In this multi-part blog series, I discuss my progress towards becoming a state-certified English Language Arts teacher in Alaska.
This post delves into the specific coursework and exams that I am in the process of completing towards this goal.
My Certification Checklist
Here is a list of requirements I have to complete to earn my degree and my state teaching certificate.
Night Courses
The following are required courses from the Western Governor’s University program.
These classes must be completed in my spare time.
| Course Name | Credits | Completed |
| Orientation | 0 | ✔ |
| Foundations of Education | 2 | ✔ |
| Educational Psychology and Human Development of Children and Adolescents | 4 | ✔ |
| Schools as Communities of Care | 2 | ✔ |
| Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment | 2 | ✔ |
| Assessing Student Learning | 2 | ✔ |
| Essential Practices for Supporting Diverse Learners | 3 | In progress |
| Creating and Managing Engaging Learning Environments | 2 | |
| Using Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning | 2 | |
| Secondary Reading Instruction and Interventions | 2 | |
| Secondary Disciplinary Literacy | 2 | |
| English Pedagogy | 2 | |
| Professional Portfolio | 1 | |
| Cohort Seminar | 1 |
As shown above, I’m around the halfway mark.
Thoughts on Coursework So Far
The hardest one on the list up to this point is “Educational Psychology and Human Development of Children and Adolescents.”
Not only was there a significant amount of reading, but the final exam expected a fairly high amount of knowledge retention. This required that I take copious notes and engage in memorization.
Everything else has proved relatively easy, although in every case the readings and assignments have been time-consuming.
My hope is to have only the last three or four classes on the list by the end of June 2024.
The other classes will have to wait until the 2024-25 school year, due to the upcoming chaos of my geographic relocation to Tok, Alaska.
Teacher-of-Record Coursework
In addition to my night classes at WGU, I also must perform demonstration or “student teaching” in an actual teaching environment.
Since I am concurrently employed as a teacher, I will be completing these requirements under the label, “Teacher of Record.”
Here are the courses required in this capacity.
| Course Name | Credits | Completed |
| Preclinical Experiences in English | 2 | |
| Supervised Demonstration Teaching in English, Observations 1 and 2 | 2 | |
| Supervised Demonstration Teaching in English, Observation 3 and Midterm | 2 | |
| Supervised Demonstration Teaching in English, Observations 4 and 5 | 2 | |
| Supervised Demonstration Teaching in English, Observation 6 and Final | 2 | |
| Teacher Performance Assessment in English | 1 |
As of now, the tentative plan I have with my employer is that all of the in-class work will be completed during my hours of employment.
Naturally, I assume that there will be additional material, such as reflective essays and analysis, that must be completed in my evening free time.
State Required Credits
While the completion of the above classes will conclude my master’s degree requirements, there are still two more challenges remaining.
The State of Alaska Educational Department requires two additional courses. These classes are related to Alaskan culture and history.
The department provides a list of required courses.
The courses must be completed within two years of initial certification. In my case, I therefore have until summer of 2026.
I have yet to delve deeply into this challenge, and likely will not approach it until after I complete my master’s degree program (summer 2025).
| Course Name | Credits | Completed |
| Unknown Alaskan Cultural Studies Course Option 1 | ? | |
| Unknown Alaskan Cultural Studies Course Option 2 | ? |
Thoughts About the Future
In the past, whenever I have attempted to day dream about what will happen next in my life, I always end up creating trouble for myself.
There are too many unknowns for what will come next.
However, there are a few certainties.
When I finish obtaining my certificate, I hope to spend some of my newfound free time with my family.
Also, for the next several years I will need to procure supplemental income to make ends meet.
How, one might ask? I am not yet sure. I cannot attend any further to this question until at least the night classes listed above are completed.
Your Help is Appreciated
In the meantime, I would love a helping hand, if you are willing.
Here is a link to a blog post that describes how a supportive reader can help me in my quest.
In short, you can…
- Like, comment and share
- Buy a copy of my children’s novella, Westly: A Spider’s Tale
- Help me connect with part-time and contract work