teaching skills assessment

Teaching is a fundamental aspect of human relationships. We have all experienced it as both teachers and learners. We teach and learn constantly. We teach our children, our co-workers, our families, ourselves. We’re supervisors, Scout leaders, coaches, church school teachers, leaders in a myriad of settings. And we have observed teachers throughout our lives, both formally and informally. We all know something about teaching.

Formal teaching in a classroom involves skills and knowledge that are related to these common human experiences. However, a professional teacher’s expertise lies in knowing how and why and being able to use those skills and knowledge to achieve specific purposes. These skills and knowledge comprise the competencies of teaching.

Intensive teacher certification programs assume that career changers have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are typically taught in traditional teacher preparation programs. These programs, therefore, expect that those who enter them can transfer knowledge from other life experiences into the classroom.

The TSAP is a diagnostic series of assessment activities that will determine those areas of teaching competency that are already familiar to you. It will then identify those areas where skill and knowledge development are needed.

Taking the TSAP can provide you with a wealth of information that can make your decision about teaching more informed. For example, the TSAP process and results can help you answer these critical decision making questions:

• Is teaching for you?
• What do you already know that teachers need to know to be successful?
• Are you interested in learning about the areas you will need to develop to become a teacher?
• What can you do to prepare yourself better to be hired on a temporary certificate while you meet permanent certification requirements?
• How are the competencies of a teacher different from or similar to those you’ve developed in other settings?

If you have decided to teach, the TSAP will give you information and tools to begin now with preparing for Act 2 in your career. Remember: ACT2Teach!

Click here to take the TSAP!