ACT-Houston
Houston 832-200-0552
Dallas 214-267-2222Austin 1-877-286-0024
Alternative Certification for Teachers
English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies (Grades 4-8)
For someone interested in obtaining an alternative teaching certification in English language arts, reading and social studies for upper elementary through middle school students, a general education background in literature and social studies subjects combined with writing and reading education topics is generally required. The scope of topics will be expansive and should also include current events that help students relate their coursework to applicable, every day topics.
Expectations for the Alternative Certification Program
When working to obtain an alternative teaching certification in English language arts, reading and social studies will be required to gain a comprehensive foundation of these topics within general education courses. These general topics will typically include mathematics, science, English language, history and communications. Most alternative teaching certification programs also require an internship or student teaching opportunity, where the potential teaching professional as the chance to observe and actually teach a class under the guidance of an experienced educator.
What to Expect as a Multi-Subject Teacher
Translating mature literature topics to a level that can engage upper elementary through middle school students will be important to an educator’s effectiveness. Literature in its traditional state may be too mature for the skills of a fourth grader, however, making a fourth grader familiar with the life and works of literature greats such as Shakespeare can still be done successfully with careful thought to the breadth and depth of teaching his work.
Social studies topics will require a broad range of exposure to various topics including U.S. history, government, global history and overall familiarization with current events. Reading is definitely still in the developmental stages for many students in the fourth through eighth grade range. It will be necessary to have the skills to recognize potential reading learning disabilities and understanding the appropriate action in order to assist affected students.
A teacher who is skilled in English language arts, reading as well as social studies will be a versatile component to a district staff. Connecting the topics in a cohesive way to show their applicable nature to current events will be the constant change in teaching subjects.