Secondary Science & Math Teaching

everything you wanted to know, but didn’t know you wanted to know

Why become a math or science teacher?Your country wants you!

• Our country faces a critical shortage of mathematics and science teachers at all levels.

• The National Academies identify the recruitment of mathematics and science teachers as one of America’s highest priorities.

Why become a science teacher?It is fun and rewarding!

Listen to these teachers talk about their work!

Why become a math or science teacher?It is cool!

not

Who do math & science teachers teach?

High school juniors and seniors

CharterPrivatePublic

Range of ethnic and economic diversity

What types of credentials are there?Credential Required CSET Subtests

Biological Sciences (Specialized) #120, 124

Biological Sciences (Regular) # 118, 119, 120

Chemistry (Specialized) # 121, 125

Chemistry (Regular) # 118, 119, 121

Geosciences (Specialized) #122, 126

Geosciences (Regular) #118, 119, 122

Physics (Specialized) #123, 127

Physics (Regular) #118, 119, 123

Foundational Level General Science #118, 119

Foundational Level Mathematics #110, 111 or SMPP

Mathematics #110, 111, 112 or SMPP

What do biology teachers teach?

• Cell biology• Molecular biology• Genetics (heredity, meiosis,

and biotechnology)• Ecology• Evolution, speciation & population genetics• Physiology & homeostasis

What do geoscience teachers teach?

• Our solar system (planets, satellites, and visitors)• Our universe (stars, galaxies)• Dynamic Earth processes (earthquakes, volcanos, plate

tectonics)• Energy in the Earth system (atmospheric & oceanic

convection, climate, weather)• Biogeochemical cycles • Structure & composition of

the atmosphere• California geology

What do chemistry teachers teach?• Atomic and Molecular Structure • Chemical Bonds • Conservation of Matter and Stoichiometry • Gases and Their Properties • Acids and Bases • Solutions • Chemical Thermodynamics • Reaction Rates • Chemical Equilibrium • Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry • Nuclear Processes • Investigation & Experimentation

What do physics teachers teach?

• Motion & forces (Newton’s Laws)• Conservation of energy & momentum in

simple systems• Heat & thermodynamics• Waves• Electromagnetism

What do math teachers teach?• New Common Core Standards

– Make sense of problems & persevere in solving them– Reason abstractly & quantitatively– Construct viable arguments & critique the reasoning of others– Model with mathematics– Use appropriate tools strategically– Attend to precision– Look for & make use of structure (patterns)– Look for & express regularity in repeated reasoning (identify

“shortcuts”)

How do I become a teacher?Let me count the pathways…

• Minor in Natural Science• BA in Earth Science• BA or minor in Mathematics• BA or minor in Liberal Studies• BA or minor in Child & Adolescent

Development• Single Subject Credential Program• Intern / Professional Track• Adding to a Multiple Subject Credential• Additional opportunities

Major in Earth ScienceThe Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science is offered for students who are interested in developing Earth science careers in K-12 science education, resource management, law, policy making/politics, journalism, and sustainable business. It will provide a well-balanced and flexible academic background that allows them to examine critically the growing number of Earth science related problems.

Minor in Natural Science

• The Minor in Natural Sciences provides a pathway to the Foundational Level General Science Credential.

• The program includes 20 units of lower and upper division courses from the disciplines of chemistry and biochemistry, biological sciences, geological sciences, and physics. Many courses are designed especially for elementary and middle school teacher candidates.

Major or Minor in Mathematics

Teaching Mathematics specialization• Of these courses, three of the five

represent the pure and the applied sides of mathematics. The remaining two courses are designed specifically to broaden the understanding of the nature and uses of certain areas of mathematics that relate to an individual's position as a teacher.

Major or Minor in Child & Adolescent Studies

• The Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development (CHAD) is designed to provide students with empirically-derived knowledge about bio-physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones from conception through adolescence; individual and cultural differences; and common variations in development.

• Designed for students interested in early care and education, elementary education, special education, and a variety of youth-related social service careers, as well as graduate study in disciplines such as child development, counseling, developmental psychology, and social work. – Early Childhood option– Elementary School Settings option– Adolescent/Youth Development option

• Minor in CHAD includes 12 CHAD units and 9 elective units

Major or Minor in Liberal Studies• Students who Minor in Liberal Studies are expected to attain

a general understanding of significant concepts, themes and figures in the three general subject areas covered by the major: the arts and humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences.

• Students who Major in Liberal Studies may choose between the Elementary Education Plan or the Interdisciplinary Thematic Plan

The Single Subject Credential Program

• Take pre-requisite courses (EDSC 310, 320, 330, 340)

• Demonstrate subject-matter competency (CSET or SMPP)

• Demonstrate basic skills competency in English and mathematics (CBEST)

• Prove you aren’t a felon with a deadly disease (LiveScan fingerprints and TB test)

• Complete fieldwork (student teaching)• Pass performance assessment (Cal TPA)

Intern / Professional Track• Designed for students who wish to complete credential

requirements while concurrently teaching in their credential preparation subject area/s in the public schools.

• Students may participate in this professional track as they enter the program or they may switch into this track upon accepting a contracted internship teaching assignment in their content area with subject area advisor approval.

Intern / Professional TrackCandidates must meet the following requirements:• Earned a Bachelors degree or higher.• Passage of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).• Completion of a U.S. Constitution course or examination.• Verification of subject-matter competency by either a) passage of the

appropriate CSET examination/s or b) completion of 100% of a CTC-approved subject-matter preparation program.

• Acceptance into a CTC-approved credential program and formal recommendation (41-4 Rec Form) from the California Institution of Higher Education (IHE) having an agreement for placement of the Intern with a public school district.

• Completion of all Internship/Professional Track Coursework Prerequisites (see below)

• Receive an offer of employment from a public school district and approval from the Subject Area Advisor

Requirements for Adding a Single Subject Credential in Science or Math

• Candidates must:• Hold a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential• Earn passing scores on the appropriate CSET science subtests• Successfully complete EDSC 542S: Advanced Methods of Teaching Science or

EDSC542M: Advanced Methods of Teaching Foundational-Level Mathematics

• Teacher Recruitment Project may reimburse CSET and course fees for students who successfully pass both – For more information about science subtest selection or the methods course,

please contact Dr. Maria Grant (mgrant@fullerton.edu)– For more information about mathematics subtest selection or the methods

course, please contact Dr. Mark Ellis (mellis@fullerton.edu) – For more information about the Teacher Recruitment Project, please contact

Dr. Ruth Yopp-Edwards (ryopp@fullerton.edu), Dr. Hallie Yopp-Slowik (hyopp@fullerton.edu) or visit http://ed.fullerton.edu/TRP/Index.html

Additional Opportunities• AIMS (Autism Inclusion, Mathematics Core & Science Innovation)

– Up to $5000 stipend– https://sites.google.com/site/aimsscholarproject/home

• PRISE (Promoting Resources in Informal Science Education)– $1500 stipend

• TAPP (Teaching as a Primary Profession)– $10,000 stipend plus laptop, & CSET fees paid– http://tapp.fullerton.edu/docs/TAPP_Application.pdf

• MAST Scholarships– http://www.fullerton.edu/financialaid/scholar/nsmbody.pdf

• Teacher Recruitment Project– http://ed.fullerton.edu/TRP/Index.html

Who do I contact for more info?

• Tara Barnhart – tbarnhart@fullerton.edu– single subject science

credential advisor• College of Education

Single Subject Credential Page– http://ed.fullerton.edu/S

ecEd/CredentialProg/

Any questions?