The Benefits of Teacher Training Programs for High School Students
Expanding the Pathway to Pedagogy
By Joelie McCrary, High School Teacher
Student teaching, for many educators, was the first opportunity to experience the full scope of teaching and to put everything learned and observed into practice — planning units, preparing materials, instructing lessons, employing engagement strategies, managing student behaviors, and determining reinforcement strategies for a full semester or more. For many student teachers, this internship can be an exciting but overwhelming experience and could be the determining factor as to whether or not they pursue a teaching position after graduation.
In an attempt to better prepare our future educators and improve teacher recruitment, many local school districts have implemented programs to start this process earlier by growing their own teachers while they are still students in their classrooms.
Each district with a teaching profession pathway has its own unique approach. Students in my school take an introduction to education class paired with an internship, which we call Cadet Teaching. As the instructor, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of extending teaching internships to secondary students before they leave for college.
Early Exposure
Students who participate in a teaching experience while still in high school can explore a career interest before choosing a college and committing to a specific major or degree path. This provides aspiring educators more time to consider whether or not teaching is something they are passionate about.
“For me, the opportunity made me feel very confident about going to college because I knew for sure teaching was for me.” Lily, Middle School Family and Consumer Science Cadet Teacher
“While I have decided that teaching is not the path for me, my experiences with my internship have influenced me to want to continue working with kids in a different setting.” Kierra, Third Grade Cadet Teacher
Having been in classrooms most of their lives, many students may already believe they have a good idea of what it takes to be a teacher. So this early exposure to classroom teaching can also help dispel any misconceptions and provide a clearer picture of what a future career in education might look like for them.
“I had a totally different view of teaching. I always imagined kids sitting quietly on the carpet, giving their full attention to the teacher, going through the lessons. After my time in my placement classroom, I have found out that teaching is far more difficult than I thought. Having the focus of 20 six-year-olds all at the same time is highly unrealistic. Although it is not as easy as I thought, it is also SO rewarding.” — Leah, First Grade Cadet Teacher
“Cadet teaching has broadened my ability to better understand what an elementary teacher has to do every single hour of the school day, and all the duties they have to carry.” Keira, Kindergarten Cadet Teacher
Practice Instructional Skills
Like any other skill, teaching requires practice. The more classroom experience we can provide aspiring educators, the more comfortable they will become in their ability to teach. This extends beyond preparing and delivering lessons; it encompasses a variety of skills that often develop over time and with experience. These include gathering and maintaining student attention, using an assertive voice, recognizing and redirecting off-task behavior, and facilitating smooth transitions between activities. Through a teaching internship, high school students can gain valuable instructional experience before college that allows them to practice those skills while receiving support from their host teacher within the familiarity of their local school district.
“I have noticed that I have been able to control the whole class or individual students with little to no support from my host teacher, and that makes me feel really proud of myself. During my internship, I have gained confidence in my ability to guide and lead the class either individually or in whole group instruction. I have grown in my ability to be kind but firm when correcting student behaviors, and giving them options to choose from, if appropriate.” — Keira, Kindergarten Cadet Teacher
Practice Lesson Planning
Planning a lesson for the first time can be a daunting experience, not to mention teaching it! When future teachers start this process earlier, they have more time to understand the components of a well-designed lesson and feel less intimidated by the process when they become student teachers.
I start gradually in my classroom, by having students plan short activities before full lessons. Gradually introducing the components of a lesson and increasing the length of the activities ease the students into the process. This way when it is time to plan a lesson from start to finish, though they are likely still surprised by the work it entails, they are less overwhelmed and more prepared to succeed.
