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Probationary certificates are granted to student teachers doing
an internship, where they will serve as the teacher of record. Its
the only way to get one. Student teachers doing student
teaching or ACP teachers doing clinical teaching do not get
probationary certificates, as they are not the teacher of record.

It will be nearly impossible for you to complete the Texas
Teachers program, you will do the seminars, and then you will
end up waiting forever. There is zero demand for social studies
teachers if you dont know anyone who can get you a job, and
even then social studies teachers almost always coach. There
are plenty of unemployed social studies teachers. with full
certification waiting to get a job, that no ones going to be
interested in a social studies intern.

The problem with ACP programs like Texas Teachers is you
need to essentially get a job as an intern, or pay the full cost of
the program up front and do clinical teaching, which is a lot like
student teaching at a university and only takes a semester. You
could get certiifed in social studies if you went that way. If you
need to do the paid internship, you would be better off doing
ESOL. At least you have some experience in that and there is
more of a demand, you could probably find a charter school to
hire you.

I went through a university EPP and Texas Teachers ACP. Texas
Teachers isnt great, but none of the ACP programs are great.
Texas Teachers is probably the easiest and most flexible. If you
do the in person seminars, all you have to do is attend. You can
zone out once your in your seat. You will basically learn nothing
during the seminars, except for the seminar on legal issues of
teaching in Texas. None of the seminars will help you get a job,
and they dont really cover any particular subject in much detail.
Lesson plans are covered in the most detail, but you dont
actually have to make one. You just listen to how a particular
professor teacher there students to make lesson plans. Not that
it matters, no one really makes lesson plans anymore, we have
TRS (CSCOPE), or your district curriculum office, or the textbook
publisher gives you the basics of the lesson plan. Take
attendance, review last lesson, lecture about 15 minutes, have
students do worksheet, say goodbye. repeat. No one really sits
down with primary sources anymore and researches a lesson
plan from seminal and current texts anymore.

Most of the presenters are university or college professors who
havent been in a classroom in this millennium, and most of the
material is outdated. No one got anything out of it except id
often meet up with people afterwards for a drink after having 2
4 hour naps.

> Hey guys,
>
> I'm new to this forum, but had a question about finding
> positions when I come back to the States next year. I've
> been teaching ESL in Korea for two years and will be coming
> back next summer hoping to land a job in secondary social
> studies while I complete my certification. I'm aiming for
> the 2015-2016 school year. I currently have a B.A. in
> History and an M.A. in Political Science.
>
> I was thinking of doing the A+ Texas Teachers alternative
> certification program, but have seen some mixed reviews
> online about finding placement at schools. Ideally my wife
> and I would live in Austin, but we're open to move other
> places if necessary.
>
> Can anyone offer advice on how difficult it might be to land
> a job in social studies next year? How hard has it been for
> new teachers this year? Is the probationary certificate
> difficult to get? Also, if anyone else has gone through the
> Texas Teachers program, I would love to hear some feedback
> on that as well.
>
> I know it's a lot of questions, but there is a lot I'm
> trying to figure out over the next year before we come home.
> Any and all advice is much appreciated!
>
> Cheers,
> Hudson

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