ACT-Houston
Houston 832-200-0552
Dallas 214-267-2222Austin 1-877-286-0024
Alternative Certification for Teachers
Family and Consumer Sciences (Grades 6-12)
Obtaining and alternative teaching certification in family and consumer sciences for sixth grade students through twelfth grade students involves much more than it traditionally has. The traditional topics of family and home life include sewing and cooking. Today’s classes typically involve elements of home finances, family counseling, clothing design and construction as well as interior design. Technology is typically involved with these courses as well, including design software and equipment, cooking gadgets and tools and financial management software programs.
What to Expect of the Alternative Certification Program
An alternative teaching certification program will require a standard general education academic background. The academic component will require general education courses such as English language arts, basic science mathematics, social studies and speech communication. Additional elective courses will also be required and are typically subjects supporting family and consumer science topics.
A component of the alternative teaching certification program usually involves an internship or student teaching semester. The objective is to prepare the teaching professional with hands on experience working with consumer and family science students in their selected or designated grade levels. It is important to identify resources and options for teaching topics as family and consumer science classes can be limited by the tools and equipment the school has available.
Effective Skills for Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences
One of the most difficult tasks a family and consumer sciences teacher may encounter is changing the outlook of the course from being for girls to being for anyone who has interest in being a better contributor for their family life. Teenagers are typically not focused on these thoughts; however, the ability to engage a student with new, useable technology can potentially spark an interest in a student who was not fitting in academically or within the parameters of the traditional vocational or alternative teaching courses.