One of the exciting and distinctive elements of The Teacher Academy is the opportunity to learn about teaching in a school setting. In cooperation with the New York City Department of Education, we will select "host schools" that will provide an exemplary introduction to teaching in a supportive community.
Teacher Academy students will be placed in one of these schools in cohorts of 10 to 15 students where they will be able to observe classes, work with students, talk with teachers about classes and students, and use the real school setting to link theory with practice - not only in education classes but also in major courses.
What an advantage to see how an experienced high school teacher introduces students to topics in advanced algebra! Students preparing to be biology teachers will be able to compare and analyze their own experiences in high school biology and in college biology with the teaching approaches used by expert teachers in a high school classroom.
The Teacher Academy works cooperatively with The After School Corporation to place Teacher Academy students in a variety of school settings with varied programs. For example, programs may provide middle school students with tutoring in math or science courses. They may offer younger students opportunities to discover science through experimentation.
Host schools also turn into training sites when middle and high school teachers and university professors co-teach classes.
In The Teacher Academy, the high school or middle school becomes an extension of the classroom. When a graduate of the Academy enter his or her own classroom for the first time, it won't be as a stranger.
