A Taste of Teaching: A Unique Introduction to a Career in Education

The teacher shortage is a well-known issue, highlighted in numerous studies, surveys, and educational initiatives. Addressing this problem requires a cultural shift in how society perceives the teaching profession, We need to place a greater emphasis on respect and value for educators as they are critical in shaping the future. By framing a career in education as a creative leadership role, we can hope to attract more candidates to the profession.

Many teachers experience a nonlinear pathway to education. They often find themselves stepping in as substitutes during college or a gap year, and they fall in love with the profession. In many cases, teaching chooses them rather than the other way around. Inspired by this phenomenon, the idea for Taste of Teaching was born. By starting in the high school classroom with bright, motivated students who try teaching as part of a passion project, they might discover a love for education and consider it part of their future career path.

How can we inspire young people to be excited and inspired by this career choice? A group of dedicated faculty at Yeshiva University High School for Girls (YUHSG) created a new program in response to this ongoing challenge called Taste of Teaching. This initiative at Yeshiva University High School for Girls (YUHSG), presented in conjunction with Ti-Tech MIT, a national philanthropic organization dedicated to inspiring project-based learning, aims to attract, support, and retain new teachers by guiding talented high school students toward a career in education at an early age. Under the mentorship of accomplished professionals, students are introduced to the teaching profession in a meaningful way.

What is a Taste of Teaching? The Taste of Teaching project is a comprehensive introduction to education.  Students explore educational research, emphasizing community building, assessment, classroom management, and technological training—all essential components of designing a successful class. Under the guidance of teachers and mentors, high school students learn about the profession of teaching, observe classes, create a lesson plan, and teach a class to their peers. The goal is to show them the complexities of a career in education and excite them about the profession. 

The backing of MIT Ti-Tech was crucial in developing Taste of Teaching. Although the idea preexisted the program, securing Ti-Tech MIT’s support has been essential.

Reaction to the Program

Students in the program expressed newfound respect for the teaching profession. “We are learning about the different responsibilities of teaching and how much hard work teachers put in to ensure their students have the best education,” said one student. “It has given me a newfound appreciation for all my teachers.” Another senior agreed, saying, “Taste of Teaching is a really unique course. Its emphasis on teaching strategies and experiential learning directly from teachers makes the class stand out.” The course’s capstone project involves each student choosing a mentor teacher to collaborate with in preparing and teaching a lesson within that mentor’s classroom.

Evaluating Success

All students presented lessons that were recorded for later review. After the presentation the classroom teacher, mentor, and presenting student filmed and completed reflection videos and evaluation forms. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and candid. Some students were surprised by how time-consuming and demanding the lesson presentation process was. However, most expressed a strong sense of accomplishment in completing the project. Additionally, more students showed interest in pursuing a career in education than the initial surveys indicated. As this initiative grows, the hope is to expand its reach and inspire more students to consider teaching a fulfilling and impactful career.

Hope for the Future

A Taste of Teaching is more than just an introductory education course; it offers students a “try it, you might like it” experience. Students gain a comprehensive foundation in teaching through a scaffolded introduction to educational methods and theory, lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. A key perk for these seniors is working one-on-one with their capstone lesson mentors. This project-based learning approach allows students to experience the creativity that teachers bring to lesson development and gives them the chance to feel like student leaders as they work with and teach their peers.

With Taste of Teaching, there is hope for addressing the teacher shortage by planting the seeds of passion for education early on. By providing students with a taste of what teaching entails, the program aspires to inspire the next generation of educators who will shape the future of learning. 

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Bracha Rutner, Head of School at YUHSG and Yoetzet Halacha at Kemp Mill Synagogue.

The Ti Tech-MIT team: Ruth Fried, Marci Karoll, Chevi Friedman, Miriam Chopp