Associate in Arts in Teaching (AAT)

• Demonstrate an understanding of the central concepts, structures, and tools of inquiry of the discipline(s) and work to create learning experiences that make aspects of subject matter meaningful and engaging for students.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of how students learn, develop, and differ in their approaches to learning, while effectively creating learning opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners to support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
•  Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of long-range planning and curriculum development to further equip them in developing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum based upon student, district, and state standards data.
•  Demonstrate both awareness and quality use varied instructional strategies and resources to encourage students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of individual/group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages active engagement in learning, positive social interaction, and self-motivation.
•  Demonstrate effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques with students, colleagues, and families to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of assessment through both formative and summative assessment strategies to assess the learner’s progress to further devise instruction enabling students to grow and develop.

As part of the Teacher Education Program at North Central Missouri College (NCMC), teacher candidates will be part of the work of community agencies, activities, and before and after-school programs that service children. Candidates will also be required to complete field experience observations in public schools. These entities have policies related to who may enter and work in their contexts. NCMC and the NCMC Teacher Education Program respect those policies and our students will be expected to adhere to those policies. It is also the candidate’s responsibility to discuss with any agency, program, or school what they require for entrance onto their site. School districts make final decisions regarding background checks and granting permission to participate in their programs.

Teacher candidates are required to pass/clear, and have on file with the Coordinator of Teacher Education, a current background check before they are allowed to enter any public school to complete field experience. Copies of background checks must be offered to all schools visited. Successful completion of the field experience component is a graduation requirement.

The Teacher Education Department uses AccuSource for background checks. The cost of each background check is $15 and is included in the course fee for ED201 Teaching Profession with Field Experience. ED201 is usually the first course teacher candidates take in their core education sequence.

Please note that in the State of Missouri, all those pursuing teacher certification must submit to a federal and state background check, including the submission of fingerprints. Additional criminal background checks and/or fingerprinting may be required during student teaching.