first year here, on quite literally my first day. I've found it an immense help for teaching and organizing a course as well as the benefits it has for students.
So I've got these two new details to add on to my resume. It's interesting to see how my life's evolved from high school to now, the way that my life has flowed from one thing into another. That even though I've had troubles at one point or another, it has led me to this point which frankly I couldn't imagine any other way.