Traders to Teachers

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Traders to Teachers

• Information Session
• September 17, 2009

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Agenda

• Greetings and welcome
• Department of Labor representative
• Overview of the program
• Overview of application process
• Options available at Montclair
• Questions Answers

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Goals

• At the end of the initial three-month training
• program you will
• be prepared to teach -
• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Geometry
• receive a provisional license to teach math
• obtain a NJ public school teaching position with
  mentoring through June 2012
• And, be recommended for full standard
  certification at completion of program.

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Program Description

• Initial 3 ½ -month Training Component
• 4 days a week instruction (math and
  education) here at MSU
• 1 day a week, probably Wednesday, you will be in
  a middle or high school classroom
• halfway through this period, you will begin to
  teach lessons

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Program Description (cont.)

• 2-year Probationary Teaching Period
• Certificate of Eligibility to teach math
• Mentoring
• Additional coursework as required

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Coursework

• The focus of the coursework is on
• Mathematical content within the Algebra I,II, and
  Geometry courses
• Factors that influence student learning
• Assessment of student learning
• Instructional planning
• Creating a classroom environment supportive of
  student learning

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Typical Day

• Algebra I and II 2 ½ hours
• Geometry 2 ½ hours
• Lunch _at_ midday
• Education Issues 2 hours
• Problem Solving Sessions and Discussion

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You will

• be provided with materials you can use in the
  classroom
• have opportunities to practice teaching lessons
  in the classroom
• have use of a TI-84 graphing calculator
• receive textbook(s)
• have access to library of Algebra I, II and
  Geometry texts

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Candidate Selection Criteria

• Candidate selection based on
• Mathematics background/knowledge, preferably
  through Calculus II (determined by placement test
  and transcripts)
• Interest in and commitment to teaching
  (determined by application and interviews)
• Motivation and goodness of fit (determined by
  recommendations, interviews and school
  observation visits debriefs)

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Program Application Process

• Four major pieces
• Formal online application (and materials
  submission) for MSU Graduate admission
• Mathematics placement test (ACCUPLACER)
• DOL eligibility interview
• In-person interview and school observation days

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First StepsMath Placement Test ACCUPLACER

• ACCUPLACER is an un-timed, adaptive test
  questions chosen based on how well you answered
  previous questions.
• IMPORTANT may take as much time as you need,
  but once you leave a question cant go back and
  change the answer.
• College Board suggests if you dont know an
  answer, eliminate one or more choices, then pick
  from the remaining answers.

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ACCUPLACER College-Level Math

• Tested on
• Algebra operations
• Solution of equations and inequalities
• Coordinate geometry
• Applications and other algebra topics
• Functions and trigonometry
• Must place into at least pre-calculus to qualify
  (means Algebra knowledge is solid)

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Test Dates and Practice Questions

• Test given on campus Oct. 5, 6, 7. Sign-up
  information will be sent to all todays attendees
  and available on website
• Test registration deadline September 29
• For sample questions go to
• http//professionals.collegeboard.com/profdown
  load/
• accuplacer-sample-questions-for-students.pdf
• or google ACCUPLACER for general information
  and click on ACCUPLACER Tests for sample questions

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First Steps (cont.) MSU Graduate Admission
Application

• Applicants must submit all of the following (by
  October 23 for January cohort) directly to
• Montclair State University
• The Graduate School,
• College Hall, Room 203
• One Normal Ave
• Montclair, NJ 07043
• Non-Degree Online Application Graduate.school_at_mont
  clair.edu
• Nonrefundable 60 application fee
• Official College/Grad School Transcripts
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Current Resume
• Essay

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International Student Applicants

• If attended college/university outside U.S., need
  course by course evaluation done by any member of
  National Association of Credit Evaluation
  Services (NACES) www.naces.org   
• All application requirements, including official
  evaluated transcripts, must be sent to the
  Graduate School at Montclair State University.

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Next Steps Interview and School Observation Days

• Candidates selected for interviews with MSU and
  School Reps based on
• - ACCUPLACER Score
• - Review of application and related materials
• Following interviews, successful candidates
  invited to spend two days observing in schools
• Following observations, candidates return for
  discussion of school(s) they observed

9/15/09
Traders to Teachers
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Final StepsCohort Selection

• Final candidates chosen and offered places in
  cohort
• Program expectations and requirements explained
• Additional math study may be prescribed (toward
  achieving standard certification)
• Candidates sign a memorandum of understanding
  (MOU)

9/15/09
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Traders to Teachers
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Important Dates
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Application available at

• http//www.montclair.edu/GradSchool/prospective/ap
  p.shtml
• http//www.montclair.edu/graduate
• Click on Apply Now
• In the online application choose Professional
  Non-degree/Traders to Teachers

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If you have questions

• mathteach_at_montclair.edu