Teaching as a Profession – Course Syllabus

Instructor: Ms. Howard
Email: howarka@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us
Office Hours: 1^st period

Course Description:

"Teaching as a Profession" explores the essential knowledge, skills, and ethical responsibilities required for a career in education. Students will investigate the historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of education, examine contemporary issues, and develop professional habits essential to success in the classroom.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of professional educators
• Demonstrate professional behavior and communication skills
• Explore ethical practices and legal guidelines in education
• Analyze trends and challenges in modern education

Required Materials:

• Notebook and paper
• Pen or pencil (daily)
• Access to school-issued device or personal laptop (as permitted)
• Assigned readings and work (provided in class or digitally)

Professionalism Grade: twice a week classwork grade and once a month major grade

You are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Being on time and prepared for class
• Remaining in class during instructional time (no excessive or frequent exits)
• Using respectful and appropriate language
• Avoiding disruptive or inappropriate behavior
• Dressing in a manner that reflects maturity and professionalism
• Keeping hands and personal items where they belong – this includes but is not limited to hands down the front of your pants
• Demonstrating respect for classmates, the teacher, and the classroom environment

Failure to meet these expectations will negatively affect your Professionalism Grade.

Late Work Policy:

Assignments are expected to be turned in on time. Late days start the day student returns to class.  It is student’s responsibility to get missing work on first day back.  Skipping class is not excessed and will result in making up work in afterschool tutor time or ISS. 
Please note I am the only teacher that can give you permission to be late or miss my class.

• Work submitted late will receive a deduction of 5 points per day late, up to a maximum of 3 days.
• After 3 days, the assignment will receive a zero unless prior arrangements have been made.
• Consistent lateness will impact both your assignment grade and your Professionalism Grade.
• Must have an excused absent to not have late points taken off and to receive 5 days to turn in work.

Attendance Policy:

• All absences must be excused with a parent/guardian communication or a doctor’s or legal note.
• Students are responsible for making up missed work within 3 school days.
• Excessive unexcused absences or tardiness will be reported and may result in course failure.
• I am the only teacher that can give you permission to miss my class.  If you are in a meeting with admin/ counselor/ social worker they must email me with date and time of meeting or come to me with a note.
• Skipping will not be tolerated and work missed will only be excepted if it is completed in afterschool tutoring or ISS, so don’t miss class unless you have MY permission.

Dress Code:

Students are expected to follow the school dress code. In addition:

• Clothing should cover the body appropriately and not distract from learning.
• Clothing that is excessively revealing or inappropriate for a professional setting is not allowed.
• Students must conduct themselves with maturity, including avoiding inappropriate physical behavior or gestures.

Classroom Conduct and School Policies:

All school rules and policies will be enforced consistently in this classroom.
This includes policies related to:

• Academic honesty
• Technology use
• Harassment and bullying
• Disrespect or defiance

Final Note:

This class is a stepping stone into the professional world of education. You are not only learning what teachers do but also how to act like one. Respect, integrity, responsibility, and professionalism are not just expectations — they are the foundation of this course.

Let’s work together to build a classroom culture that reflects the best of what teaching can be.

Level 1: Examining The Teaching Profession

Description: The Examining the Teaching Profession is the foundational course under the Teaching as a Profession pathway and prepares students for future positions in the field of education. Teaching as a Profession students study, apply, and practice the use of current technologies, effective teaching and learning strategies, the creation of an effective learning environment, the creation of instructional opportunities for diverse learners and students with special needs, and plan instruction based on knowledge of subject matter, students, community, and curriculum performance standards.

Unit 1: CTSO

Unit 2: Ethics in Education

Unit 3: Career Paths

Unit 4: Professional Disposition

Unit 5: History of Education

Unit 6: Effective Learning Environments

Unit 7: Instruction and Assessment

Unit 8: Learning Differences

Unit 9: Parent and Community Involvement

Unit 10: Technology in Classrooms

Level 2: Contemporary Issues in education

Description: This course engages the candidate in observations, interactions, and analyses of critical and contemporary educational issues. The candidate will investigate issues influencing the social and political contexts of educational settings in Georgia and the United States and actively examine the teaching profession from multiple vantage points both within and outside of the school. Against this backdrop, the candidate will reflect on and interpret the meaning of education and schooling in a diverse culture and examine the moral and ethical responsibilities of teaching in a democracy.

Unit 1: Professional Organizations

           and School Governance

Unit 2: Careers in Education

Unit 3: History of Education and

           Laws

Unit 4: School Structure

Unit 5: Democratic Classrooms

Unit 6: Democratic Classrooms 2

Unit 7: Assessment

Unit 8: Philosophies of Education

Level 3: teaching as a Profession Practicum

Description: The practicum offers a candidate in the Teaching as a Profession career pathway a field experience under the direct supervision of a certified teacher (mentor teacher). The practicum stresses observing, analyzing and classifying activities of the mentor teacher and comparing personal traits with those of successful teachers. The candidate intern will develop a portfolio of their skills, plan and teach a lesson or lessons, understand and practice confidentiality as it pertains to the teaching profession, meet the needs of students with special needs, maintain the safety of the students, practice professionalism, and demonstrate ethical behavior.

Unit 1: Portfolio Preparation

Unit 2: Communication

Unit 3: Legal Issues in the Public

            School Setting

Unit 4: Teaching Strategies

Unit 5: Classroom Management

Unit 6: Lesson Planning

Unit 7: Candidate Evaluation

Unit 8: EOPA