Current and comprehensive, Becoming a Teacher, Eighth Edition, takes a straightforward look at what it means to be a professional teacher in today's climate of accountability, high-stakes testing, and new government legislation by covering key issues in a personal, interactive, and no-nonsense style.   Building upon a strong “mentoring” message that has long been the tradition of Becoming a Teacher, the eighth edition helps students make difficult decisions about their teaching future by fostering an awareness of the realities of teaching in America today. This down-to-earth and straightforward approach provides students with the tools and information necessary to answer the questions, “What does it take to become a high quality teacher?” and “Do I want to teach?” Along the way, the authors provide practical perspectives for meeting the challenges of teaching. Organized into four parts, the book addresses both functional and foundational topics to give readers a well-rounded view of the teaching profession.   The new eighth edition contains even more features that the book has long been known for — numerous boxed features authored by experienced teachers and directed to future teachers. The new edition also includes an increased focus on technology and how teachers can engage their students by utilizing and integrating the most current technologies into the classroom.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Ch. 1    TEACHING: YOUR CHOSEN PROFESSION            Classroom Case: The Realities if Teaching             Why do I Want to Teach            Teaching on Your Feet:Making a Subject Inviting to Students            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes: Noah Zeichner            What Are the Benefits of Teaching?            What are the Challenges of Teaching?            What Will Society Expect of Me As a Teacher?            Technology In Action: Wikis in 10th Grade Social Studies            What is the Job Outlook for Teachers?            How Will I Become a Highly Qualified Teacher?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: The Early Literacy Club: Building Excellence Through Collaboration, Jane Ching Fung            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 2    TODAY'S TEACHERS            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            Who Are Today's Teachers?            What Do Teachers Do in the Classroom?            Teaching on Your Feet: Responding to Multiple Problems That Emerge Simultaneously            What Knowledge and Skills Do Today's Teachers Need?            Teacher's Voices: Research to Reality: Action and Reflection in Teaching, Jeff Huntley            Technology in Action: E-Portfolios in 12th-Grade Industrial Arts            To What Extent is Teaching a Full Professionm?            To What Professional Associations Do Teachers Belong?            How Do Teachers Help to Build Learning Communities?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes : A Successful Novice Teacher, Erin McGee            How Do Teachers Participate in Teacher Collaboration?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 3    TODAY'S SCHOOLS            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching             What is the Role of Schools in Today's Society?            Technology in Action: Video Editing in Sixth Grade            How Can Schools Be Described?            What Are Schools Like as Social Institutions?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes: Gifted Teacher in Diverse Settings, Romaine Washington            What are the Characteristics of Successful Schools?            What  Social Problems Affect Schools and Place Students at Risk?            Teaching On Your Feet: "The Abolishment of "I Can't", Jennifer Michele Diaz            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Building Bridges Between School and Community, Kimberly Min            How are Schools Addressing Societal Problems?            How Can Community-Based Partnerships Help Students Learn?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 4    Philosophical Foundations of U.S. Education            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            Why is Philosophy Important to Teachers?            What is the Nature of Philosophy?            What Determines Your Educational Philosophy?            Technology in Action: Web Conferencing in 11th Grade Chinese Langauge Class            What are the Branches of Philosophy?            Teachers' Voices: Research and Reality: Dollars and Points, Marcus Goodyear            What are Five Modern Philosophical Orientations to Teaching?            Teaching on Your Feet: Opening the Gates            What Psychological Orientations Have Influenced Teaching Philosophies?            How Can You Develop Your Educational Philosophy?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes: Phil Kraus            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities  Ch. 5    HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF U.S. EDUCATION            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching             Why Is Educational History Important?            What Were Teaching and Schools Like in the American  Colonies (1620-1750)?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes: Camille Beliveau            Teaching on Your Feet: Worth the Struggle: Elizabeth Gubbins            What Were the Goals of Education During the Revolutionary Period (1750-1820)?            How Was the Struggle Won for State- Supported Common Schools (1820-1865)?            How Did Compulsory Education Change Schools and the Teaching Profession (1865-1920)?            What Were the Aims of Education During the Progressive Era (1920-1945)?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Native American Teachers Need Support, Kristine Shotley            How Did Education Change During the Modern Postwar Era (1945-to the Present)?            Technology in Action: Screen Capture in 12th-Grade Calculus            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 6    GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE OF U.S. SCHOOLS             Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            Why Do You Need to Understand Educational Politics?            How Does the Local Community Influence Schools?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Thrown to the Wolves, John Flickinger            Teaching in Your Feet: " The Sobbs Could Be Heard..." Betsy McIntire            Technology in Action: Virtual Worlds in a Seventh-Grade Combined Classroom            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes: Gil Navarro            What Powers and Influence Do States Have in Governing Schools?            