In the
words of a Fellow... "You feel as if you are working with the
future leaders of not only the Bronx, or even New York City, but perhaps of
the whole world." - Malik, 2008
Fellow
The City of New
York New York City is comprised of five unique boroughs: Brooklyn,
the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens. The largest city in the United
States, New York has a population that is more than double than the next largest
city, Los Angeles.
Throughout its history, NYC has been a major
point of entry for immigrants; therefore, its residents are exceptionally
diverse.
New York City is also unique in that public
transportation is the overwhelmingly dominant form of travel for New Yorkers. In
fact, New York is the only city in the United States where more than half of all
households do not own a car.
Overview: The
NYC Public School System The New York City Department of Education is the
largest public school system in the United States. Our public schools educate
1.1 million students in 1,450 schools located throughout the five boroughs, and
our students are the most culturally diverse in the world.
Because
New York City is home to such a diverse group of public schoolchildren who face
unique challenges in and outside of school, we believe that it is essential to
bring in only the brightest and most highly qualified candidates to teach
them.
In line with our mission, Teaching Fellows teach in the
hardest to staff positions in the schools that need them the most. Most Fellows
find placements in high-need schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn (almost one-third
of all Fellows will teach in the Bronx).
Inside
the Classroom Teaching in NYC classrooms today does not often look
like a teacher standing in front of the room lecturing students. One of the most
important jobs of teachers is to engage their students in learning. Teaching
Fellows work hard to motivate their students and plan how to best teach the
information or “standards” each day. In some cases, teachers will use a
“mini-lesson,” where they will first model a strategy and then have students
practice it. Other times, teachers have their students work collaboratively on a
task and then share their work with classmates. At the end of each lesson or
unit, teachers assess how much their students have learned and then adjust their
teaching plans for the next day to meet their students’ needs.
The first
year for any new teacher is challenging, and Fellows should anticipate long
hours and intense effort, especially at the beginning of the year. This effort
is necessary and produces wonderful rewards as Fellows work to raise student
achievement.
In a city as diverse as New York, each Fellow’s teaching
experience will be different, but all Fellows have the commonality that they are
especially committed to overcoming the challenges they face and to helping their
students succeed.
Class
Size Most Fellows will teach at the middle and high school levels.
The majority of subjects that Teaching Fellows teach are focused in the
secondary level (grades 7-12).
Typically, elementary school
classes range from 24 to 32 students. Teachers in elementary schools usually
stay with one class throughout the day, instructing them in all subject areas.
Some teachers are put into "cluster" positions, meaning that they teach the same
subject matter to several different classes.
Middle and high school classes
range from 28 to 34 students. Subject-specific teachers at the middle and high
school levels generally have five classes per day.
Teachers in special education
settings often have smaller class sizes so that students with special needs can
receive individualized attention specific to their disabilities. These class
sizes generally range from six to fifteen students. Some special
education teachers are in what is known as an inclusion setting, in which both a
general education teacher and a special education teacher are present. An
inclusion class size more closely resembles the standard class sizes listed
above.
Some ESL and special educations
teachers will have their own classroom. However, some will “pull out” students
from their regular classes and work with them in a smaller group setting.
The School
Day School days are typically six-and-a-half hours long—from 8:30 AM
to 3:00 PM—but there is some variation among schools. Class periods in middle
and high school are generally about 45 minutes long, but many schools use block
scheduling of 90 minute classes, especially in reading and math, to allow
students more time to explore a topic and achieve learning goals.
Teachers generally teach five or
six periods a day depending on their grade level. Since most Fellows teach at
the secondary level, recess is not part of the standard day. However, all
teachers have a lunch period and one or two preparation periods each day.
Preparation periods are commonly referred to as “preps,” which many teachers use
to plan and set up for lessons, collaborate with colleagues, grade papers, meet
with a school-based mentor, and have discussions with administrators or
students.
In addition to the formal school day, Fellows
should expect to spend time outside class preparing their lessons, grading
students' work, and communicating with parents. Many teachers arrive early to
prepare materials for the day’s lessons and stay after dismissal to prepare for
the next day, participate in after-school activities or to work with students in
small groups who are behind in their classes.
Professional
Development All teachers participate in professional development at
their schools. Principals determine which structure is best based on their
staff’s needs and school philosophy. Professional development time may be used
for in-school workshops, general staff meetings, as well as for grade and/or
subject level meetings. In addition, teachers may have the opportunity to attend
workshops or institutes developed by external organizations that specialize in
one content area or the needs of specific student
populations.
The New York City Department of Education is the
largest public school system in the United States. Our public schools educate
1.1 million students in 1,450 schools located throughout the five boroughs, and
our students are the most culturally diverse in the world.