There are some fairly consistent traits among great teachers. Their primary role is to deliver instruction and help students learn. Every teacher is different, and should be appreciated for those differences Great teachers can reach different students in unique ways.

Develop these traits to become GREAT!

1. Prepared and organized – this gives teachers time to set clear and realistic expectations.
2. Have high expectations – helps students increase confidence and builds self-esteem hoping to improve achievement levels.
3. Create a sense of classroom community – using rules with a job to get done, being role models, giving guidance and working toward a common goal.
4. Engage students – looking at the whole class, giving equal opportunities for involvement, appreciating all for their uniqueness.
5. Form strong relationships – make time for each student and listen to them for insight. Make students feel valued and safe.

Teachers must have a love of learning to be exceptional and to encourage the same in their students. They look for ways to become better. Exchanging ideas and looking forward to collaborating with their colleagues shows they are not too proud to learn from others. Exchanging ideas sparks creativity and flexibility. Expert teachers are more likely to be able to respond to the needs of any particular classroom. They have the ability to recognize students who are struggling and change the way the information is presented in order to make it more understandable. If you find a lesson isn’t reaching students, being adaptable demonstrates the love of learning.

As subject matter experts, they need to develop an understanding of vital subject content, how to sequence it over time, and what misconceptions pupils are likely to develop and how to overcome them.

The Single MOST Important Great Trait

However, the most important trait is having great communication skills. Being able to communicate not only with students, but parents and all involved in the child’s education process. By asking active questions and carefully listening to what students have to say, a teacher can further improve the communication between themselves and their students. Through strong listening skills, teachers are able to create a stronger, healthier, and higher quality learning environment. This circles back to building rapport and forming strong relationships.

Come See if you are a Natural

There will always be some who are naturals, some will have to work for it. However, the payoff is enormous for great teachers.

Thursday, October 7, 3-6 pm | Clearwater Campus – on the Quad
Reserve your spot.

EDUCATION FAIR DAY*

Education Fair Day (In person event at SPC Clearwater Campus, on the Quad,

2465 Drew Street, Clearwater, FL
The College of Education is hosting an Education Fair Day event at the Clearwater Campus where participants can play games and participate in educational activities, participate in fun Reading games, STEM activities and learn about different cultures. Find out more about SPC and meet our College of Education faculty and staff to see how you can begin a career in teaching, training, early childhood, or community leadership. Also, get information and help applying to our programs or how to transfer your credits. Win SPC prizes while having fun! Enjoy light refreshments and a DJ! Bring your family and friends to this FREE fun filled event, it is open to everyone!

For more info on becoming a GREAT teacher
Or contact Pat Roper

Intertwined in the world of a teacher are organization, productivity and classroom management. The glue that holds all this together is the teachers’ ability to organize themselves. Most of us understand the value of planning and preparation. The key is to find what works for you and helps your students succeed.

A Few Free Tips:

1. Do the work – preparation maximizes instructional time
We all know someone who gets to work early, chats, has coffee, spins around and never gets their work pile to diminish. Being busy is not necessarily being productive. The goal is a planned, sequential order. Logically, this should relate to skill development at the students’ instructional level.

2. Don’t sit at your desk or computer – provide planned tasks with clear and precise instructions
Consequently, come up with what you are going to work on for the day. Have the materials needed ready before you begin the classroom day. Group similar tasks and schedule certain times during the day to knock them out. Consistency is the key to any habit. Above all, as the organized leader, you are developing life habits with your students.

3.  Number 2 leads us to tangents – minimize disruptions like personal devices and unnecessary chatter – re-engage students

Distractions from where you need to be wastes time and productivity – stay on track!    Turn off distracting technology or utilize it in the lessons.  Try and anticipate disruptions. Adapt your classroom standards, connections and arrangement strategies.

4.  What is your energy level and what is the students?

Deep thinking needs to be saved for when all are fresh.  No matter how busy you are, after a certain amount of time, fatigue sets in. Mental and physical effectiveness is impaired.  Schedule a refresh break. Consider light tasks to do when you are tired, or distractions make it hard to concentrate. 

5.  Don’t rely on your memory – use the tools available

Insanely, trying to rely on memory when we have so much to accomplish leads to something getting lost.  Human memory is unreliable when it comes to details.  Write it down – we have our digital tools –  phones, tablets, laptops and you can still use paper!

6. Research shows – don’t multitask
Multitaskers have more trouble tuning out distractions. Research shows our brains cannot switch efficiently between 2 tasks. Reaction time slows for both. Therefore, break tasks into pieces. Use brain breaks and other tools to keep learning interactive. For example, online lessons should include complex thinking and interactive activities. These actions will direct learners’ attention toward the tasks. Ask relevant questions throughout the lesson to keep students’ attention focused. To clarify, the questions should be constructed so the learners are able to answer if they are following along.

Free Glue

In conclusion, organization isn’t about striving for perfection, but can lead to more daily satisfaction and less stress for the teacher. Consequently, it can lead to engaged and productive students. 

For more information on SPC’s College of Education degrees visit the following link:

https://www.spcollege.edu/future-students/degrees-training/education



St. Petersburg College’s (SPC) Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) is a three-semester program which leads to Florida’s Professional Educator’s Certificate. Anyone with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher is eligible for entry to the EPI Program, which leads to certification in many educational areas, including:

• Elementary Education
• Exceptional Student Education
• Art
• Music
• Business
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• English

Our EPI Program is Financial Aid eligible, so this is an attractive program for everyone! 

