DC Teaching Fellows and Teach For America Educators

Disclaimer: This is a personal perception based on my personal and working experiences with educators from these programs. Neither is better or worse than the other. Please also bear in mind that this is NOT a generalization. This is not an attempt to box the fellows of each program. No intention of offending anyone. NOTHING but a Gen X Teacher thinking-out-loud or writing-thoughts out.

On Classroom Design
DCTF: Usually traditional in nature. Preferred to be told what’s good for classroom poster, chair arrangement, etc. But if you see a good DCTF classroom— it’s going to WOW you!

TFA: Always colorful and organize. Most materials are handmade and handwritten. Even if they are told what’s good for classroom design, arrangement— most prefer to follow their graduate professors. (Well, you got to get the class credit!).

On Classroom Behavior Management
DCTF: Most of them are soooo patient. They keep following-up on concerns even though it seems no one pays attention. At times, this makes some of them think it’s personal and they have the tendency to become withdrawn to the school community.

TFA: Very assertive and thoughtful in planning rewards and consequences. But if things don’t work their way or no buy-in from school administrator, you’ll hear endless complaints. Never yielding and at times, too stubborn to re-think the approach.

On Building Relationship with Colleagues and Administrators
DCTF: Mostly shy and sometimes timid to a fault. They prefer to be approached before warming up.

TFA: They tend to mingle only with their co-fellows. Sometimes this is interpreted as being cliquish and exclusive.

On Instruction
DCTF: At the beginning, they tend to be transparent with their inadequacies in the classroom. Tend to be good in lesson planning but not in the delivery of the lesson.

TFA: Try to cover-up inadequacies by exuding an elite attitude. Tend to be good in lesson planning, delivery of lesson, PLUS assessment.

(Next: On Extracurricular Activities, On Creative Initiatives/Projects, On School Politics, On Communication, On Dedication to Education. To be continued…)

For more information about the programs click these links: DCTF (http://www.dcteachingfellows.org/) and TFA (http://www.teachforamerica.org/)