Pre-College: What Makes a Great Teacher?

Dates: July 6 - 17, 2026 Grades: Students in grades 9-12 Venue: Teachers College and in nearby schools (TBA) Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday through Friday Presenters: Instructors will be drawn from Teachers College Advancing Literacy.

Price: $3,995 - Application fee waived until March 1, 2026, a $75 savings For more information, questions or to register: Email tcacademy@tc.columbia.edu

Program Description:

Are you planning on becoming a teacher? Are you interested in exploring what it takes to be an outstanding educator? Have you ever wondered what separates amazing teachers from boring ones? Discover the secrets behind effective teaching through fun, hands-on activities. You'll observe master teachers, practice mini-lessons with your peers, and develop your own teaching style.

Activities & Projects

• Teacher Detective Work:

  Analyze videos and observe great teachers in action

• Mini-Teaching Challenge:

  Teach something you're passionate about to your peers

• Lesson Plan Lab:

  Design a series of interactive lessons for a target age group

• Teaching Style Quiz:

  Discover your natural teaching personality

Real-World Connections

• Shadow experienced teachers in TC's lab schools

• Interview current TC education students about their journey

• Practice teaching younger kids in summer camp and summer school settings

Skills You'll Build

• Public speaking and presentation confidence

• Planning and organizational skills

• Leadership and communication

• Creative problem-solving

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn:

• Why some teaching methods work better than others

• How to plan engaging lessons that actually help people learn

• Simple classroom management strategies that really work

• How to give feedback that helps (not hurts)

• The science of learning, such as the difference between memorizing and actually understanding

• Support for public speaking and presentation skills

• Effective practices 1:1 coaching

Who Should Attend

TC Pre-College courses are open to students ages 14-17. All courses are conducted in English and learners should have sufficient fluency to participate.

This introductory course is designed for curious high schoolers with an interest in teaching and learning, students who are interested in going into the teaching profession, or learning about the field of teaching.

Upon Completion

Participants who successfully complete this program will earn a verified Certificate of Participation and an official Digital Badge—valuable credentials that can be shared on LinkedIn or digital portfolios.