Information Session for EPI on Wednesday, February 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Clearwater Campus, NM Building, Room 162.

SPC’s next EPI start group to become certified teachers is Summer/May 2020. Our EPI is an evening program with daytime teaching requirements during the second and third terms. All EPI courses are “blended”, meaning the course content will be delivered both on campus and online. Although coursework involves online components, the EPI is not an online program. On-campus class times may require one or two nights a week (Monday-Thursday). EPI students are placed in elementary, middle or secondary schools (based on certification area) for practical teaching experience. Our students complete a 60-hour practicum experience in the fall semester and a 10-week full internship in the Spring.

For more information on how to become a certified teacher, please contact Marilynn Cirri or Dr. Michael Poulin.

Final interns from the College of Education, attended the 2019 -2020 spring seminar hosted by the Office of School Partnerships at the Clearwater Campus this past session. Networking makes this is a favorite seminar among the final interns since they have an opportunity to meet representatives from the school districts who are responsible for hiring teachers.  Pasco County Hiring Capital Partner, George Papaemanuel, stated that he has been impressed with every SPC graduate he has hired for Pasco schools.

School Districts in Attendance 

• Pinellas
• Pasco
• Hillsborough
• Hernando.  

Two interns had an opportunity to participate in a mock interview, affording them a learning opportunity regarding what questions would be asked during the hiring process. Students “dressed to impress” and made an excellent impression on the districts. The “pay off” came when advanced binders authorizing teaching positions were offered to several interns by Pinellas County School District!  

Pinellas County Schools conducted an informative session on cover letters, resume writing and job interviewing. Getting an inside scoop on some potential questions asked at interviews, as well as tips for making their resume stand out was definitely appreciated by the final interns! The pre-service teachers learned that sending a hand-written ‘thank-you’ note is still apparently appreciated after an interview. 

During a “working” lunch, Ms. Pam Wilkins conducted a presentation to the 4 districts regarding our online programs in the College of Education.

In the afternoon, the final interns had an opportunity to visit districts during break-out sessions so they could find out more about the opportunities at the individual districts.

The Office of School Partnerships received many positive comments from the final interns, including Christine Pfeiffer.  She sent an email with the following, “Thank you to all of you for a great seminar on Friday. I can’t believe my journey at the College of Education at SPC is almost done. Where has the time gone?”

For more info on the College of Education programs, please call 727-712-5410 or email roper.pat@spcollege.edu .

The Juvenile Welfare Board provides scholarships to students in the Early Childhood AS degree program and to B.S. Ed Studies Preschool degree students who work in a licensed professional Early Childhood setting in Pinellas County.  The upcoming scholarship due date is JUNE 21^st.

The Impact of a Scholarship

• Scholarships help to lessen the impact of rising tuition costs.
• Scholarships help students have more time to focus on their studies.
• Scholarships can decrease the number and amount of loans students need to take to complete higher education.

Some of the Recipients Share Their Thoughts

Courtney Ballestero says “The Juvenile Welfare board is a tremendous force for good in the community. That is why it has been an honor to receive this scholarship and use it to further my reach in my sphere of influence and pursue my passion in Early Childhood Education. My intent to is to use my training to assist at-risk children and underserved populations in Pinellas County through early education interventions and developmentally appropriate childhood centers that spark the creativity of the young mind. Thank you for sponsoring my vision! Thank you for partnering with me for the future of tomorrow!

Latori Harris wanted to let the Juvenile Welfare Board know how it helped her. “I am a single mother of three children, I have a set of twins who are 11 years old along with a two year old. I always encourage my children daily that no matter what obstacles may come your way I am grateful to have been awarded the Juvenile Welfare Board Scholarship for the Spring Term 2019. This scholarship will allow me to get the supplements I need to become a better student along with becoming an effective teacher. My future goals are to become a childcare provider for children with disabilities that’s been my lifelong passion. I enjoy seeing students learn, grow and push past their disabilities, to always put your best foot forward to do whatever you have set in your heart to do. 

My own squad to cheer me on-

I am starting my seventh year working full-time as a teacher for twelve adorable (and very energetic) two-year-olds. I’ve been so busy with my online math class this semester (my early childhood education class just started this week), that I hadn’t realized I had received the scholarship until a couple of weeks ago when I called the bookstore. What a wonderful surprise when I found out I had a $1,000 scholarship waiting for me from the Juvenile Welfare Board!  The Juvenile Welfare Board feels like having my own little cheering team.  A team that supports and encourages me towards my goal of obtaining my degree in early childhood education.  With the money from this scholarship, I have been able to purchase items which will help me with my online courses.  Thank you so very much for selecting me as a recipient! 

Sincerely,

Debbie Orifici

Apply now!

Login here: https://spcollege.academicworks.com/users/sign_in

Complete the general SPC Foundation scholarship application if you have not already.

Click the “Opportunities” tab and select the Juvenile Welfare Board Scholarship to answer the additional questions/upload a pay stub and click “Apply”.

For more info on Early Childhood, Ed Studies Preschool or College of Education programs -contact the Coordinator, ryan.anne@spcollege.edu or cirri.marilynn@spcollege.edu.