Preparation for Future Teaching
Teacher education programs are tasked with a myriad of responsibilities to help improve the quality of future teachers. Despite the constraints of using non-licensed teachers in a public classroom setting in order for the pre-service teacher to gain experience, a Teaching Assistant (TA) program has been implemented in a university setting and thus removing the logistical obstacles pre-service teachers face. Using a preparation for future learning model, pre-service teachers enrolled in a human learning and development course engaged in activities that ranged from mentoring students, developing grading rubrics, and grading student assignments. Triangulation of qualitative data showcases the importance of assessment (i.e., feedback) and the pre-service teacher's identity as emergent themes. Discussion of possible design iterations to the TA program and its potential impact are discussed.