This is the 4th installment in chronicling my career change. [Sorry for the delay in posting this next chapter... I accidentally deleted my first draft when it was nearly completed and had to re-write the entire thing. Doh!]
After scarfing down an indulgent cupcake in celebration of my good fortune in being hired for the 2012 Teach for America corps, the real work began. Between mid-January and the start of the new school year in the fall, I have a lengthy list of action items which I need to complete. Many of the initial items were quickly checked off (i.e., send TFA 5 official college transcripts, attend the onboarding and placement calls, create a teaching resume, participate in mock interview phone calls, attend a job fair, etc.). But the most important (and moderately stressful) portion was about to commence: The Testing!!! <cue dramatic music>
Anyone wishing to teach in Massachusetts must take the MTELs (Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure). Two tests (at minimum) have to be completed before someone can begin teaching: (i) the Literacy and Communications test and (ii) a subject matter test in your area of 'expertise' - in my case, the English subject matter test. Let me start by saying, I do NOT like standardized tests and am not loving that I have to take three of them over the course of seven weeks. Historically, I have never done well on standardized tests. Please don't ask me about my SAT scores - I am still embarrassed by the results. Additionally, my biggest complaint over the MTELs specifically is that they do not measure how effective the test taker will be as a teacher. Just because you can memorize a truckload of facts and regurgitate them back for a test, does not mean that you will be able to effectively disseminate that knowledge to students.
That being said: in early February, I completed two practice tests for the MTELs and felt fairly confident (based on these tests) that I would pass the actual tests. But I was concerned with certain parts of the English subject matter test. Being a night student during my undergrad, I was limited to the classes I could take and therefore my studies were not quite as well rounded as they should have been. I have rather large gaps in my curriculum and it showed in the practice tests. I spent approximately three weeks attempting to remedy those gaps. Beowolf, Chaucer and Sophocles are difficult enough when in an academic atmosphere - on your own, it's pure torture. But one has to do what one has to do.
As of this posting, I have just completed both tests, but the scores will not be released for a few weeks. On February 24th, I traveled to Boston to take the Communications and Literacy test and feel fairly confident that I passed (confidence level at 85%). Out of the 4 hours allocated to take the test, I completed it in just under 3 hours. If I don't pass the test, I will kick myself that I didn't utilize that last hour. Today (March 3), the subject matter tests were held at Lynn English High School in Lynn, where I completed the English subject test. The subject matter test was by far the more difficult of the two. In fact, I would say it was grueling and the only people I can see actually passing that test is someone with dual Ph.D. in English Literature and Education. So yeah, I have a feeling I did not fare well on this test. My confidence level is hovering somewhere around 45% that I will receive a passing score. After the test, I turned once again to a cupcake but this time in commiseration instead of celebration. If I don't pass it, then I have to retake the test in June. <sigh> There's not much I can do about it now. I'll just have to wait and see. Maybe I should have chosen an easier career, like brain surgery. It seems with that you just have to cut along the dotted line, right??
What's next? I have one more test to take: the MATs (Miller Analogies Test), which I will take at Salem State University in April. The plan is to attend grad school at Boston University, where the MATs are required as part of the application process. If all goes well, by this September, I will be enrolled in the Master's program in Education which will take 2 years to complete. Other action items coming up are: a background investigation, attending additional job fairs and, possibly, begin the interview process at regional school districts. The school districts that TFA works with are: Boston, Lawrence, Chelsea and Revere. While Lawrence would be my first preference by virtue of locale and the exciting changes that the school district is implementing, any of these locations promise to be a challenging and rewarding district in which to work.
With the exception of a brief post on whether or not I passed the MTELs, my next 'career change' update might not be for awhile as the next big step is the TFA Summer Institute Training. From late June through late July, all 2012 TFA corps members will travel to their summer institute location (Philadelphia is the destination for the Greater Boston corps) where we will spend our days teaching summer school and attending seminars in instructional planning, classroom management, learning theory, literacy, and diversity training. It promises to be an exhausting but exhilarating 5 weeks. I can't wait!
On a personal note: I would like to mention that Teach for America hires the most amazing people to be a part of their corps (no, I'm not patting myself on the back). Each and every corps and staff member that I have had the pleasure of meeting has been unbelievably supportive, organized, helpful, and amazing. I could not have asked for a better group of people to assist me in making my career change an easy transition and to make my dream of being an educator a reality. It has been the most amazing experience - so far - and I suspect it will only get better. ♥
As of this posting, I have just completed both tests, but the scores will not be released for a few weeks. On February 24th, I traveled to Boston to take the Communications and Literacy test and feel fairly confident that I passed (confidence level at 85%). Out of the 4 hours allocated to take the test, I completed it in just under 3 hours. If I don't pass the test, I will kick myself that I didn't utilize that last hour. Today (March 3), the subject matter tests were held at Lynn English High School in Lynn, where I completed the English subject test. The subject matter test was by far the more difficult of the two. In fact, I would say it was grueling and the only people I can see actually passing that test is someone with dual Ph.D. in English Literature and Education. So yeah, I have a feeling I did not fare well on this test. My confidence level is hovering somewhere around 45% that I will receive a passing score. After the test, I turned once again to a cupcake but this time in commiseration instead of celebration. If I don't pass it, then I have to retake the test in June. <sigh> There's not much I can do about it now. I'll just have to wait and see. Maybe I should have chosen an easier career, like brain surgery. It seems with that you just have to cut along the dotted line, right??
What's next? I have one more test to take: the MATs (Miller Analogies Test), which I will take at Salem State University in April. The plan is to attend grad school at Boston University, where the MATs are required as part of the application process. If all goes well, by this September, I will be enrolled in the Master's program in Education which will take 2 years to complete. Other action items coming up are: a background investigation, attending additional job fairs and, possibly, begin the interview process at regional school districts. The school districts that TFA works with are: Boston, Lawrence, Chelsea and Revere. While Lawrence would be my first preference by virtue of locale and the exciting changes that the school district is implementing, any of these locations promise to be a challenging and rewarding district in which to work.
With the exception of a brief post on whether or not I passed the MTELs, my next 'career change' update might not be for awhile as the next big step is the TFA Summer Institute Training. From late June through late July, all 2012 TFA corps members will travel to their summer institute location (Philadelphia is the destination for the Greater Boston corps) where we will spend our days teaching summer school and attending seminars in instructional planning, classroom management, learning theory, literacy, and diversity training. It promises to be an exhausting but exhilarating 5 weeks. I can't wait!
On a personal note: I would like to mention that Teach for America hires the most amazing people to be a part of their corps (no, I'm not patting myself on the back). Each and every corps and staff member that I have had the pleasure of meeting has been unbelievably supportive, organized, helpful, and amazing. I could not have asked for a better group of people to assist me in making my career change an easy transition and to make my dream of being an educator a reality. It has been the most amazing experience - so far - and I suspect it will only get better. ♥
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