Pathway to Teaching: A Guide to Teacher Training, Student Teaching, and Finding a Job

by Eric Hougan

Pursuing a teaching career is noble, rewarding, and challenging. Yet, few books focus on the process of becoming an educator, with the majority of available education resources geared towards in-service teachers, especially first-year teachers. This book, Pathway to Teaching, uses a holistic approach to demystify the journey of becoming an educator. This resourceful guide provides valuable and straightforward strategies to the aspiring teachers at each crucial teacher training, student teaching, and finding a job.

Themes of differentiation, networking, and organization are interwoven throughout the book and aim to better prepare the soon-to-be teacher at each step. The strategies address a range of pressing topics for teacher candidates that include preparing for the edTPA™ – a nationwide teacher assessment – to providing classroom management techniques during student teaching to ideas on self-care. Pathway to Teaching also supports the aspiring teachers in finding their dream teaching job through strategies on building a professional network to preparing for that all-important job interview.

In addition, several contributors – a teacher, an administrator, an university field supervisor, and a career counselor – share their insightful perspectives and advice to the readers. The curated strategies and advice will undoubtedly help guide any aspiring teacher in achieving their career and professional goals.

Genres: Teaching, Education

164 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2008

About the author

Dr. Eric Hougan is a Professor of Teacher Education at Central Washington University, where he has prepared teacher candidates for over two decades. He is the author of Road to Teaching: The Ultimate Guide From Student to Confident Educator, which carries aspiring teachers from their preparation program through student teaching and into their first classroom job. First published in 2011 and fully revised in its 2025 edition, the book is used in teacher preparation programs across the country.

A former National Board Certified Teacher who entered the profession as a career switcher, Eric holds a doctorate from the University of Washington and is a recipient of the 2026 Educators Rising Champion Award (Higher Education). He also founded RoadtoTeaching.com, a free resource supporting thousands of future educators each year.

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many great books out there about teaching but very few on student teaching and finding a job. I purchased this book in hopes it would be full of great tidbits and advice concerning all aspects of student teaching and pre-service topics/issues but was a little disappointed. Road to Teaching had 50 strategies for finding a job, student teaching, and education training. Unfortunately most of what I read was either common sense or something I already knew. Not until I got to strategy 45: Practice interview questions, did I benefit from the book. I mean really, does the author need to put in a strategy about how to dress during an interview? Sad to think people out there don't know how to properly dress (which I know does exists)!

Some may learn something from this book but I regret buying it and wish I checked with the library first. Best bet would be to search the internet for any questions you have on student teaching/pre-service topics. Everything I read in this book, I have read online. Save your money!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a good reads contest.

I like that this book was separated into 50 strategies. The author would note when certain advice was located in another strategy which I found very helpful. As someone that is considering teaching, this book had advice that I expected and some advice that I never would have thought of. I liked that the author gave advice about teacher training, student teaching, and excelling in an interview. I think some of the areas of teaching are overlooked more than others. I loved that the book had quotes at the beginning of every strategy from people such like Confucius and Woody Allen . This added a fun touch to the book.

[Katherine]

This is a great read. I recommend it for any future teacher.

[Sarah]

My teacher wrote this book.

[Kathy]

So far, chapt 1, 2, I'm discovering little nuggets of really useful info!

[Eric Hougan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really useful book for teacher candidates, student teachers, and educators seeking a job!