Ideal Teacher Prep Program

There are many things that can be done to improve teacher preparation.
1. Give student teachers more time and experience. I believe this is the most important change that can be made.  We have required hours that we must fulfill before we can graduate.  But sometimes we still don't experience many of the situations that a first year teacher would.
2. Requiring teachers to take a second language.  Student diversity is becoming more and more apparent in all schools.  Learning a second language and studying another culture can help with closing the achievement gap for minority students.
3. Having all education majors take more diversity and special education courses.  This will benefit all students in our classrooms.  Incoming teachers will have more experience in student diversity, and how to help and teach students with special needs.  This will help mainstreaming and helping all students achieve their highest educational ability.