Thinking About Teaching?
This Book Is Yours, Free.
Road to Teaching: The Ultimate Guide from Student to Confident Educator walks you through the whole journey — choosing a teacher prep program, excelling at student teaching, passing edTPA, and landing your first teaching job. 316 pages, written to be read, not shelved.
I wrote this book because there’s so little practical, start-to-finish guidance for people heading into teaching. If you’re thinking about becoming a teacher, I want it in your hands.
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Leave an honest reviewWhat the Book Covers
Three stages of the journey — from first semester through signing a contract
Leverage Your Teacher Education Training
Strategies for making the most of a preparation program — building the habits, relationships, and professional identity that carry candidates through to graduation and beyond.
- Understanding the teaching process and what evaluators look for
- Organizing coursework and reflections with the edTPA in mind
- Networking with administrators and faculty before student teaching
- Differentiating through expertise and professional development
- Self-care and sustainability from the start
Excel at Student Teaching
A ground-level guide to the practicum — from the first week through final evaluation — written for candidates.
- Working effectively with cooperating teachers
- Classroom management from day one
- edTPA planning, instruction, and assessment writing
- Building a professional reputation in the placement
- Perspectives from a cooperating teacher and a university field supervisor
Find Your Ideal Teaching Job
A practical guide to the job search — from resume and portfolio through the offer — including district hiring timelines, career fairs, and 100+ real interview questions with response frameworks.
- Resume, cover letter, and portfolio development
- District hiring timelines and job search tracking
- 100+ general teacher interview questions
- Frameworks for framing and delivering strong responses
- Perspectives from a career counselor and a principal
What the Book Covers
Three stages of the journey — from first semester through signing a contract
Leverage Your Teacher Education Training
Strategies for making the most of a preparation program — building the habits, relationships, and professional identity that carry candidates through to graduation and beyond.
- Understanding the teaching process and what evaluators look for
- Organizing coursework and reflections with the edTPA in mind
- Networking with administrators and faculty before student teaching
- Differentiating through expertise and professional development
- Self-care and sustainability from the start
Excel at Student Teaching
A ground-level guide to the practicum — from the first week through final evaluation — written for candidates.
- Working effectively with cooperating teachers
- Classroom management from day one
- edTPA planning, instruction, and assessment writing
- Building a professional reputation in the placement
- Perspectives from a cooperating teacher and a university field supervisor
Find Your Ideal Teaching Job
A practical guide to the job search — from resume and portfolio through the offer — including district hiring timelines, career fairs, and 100+ real interview questions with response frameworks.
- Resume, cover letter, and portfolio development
- District hiring timelines and job search tracking
- 100+ general teacher interview questions
- Frameworks for framing and delivering strong responses
- Perspectives from a career counselor and a principal
What Students and New Teachers Are Saying
“Amazing read! This book is for ANYONE in any phase of becoming a teacher. You learn what to expect in college, how to succeed in student teaching, and how to find a job after you graduate. I only wish I’d known about this book sooner.”
— AbnerNew Teacher
“Road to Teaching was a game-changer in my journey to becoming an educator. Now that I’m thriving in my teaching career, I can look back and appreciate how impactful this book was in preparing me for the realities of the classroom. It’s not just a book; it’s a companion for those serious about making a difference.”
— Alex Castro-WilsonElementary Teacher
“Going on year three, this book has been an amazing resource to lean on. Instead of drowning in educational jargon, I found clear guidance that helped me build a positive, thriving classroom culture. Dr. Hougan’s passion and book directly contributed to my success landing contract after contract.”
— Tessa AcayThird-Year Teacher
Meet the Author
Eric Hougan, Ph.D., is a Professor of Teacher Education at Central Washington University, where he has prepared teacher candidates for over two decades. He holds a doctorate from the University of Washington and is a former National Board Certified Teacher. He wrote this book to give future teachers the practical, start-to-finish guidance he wished he’d had on his own path into the profession.
Road to Teaching has been used in teacher preparation programs since its first edition in 2011. The 2025 edition is a comprehensive revision covering every major stage of the path: from navigating a prep program through edTPA, student teaching, the job search, and the first contract.
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