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Teacher Perspective Frequently Asked Questions 
Who are Summerbridge Cambridge teachers? What courses do I teach? What is a typical day like? What kinds of support are available to me as a teacher? What kinds of leadership opportunities are available? Is the job challenging? What are the benefits? What if I have other questions? Who are Summerbridge Cambridge teachers? SBC teachers are a talented, energetic group of high school and college students. They come from diverse academic and personal backgrounds, but share a strong commitment to their students, to each other, and to the Summerbridge Cambridge mission. To meet some of our teachers, click here. The following is demographic information for the 2006 summer and after-school program staff:
What courses do I teach? A mixture: you will teach core academic classes and electives, based on professional curricula and the ones that you invent. In the after-school program, you will teach a number of hands-on academic units, using provided curriculum. Recent units include Engineering, Toxicology, Shakespeare, current events and journalism. You will also design an elective all your own. In 2006, these included journalism, improv theatre, creavtive writing, bridge building, origami, and many more! In the summer program, you will teach either math or literature, using a professionally designed curricula. In addition, you will design and teach an academic elective class in the sciences or social sciences. Elective classes in 2006 included Cooking Up Chemistry, Kill That Bacteria, The Story of Evolution, Immigrant Rights, Mock Trial, and Welcome to Harlem. Finally, you will develop and teach several weeklong Fun Activities (such as Latin Dance, Ultimate Frisbee, or Jewelry Making), provide individualized homework support, and help to lead Advisory sessions, where students discuss social and emotional issues. » Back to Top What is a typical day like? During the summer, a typical day begins, in true Summerbridge fashion, with cheers and words of inspiration. After reviewing important information for the day, you will greet the students, spend time with them during breakfast, and then teach one - two academic classes. During your free periods, you might attend a department meeting, prepare for your next class, debrief with your Mentor Teacher, or just relax in the staff room. After academic classes come lunch and recess. The afternoon includes Community Meeting, Fun Activities, and proctored Homework Time. Once the students receive a proper send-off, you'll be needed at Staff Meeting or, depending on the day, a professional development session, Project Team meeting, or staff bonding event. In the early evening, you return home to grade papers, lesson plan, recharge, and dream about Summerbridge! A day at the after-school program is much shorter, but contains many of the same elements, compressed into three or four hours.
The best resources are our people: Mentor Teachers, Directors and especially your colleagues. Any teaching experience begins with orientation – at least three sessions for the after-school program, and seven full days for the summer. These sessions prepare you for many elements of teaching. Once you are in the classroom, Mentor Teachers will give feedback on your lesson plans, observe your classes, debrief with you and lead ongoing trainings and professional development. Directors add more layers of support and feedback. Finally, you will be collaborating with a talented, diverse group of students. We encourage you to observe each other’s classes and share ideas and resources. Summerbridge Cambridge staff can direct you to teaching resources (electronic and paper) from past summers. Other resources are available through the Links section of this website, and through the Breakthrough Collaborative’s online resource library (contact SBC for a password). » Back to Top What kinds of leadership opportunities are available? Summerbridge Cambridge thrives on teacher and student leadership! As a summer teacher, you can apply to chair one of the four academic departments (math, literature, science, or social science), or to chair one of the Project Teams (Camping, Olympics, Dare to Care Day, Math Trails, Celebration, Yearbook, etc.). You can also apply to serve on the Leadership Team, a group of teachers responsible for planning activities and events to promote teacher morale and for conveying teacher needs to the Directors. In addition, there are innumerable ways to step up and exercise leadership every day of the program. » Back to Top Is the job challenging? In a word, yes. But we will help you do it! Most teachers call Summerbridge Cambridge the “hardest and best” thing they have ever done. You can expect significant responsibility and ownership in all of our programs. In the after-school program, you will be juggling these tasks with your (very busy) life as a student and in the summer, you may work twelve-hour days. Our teachers thrive on these challenges and are resilient, hard working and positive. They benefit from all the support described above, and from knowing that they are changing their students’ lives, and increasing their own professional prospects as well. » Back to Top What are the benefits? Teaching at Summerbridge Cambridge will help you reach your professional goals, whether or not they involve a classroom. The organizational, planning, interpersonal and leadership skills involved in teaching translate to many fields. Summerbridge Cambridge offers teacher alumni support with resume writing, mock interviews, recommendations, etc. Finally you will build a network of colleagues, all interested in the same issues you are. Teachers in the after-school program volunteer or receive work-study funding through their schools. Summer teachers receive a stipend of $750 - $1,000, and may also be eligible for a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award. In addition, Summerbridge Cambridge offers need-based financial aid up to a total of $2,000, as well as free housing in the Cambridge area for out-of-town teachers, ages 18+. » Back to Top What if I have other questions? Please contact the SBC office directly at (617) 349-6647 and ask for Sarah, or email summerbridge@cpsd.us. » Back to Top |
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» Back to Top © The Breakthough Collaborative, All Rights Reserved. Summerbridge Cambridge, P.O. Box 381486, Cambridge, MA 02238-1486 P: (617) 349-6647 Email: summerbridge@cpsd.us |
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