“Something new I learned about being a teacher is how long it takes to make a full lesson with worksheets and everything that goes with it. When I made my stations activity I put several hours into making each station and all of the materials, all for just one lesson. I had no idea it would take so much effort but in the end, it definitely paid off because I accounted for every little detail.” — Lily, Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Cadet Teacher
“The biggest task that I’ve gotten to do this quarter was to lead a full-length lesson plan for the class. Initially, I was very worried about how my lesson would go. I was worried that the students would find it boring or that something would go wrong…Luckily, the lesson turned out to be nothing but a positive experience. My host teacher was so supportive throughout the entire process and I was only a little nervous on the day that I led the lesson. All of the students were attentive listeners and excited about the activities that I had planned. I’m so glad that I got this opportunity to lead a lesson like this one.” — Elise, Kindergarten Cadet Teacher
“This experience has benefited me because I got to learn about preparing and organizing a lesson, talking in front of a class, and thinking on my feet which will all help me in any career I choose in the future.” -Megan, Kindergarten Cadet Teacher
Mentorship Opportunities & Professional Networking
Students who participate in a teaching internship begin building professional networks and mentorships before they even leave for college. They will interact with principals, administrative assistants, counselors, nurses, instructional assistants, and most importantly, their host teacher. Each of these professional relationships can be a point of connection for high school students to draw on when they need advice or guidance throughout their academic and professional journeys.
In addition to mentorship, interning in a school building can expose students to a variety of other career options as well, broadening their understanding of what it means to work in the field of education. These types of experiences not only help students feel more confident in making career choices but more informed.
“Even if a person did not want to work directly with children, there could be a job at a school that is perfect for them. A person looking to go into education should know they are not just limited to teaching, there are so many other options!” — Leah, First Grade Cadet Teacher
Preparation for College and Career
Giving high school students internship experiences better prepares them for the professional world. These are crucial next-step skills that will set them apart from their peers when they enter college and start their student teaching internships. As an intern, they will be expected to arrive prepared and on time, communicate about expected absences, maintain positive interactions with students and staff, and show a willingness to engage in classroom activities. These are essential skills that will ensure these students are both college and career-ready.
“Having professionalism when communicating establishes maturity. We have emailed our host teacher about absences, updates on what we are doing in class, and upcoming activities we might be doing. These emails have been a great way to make sure that my host teacher and I are always on the same page, and aware of any upcoming events. The biggest takeaway I have had from establishing professional communication is that it is so crucial. In any career, communication is arguably the most important thing.” — Leah, First Grade Cadet Teacher
“Cadet teaching better prepares you for college or the next step after high school whether you want to be a teacher in the future or not.” — Megan, Kindergarten Cadet Teacher
Recruitment and Retention
Teaching internships can remind students of the value and importance of this profession. As students move from elementary to middle to high school, some lose sight of the joy of learning and how meaningful school can be. Reentering schools as interns can remind students about the power of this profession and the considerable impact teachers can have on their students.
“There are 18 in my class, and I love getting to see their different personalities. Also seeing the way they look up to me feels so good! They talk to me like I am the most important, successful person they know, and I love that I can be a role model to them. — Leah, First Grade Cadet Teacher
“It made me realize how impactful the teachers of my childhood truly were, and that the memories that they fostered have stuck with me to this day! Even something as small as shaving cream on the desks to playing duck-duck-goose with us at recess makes an impact. And for myself, as a future teacher, I want to make sure that I can be a cherished memory for my students!” — Hazel, Early Childhood Special Education Cadet teacher
All in all, the goal of expanding teaching internships to high school students is to prepare them for college and careers, while also empowering them to become teachers who not only enter the profession confidently but also remain equipped to stay in it.
“This has definitely been a great opportunity and I’m beyond thankful for my host teacher to allow me to teach her students. This chance has helped me for my future greatly, and has given me a chance to truly teach a class on my own.” — Haili, Third Grade Cadet Teacher
Joelie McCrary has taught high school social studies for most of her career, instructing courses in American History and AP Psychology. She was awarded the History Teacher of the Year for the state of Missouri by the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History in 2023 for creative implementation of primary sources documents into her history curriculum. In addition to social studies, Joelie instructs an introduction to education course and facilitates a teaching internship for aspiring educators.
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