How do Regional Education Agencies Assist Schools?            How Does the Federal Fovernment Influence Education?            How Are Schools Financed in the United States?            What Are some Trends in Funding For Equity and Excellence?            How Will the Privatization Movement Affect Equity and Excellence in Education?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 7    ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN U.S. EDUCATION            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching             Why Do You Need to KNow About Education and the Law?            Why Do You Need a Professional Code of Ethics?            Teaching On Your Feet: Some Students Deserve a Break, Julius Dichosa                        What Are Your Legal Rights As Teachers?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Frannie Knobloch Finley            What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Teacher?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Opening the Door to Possibilities, Mary Hanson            Technology in Action: Virtual Labs in Ninth-Grade Biology Classroom            What Are the Legal Rights of Students and Parents?            What Are Some Issues in the Legal Rights of School Districts?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 8    TODAY'S STUDENTS            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching             How is Diversity Reflected in the Culture of the United States?            Technology in Action: Using Text-to-Speech in a Third-Grade Reading Class            What Does Equal Educational Opportunity Mean?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Equal Educatinal Opportunity for All Students, Chrysta Bakstad            What is Meant by Bilingual Education?            What is Multicultural Education?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Lenora Mar            Teaching on Your Feet: iSi se Puede! (It Can Be Done!) Romaine Washington            How Is Gender a Dimension of Multicultural Education?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities  Ch. 9    ADRESSING LEARNERS' INDIVIDUAL NEEDS            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            How Do Students' Needs Change as They Develop?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Values: The Implicit Curriculum, Linda Inlay            How Do Students Vary in Intelligence?            How Do Students Vary in Ability and Disability?            Technology in Action: Learning Management Systems in the Classroom            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Michael Kremer            Teaching on Your Feet: Finding the Secret, Rhoda Silverberg            What Are Special Education, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion?            How Can You Teach All Learners in Your Inclusive Classroom?            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities Ch. 10    AUTHENTIC INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULA FOR CREATING A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            What Determines the Culture of the Classroom?            How Can You Create a Positive Learning Environment?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: A Welcoming Tone in the Classroom, Lisa Rieger            Technology in Action: Podcasting in Fifth-Grade Social Studies            Teaching On Your Feet: Questions and Answers, Elmer Lee             What Are the Keys to Successful Classroom Management            What Teaching Methods Do Effective Teachers Use?            What Is Taught in Schools?            How is the School Curriculum Developed?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Kristina Young            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities     Ch. 11    CURRICULUM STANDARDS, ASSESSMENTS, AND STUDENT LEARNING            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            What Role Will Standards Play in Your Classroom?            What is Standards-Based Education?            What Controversies Surround the Effort to Raise Standards?            What Methods Can You Use to Assess Student Learning?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Chris Whyte            Teaching on Your Feet: Teh Benefits of Peer Assessment? Leslie U. Gore            Technology in Action: Fifth-Grade Social Studies Teacher Obtains Online Degree            How Can You Develop High-Quality Classroom Assessments?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Project-Based Learning: Building Houses, Mary Russell            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities          Ch. 12    INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO TEACHING            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            How is Technology Transforming Teaching and Learning?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: Half of Teaching is Learning, Merry Herbert            What Technologies Can Be Integrated Into Teaching?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Brad Kamradt            To What Degree Are Teachers Integrating Technology Into Their Teaching?            What Does Research Say About Technology Integration and Student Learning?            What Are the Challenges of Integrating Technology Into Teaching?            Teaching On Your Feet: Releasing Unlimited Student Creativity With Limited Technology, Ted Lai            Summary            Professional Reflections and Activities CH. 13    BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER            Classroom Case: The Realities of Teaching            Why is Your Induction Into Teaching Important?            What Can You Learn from Observing in Classrooms?            How Can You Gain Practical Experience for Becoming a Teacher?            How Can You Develop Your Teaching Portfolio?            What Opportunities for Continuing Professional Development Will You Have?            Teachers' Voices: Walk in My Shoes, Cherly Bonner            What New Leadership Roles for Teachers are Emerging?            Teachers' Voices: Research to Reality: The Case for Teacher-Led School Improvement, LaQuanda Brown            How Do Teachers Contribute to Educational Research?            Technology in Action: Autograded Quizzes and Exams in Eight-Grade Social Studies            How Are Teachers Providing Leadership for School Restructuring and Curriculum Reform?            What Can You Expect as a Beginning Teacher?            Teaching on Your Feet: " I Now Believe I can Fly!", Doug Quine            How Will Your Performance as a Teacher Be Evaluated?            Summary            Professional Development APPENDIX: PREPARING FOR CERTIFICATION: YOUR GUIDE TO LICENSUREGLOSSARYREFERENCESNAME INDEXSUBJECT INDEX