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Depends on state laws, but generally they get paid at a lower level for the first two years because they are not fully certified. In my last district that translated to almost $15,000 a year lower.
I'm guessing that depends on the state/district. 1st year teachers in my district (TFA/alt cert or traditional cert) get paid exactly the same.
Hello everyone! I know this thread is pretty old but I just wanted to update;
My feelings about TFA have remained the same... I think its because of the work that I have done and been exposed to.
As a sophomore I have completed 30 hours of observations and am currently applying for a teachers of tomorrow internships. Starting at the beginning of my junior year I will be student teaching once a week in addition to doing observation hours. This 1 day will translate into 2 for my second semester as a junior and first semester senior before teaching 5x a week.
My school is unique in that we have an avatar lab where classroom lessons and management are practiced, yes I know its not a real classroom but it does give you space to try out techniques of deescalation. The avatars are middle schoolers and can be programmed for difficulty, in the 3/4 the level the students curse you out, yell at their classmates etc, and it is up to you to deescalate the situation.
This same program also now has a Parent avatar which allows students to hold parent teacher conferences.
Hello everyone! I know this thread is pretty old but I just wanted to update;
My feelings about TFA have remained the same... I think its because of the work that I have done and been exposed to.
As a sophomore I have completed 30 hours of observations and am currently applying for a teachers of tomorrow internships. Starting at the beginning of my junior year I will be student teaching once a week in addition to doing observation hours. This 1 day will translate into 2 for my second semester as a junior and first semester senior before teaching 5x a week.
My school is unique in that we have an avatar lab where classroom lessons and management are practiced, yes I know its not a real classroom but it does give you space to try out techniques of deescalation. The avatars are middle schoolers and can be programmed for difficulty, in the 3/4 the level the students curse you out, yell at their classmates etc, and it is up to you to deescalate the situation.
This same program also now has a Parent avatar which allows students to hold parent teacher conferences.
Just as long as you know real students, and their parents for that matter, don't react as predictably as avatars. I do think it is a very, very interesting concept and would love to see such a lab in action.
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I'd have to see the simulation lab in action to know what I think of it, but I DO know I like the idea of, as a junior, student teaching once, and then twice, a week in addition to completing observation hours. I think, had that option been available to me, my ultimate experience of full-time student teaching as a senior would have been more smooth. I did do observations and shadowing as a junior, but I think that easing into actually leading classes during that time would have been a wise way to practice.
Overall, I don't think that a lab simulation is a horrible way to practice classroom management skills and parent interaction skills. When I was trained, we did the more low-tech, (but often probably more dramatic) approach of roleplays with other education students in the role of "disruptive student," etc.
I feel like roleplaying, whether with people or via a computer simulation, has value in that it gets you thinking on your feet about what your options are in various situations, but ultimately, nothing really prepares you for these things except actually doing them. It's good practice, but even practice only helps so much.
Just as long as you know real students, and their parents for that matter, don't react as predictably as avatars. I do think it is a very, very interesting concept and would love to see such a lab in action.
I know, however, even if it doesn't prepare me for a "Real" classroom, I think it's good practice for thinking on your feet. I'll never forget, one of my friends started out with a simple question, and a child in the "class" (CJ) said something rude to another student. My friend politley asked if she would apologize, and when the avatar said no, my friend said "ok, but I would like to speak to you after class" and maybe a minute or so later, the girl said "here's your apology" and stuck up her 2 middle fingers, so it is fun to play around with.
I have been in classrooms where that exact situation escalated into a desk getting thrown, so, yeah, the simulations only help so much!
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