The Importance of Finding and Retaining FCS Teachers

As family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers retire and the FCS teacher shortage continues, the FCS community needs to look for ways to encourage students to become—and remain—FCS teachers. What can we do to help?

1. Reinforce to the community the importance of being an FCS teacher. This is a highly respected profession because of the essential life skills that FCS teachers deliver, and students need. From interpersonal relationships, nutrition, and childcare to teaching, financial planning, and beyond, FCS education builds key skills for life.

2. Promote the rewards of an FCS teaching career. Set reasonable expectations on the responsibilities, roles, and challenges of being a teacher.

This can start in high school as students take Education and Training courses. Textbook programs are available that are specifically created for high school students who are considering a teaching career. As students sprinkle in other FCS courses such as culinary or human services to their schedule, they can explore the possibility of combining the two career paths—and actually teaching culinary, human services, or another FCS field!

3. Equip teachers with the training and resources that they need to be successful. A roadmap on how to manage classrooms, guide students, and assess learning would help make the first, second, third, and future years of a new FCS teacher’s career a bit easier, while also saving new educators time and decreasing stress.

Classroom management tips such as how to use mobile devices in the classroom and teaching strategies to help develop critical-thinking skills would benefit new teachers. Ensuring use of pedagogical tools such as Essential Questions, pre-reading activities, and lesson review activities allows teachers to use their materials to the fullest and offers multiple chances to track student progress and help them engage with key concepts.

Let new teachers know that they do not have to start from scratch! Finding time-saving tools such as customizable lesson plans, workbooks, and PowerPoint™ Presentations from trusted publishers or websites will provide ready-to-implement reinforcement and hands-on practice that are crucial for students to gain real-world experience and prepare for assessments.

Taking advantage of digital resources and automated reporting that can track student progress against learning outcomes and deliver digital assessments is also a great way to show student progress and report success to administrators.

4. Offer ways to advocate for FCS programs. A new teacher might not realize where their department can receive funding or attention. Understanding how to align programs to receive Perkins funding, offer industry-recognized credentials, engage students in leadership opportunities through FCCLA, or even offer emerging courses will help teachers build their programs.

5. Provide ongoing Professional Development. Continuous learning is essential for teachers. Research shows a positive link between teacher professional development, teaching practices, and student outcomes. As professional development increases, so do the positive benefits—for both teachers and students.

Let’s work together to Say Yes to FCS!

A note from John Flanagan at Goodheart-Willcox Publisher. The G-W team is here to help. If you need a Teaching textbook program for your school, a New FCS Educator Toolkit, digital resources that provide automated reporting, or Professional Development, please contact us at www.g-w.com. The G-W team is dedicated to FCS education.