Being a Resident

Training & Resources

Training: Summer

Candidates who enroll in the Baltimore City Teaching Residency must meet eligibility requirements (such as passing required tests) in order to participate in the Summer Institute training. Summer Institute is an intense, rigorous training that typically begins in mid-June and runs through July. Due to strict Maryland State Department of Education guidelines and the critical part that the summer portion of training plays in the Baltimore City Teaching Residency, Residents cannot miss any portion of the training. There are four main components to Summer Institute, each of which addresses a different aspect of teaching:

• Pedagogy classes
• Literacy classes
• Practice teaching
• Professional Development Workshops

Residents who successfully complete every component of their Institute experience will be granted a Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) by the Maryland State Department of Education. Please click here for more information about the summer training program.

Training: Academic Year

During their first year in the classroom (first two years for Special Educators), Residents will continue to participate in required certification coursework designed to enhance their practice and continue their transition from new teachers to effective teachers. This coursework will include a continuation of the literacy seminars begun during Summer Institute, as well as a professional development seminar series called Teaching for Results. Both of these seminar series are coordinated by the BCTR Practitioner Teacher Program, the certifying body for the Baltimore City Teaching Residency.

Resources

Residents have access to a variety of support systems upon entering the classroom. The BCTR has program staff members who work to provide support to new Residents, offering feedback from classroom observations, sharing best practices, and helping Residents to navigate the resources provided by Baltimore City Schools. Baltimore City Schools employs school-based mentors, whose role is to provide guidance and support to new teachers. In addition, Baltimore City Schools hosts professional development workshops, including a series called “The Works” designed to assist teachers with lesson planning in specific subject areas. But for many Residents, the greatest resource is the support of other Residents, both those who have already completed the program and those who have just entered the classroom. Being part of a cohort provides you with a large support system, a group of people who know both the challenges and the rewards that you’re experiencing as a new Resident.