Being a Resident
Training & Resources

Training

Candidates who are accepted into the program will begin their commitment with a paid Training Institute that is designed specifically for members of the Baltimore City Teaching Residency. Residents will be exposed to seminars and workshops on standards, foundations of teaching, and classroom management. During this training, Residents will also participate in discussions and activities focused on the challenges and benefits of teaching in a diverse educational setting.

The BCTR Training Institute consolidates a great deal of training time into only a few weeks; thus, training is extremely demanding. Residents must attend training five days a week on a rigorous schedule while taking required graduate coursework. Due to strict Maryland State Department of Education guidelines and the critical part that training plays in the Baltimore City Teaching Residency, Residents cannot miss any portion of the training.

Ongoing Resources

A new teacher’s first year is particularly challenging, and Resident Teachers should anticipate long hours and intense effort, especially in the first semester. In addition, a Resident’s ability to solve problems creatively and independently will play an extremely important role in that teacher’s success, primarily because Residents often work in high-need schools with limited resources.

Throughout the school year, Residents will be given access to additional professional development activities that are centered on specific classroom or instructional topics.

The Baltimore City Teaching Residency office is responsible for the administration and coordination of the program, a task that typically includes logistical support (e.g., ensuring that Residents are enrolled in and informed about their certification program), program communications (e.g., periodic email messages and newsletters), and special events such as meetings, and social gatherings.

While the BCTR is not equipped to offer classroom and school-based support throughout the year, Residents’ school system, school and/or university program generally offer additional sources of support, such as mentors, workshops, and professional development events. In addition, Resident Teachers participate in a range of courses focused on skills and theories of teaching and childhood development. Click here for more information about earning a teaching certification and master’s degree.

Although districts and schools work hard to offer a range of support services to all new teachers, they sometimes face resource limitations that may hinder these services. As a result, Residents often find that the most important avenue of ongoing support comes from within the community of other new Resident Teachers who are experiencing similar successes and struggles.

School assignment and summer training events will facilitate connections among Residents who will be teaching the same subjects and clustered together in schools or areas of the city. New Resident Teachers can draw on these connections as a resource for planning, reflection, and shared encouragement as they strive for excellence in their individual classrooms.