Making the Grade: Examining Teacher Education

Abstract

High quality teachers make a difference. Marzano notes, "the single most influential component of an effective school is the individual teachers within that school" (2007, p. 1). There are a multitude of considerations that impact the effectiveness of an individual teacher, but arguably the quality of a teacher's educational training program is of paramount importance. The initial theory and practical training that pre-service teachers receive not only prepare educators to enter the classroom but can have a profound impact on their later growth and development as a professional.