Prospective-teacher preparation and readiness has been the focus of much research investigating quality of teaching and learning, retention in the profession, and teacher satisfaction. Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have witnessed a declining trend in the number of chemistry teachers. In our country, the number of chemistry teachers decreased significantly by about one fifth during1998-2010. Furthermore, less than half of chemistry teachers have first degree in chemistry and a teaching certificate. Our country has responded to chemistry teacher shortage by implementing alternative pathways to teacher certification (ACPs) that aim to equip new second career teachers with the necessary tools for meaningful teaching. This might help by incorporating high quality chemistry teachers with solid scientific background to the educational system. We investigated 22 second-career chemistry teachers who participate in an ACP, titled Technion–<i>Views</i>. The purpose of our study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how the training program prepared the second career chemistry teachers during their transition into the teaching profession. We employed a qualitative research method, which included semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Results showed that participants felt the curriculum of the ACP was effective in providing them the appropriate content knowledge in chemistry and pedagogical content knowledge. A variety of learning needs were raised by the chemistry teachers, such as: explicit teaching of chemistry content knowledge, a significant hands-on practice in the classroom, and fostering teachers' transfer of skills and knowledge from their first career into the lesson plans. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of teachers' integration into the school system by identifying the pedagogical principles that support the preparation of second-career chemistry teachers. From a practical standpoint: designing the guidelines for improving the transition from first-career chemists into the teaching profession, and, creating a better induction process to strengthen retention. <br/> <br/>

Preparing second career chemistry teachers

256th National Meeting (2018)

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