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http://inmyshoes.org/Developing%20Research.pdf
http://www.balancedreading.com/teacherquality.html (Click on link for full article)
There can be no doubt that teacher quality is critically important for academic success of at-risk students, especially when it comes to teaching literacy skills. However, since No Child Left Behind increased the focus on teacher quality, we really have not been able to agree on a definition of what teacher quality is. Education Trust has focused much energy and study on the topic of teacher quality, but they have not been very clear on how they determine teacher quality.
I would argue that much confusion has come from the conflation of the terms “highly qualified” and “high quality.” Legislation passed since 2001 has called for more “highly qualified” teachers, and the focus has shifted away from “high quality” teachers. The term “highly qualified” does have a clear definition – highly qualified teachers are teachers with degrees and certification in the areas in which they teach. Thus, high school math teachers should have degrees in math (or at least substantial college credit hours in math), history teachers should have a clear and documented background in history. But what about elementary school reading teachers? There is no degree in elementary school reading at most universities.
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“Highly qualified” teachers are those with degrees and certifications in the areas in which they teach. “High quality” teachers, however, are those with talent, knowledge, and skill. Alas, when it comes to reading instruction, there is very little evidence that the two are related. In other words, recruiting and retaining “highly qualified” teachers is no guarantee of “high quality.”
While we define “highly qualified” teachers by the degrees and certificates they hold, I think it is important for us to think more broadly about “high quality” teachers. Over the years, I have observed hundreds of teachers teaching students to read. When I walk into a class and watch a teacher, I have little knowledge of the certificates or degrees that teacher has earned. However, I can tell very quickly whether that teacher is a “high quality” reading teacher.
you are a great help.
The difference in my eyes is that teachers that are qualified for the job in teaching are often not people who are able to explain, in simple terms, what they know. If a teacher can explain concepts and make them as simple as possible then they should be the ones helping the children of our nation. I think a teaching interview should be a necessary requirement for any teacher.