edTPA

My first thought while reading more about the edTPA is “holy crap, how am I going to pass this?” But then I had to slow myself down and remember that I will have help and I’ve been writing edTPA lesson plans for the last couple of quarters. I have a decent grasp on writing the lesson plans at this point and will soon have the handbook for English so that I will know the ELA specifics for the edTPA. But this doesn’t mean that I’m still not nervous about working on and passing the edTPA. I know a few people that have gone and passed the edTPA and the most common comment I’ve heard is that while it is the hardest thing they’ve done they made it through it and got to become a teacher. I know that I too will eventually become a teacher and pass the edTPA as well.

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to become a teacher. Before starting college I had no idea what it took to become a teacher and after discovering all that it does take I appreciate the teachers that I’ve had even more. Becoming a teacher requires more than just being an expert in my area of English, it requires becoming knowledgeable and self-aware enough of my teaching style and my students to be a good teacher. The TPA format is one of the tools that shows that I am aware enough and have learned to be aware enough in order to become a good teacher. When I first started learning about and using the TPA format I honestly hated it and I still don’t love it but I am learning and seeing the value in using it. While I still struggle with the form I can see improvement in not only how I fill out the form but also in myself as a teacher.