Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a gifted resource teacher? These teachers are important to helping super smart children succeed in the world today, wherever they can be found; this can include affluent areas as well as at-potential school districts, according to Scientific American. Here’s what you need to know about joining the ranks of these brilliant educators, helping to shape the future, one student at a time.

Education

If you want to become a gifted resource teacher, you must first start your university education. Schools in America have a set standard for this position: a bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited college or university. You will find that most undergraduate educational programs have a gifted and talented specialization that you can utilize to further your career goal. Additionally, many public school districts and private schools will require you to also have a master’s degree in education, also with a specialization in gifted and talented students. The graduate degree may require additional student teaching experience as well as a research program, so make sure you know the requirements for your school prior to applying.

Internship

Your degree at school comes with a mandatory internship, which is also known as a student teaching experience or a teaching practicum. This is an experience that is held during the student’s junior or senior year. It consists of you having real-world experience in a classroom for which you are responsible for the classroom work. Depending on your program, you may find that some schools require a licensed teacher to oversee your classroom experience; other schools may only require a student teaching experience in which you teach one semester of a class with only the supervision of the school as a requirement. All teaching programs at the university level require the successful completion of this teaching certificate; it is a prerequisite if you wish to sit for your teaching licensure exam.

Earn Certification

You cannot become any type of teacher without sitting for, and successfully passing, your teaching licensure exam. It is only after this exam has been passed that you can then apply for licensure. This is a non-negotiable step, and in some states, further certification as a gifted resource teacher is necessary. You’ll want to determine the requirements for becoming a teacher in this specialized area after graduation so you are aware of whether or not you must seek additional certification. The exam for the specialization will vary from the standard teaching licensure, meaning you must study and take into account the concepts and theories you have learned while at school.

Work Experience

Before you can work as a gifted resource teacher, you will first have to work as a traditional teacher. This experience, along with classroom management, will demonstrate your competency as an educator prior to moving on to working with gifted students. The experience is also necessary because it will give you time to get acquainted with how the school system works; working through an entire academic year will provide you some insight in how important standardized tests are, how curriculum is formed from year to year, and generally give you an idea of how the classroom management works. Some schools even require a minimum of three to five years of teaching in traditional classrooms before entertaining the application of a gifted resource teacher.

Related Resource: What is a Math Resource Specialist?

Gifted teaching has its own challenges; some children can be a whiz at math but don’t understand leadership skills, some show potential to change science but have difficulty articulating their work. That’s why gifted resource teachers are important in the American education system. So, now that you know how can become a gifted resource teacher, the next question is, are you ready to dedicate your life to the potential game changers?