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Beginning Teachers Chatboard

Teaching Experience? What Counts?

by Christina

Jun 11

I am in need of some advice. I feel as though my situation consists of several "special" circumstances.

In November, I will graduate with my Bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies. From there, I will begin working towards my Masters Degree in Education (either pursuing Elementary Education or Secondary English Education,...See MoreI am in need of some advice. I feel as though my situation consists of several "special" circumstances.

In November, I will graduate with my Bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies. From there, I will begin working towards my Masters Degree in Education (either pursuing Elementary Education or Secondary English Education, I am currently undecided).

I currently live in Japan due to my husband's military career. By the time we leave Japan and go back to the States, I will have finished my Masters degree. Therefore, I am trying to get as much "experience" under my belt, as it seems most jobs require at least 1 year of teaching experience. However, opportunities are few and far between, here in Japan.

I am currently working as an ESL teacher for Pre-k, Kindergarten, and 1st grade Japanese students. I have a one year contract with the school. The pay is miserable ($3.00 an hour at 12 hours a week). I pay a babysitter for my son more than I actually make in an hour. I am literally doing this job for the sake of the experience it gives me.

This is where things get a little complicated. I only work two days out of the week. For the other days out of the week or after my 1 year contract is up, I would like to do one of two things. I would like to either start a Kindergarten Readiness Preschool Program that I would run out of my home for other military families around me (for children ages 3-5), or I would like to substitute teach.

Both of these options have many pros and cons. For the home-based preschool, I would be able to stay at home with my son and actually make money while also giving my community an affordable option for a kindergarten readiness program. We currently only have ONE preschool program on base that only accepts about 20 students a year. The only other options families have are to go off base, which usually costs about $1000 a month. What are the cons of this? Well, I am not entirely sure that this would count towards teaching experience? Obviously, I would be building curriculum, lesson planning, etc. but because I am running it out of my home, I'm afraid it wouldn't leave much of an impression on future employers.

Substitute teaching would obviously be beneficial. The pros of this are self explanatory. However, I face the dilemma (once again) of my entire paycheck going towards daycare for my son because there are no affordable options here!

What counts as experience? What are my best options? Any advice is very much appreciated!

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elsiev What are your goals? Are you looking to teach PreK or K once you get your teaching credential? If so, strong experience working with PreK coupled with ESL experience will stand you in good stead.

Jun 13

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Jun 13

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New Teacher Struggles

by Anonymous

Apr 26, 2018

I am a first year teacher. I am young, fresh out of college at 22. This has been a very good year for me, and I have been told by one of my co-teachers that I have the management of a 3rd-4th year teacher. The one problem I've run into this year is that people treat me like I'm incompetent as a first year teacher. It's like just because I'm young, ...See More

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Curriculum Programs

by Rose

Feb 19, 2018

Hi!,

So I'm currently in a district that does not have adequate programming for my classroom. I'm teaching a 3rd-5th grade self-contained classroom. The last teacher I heard was using what she could of the general ed, on level programming when possible, but mostly made up her own things. I don't want my current situation to happen next yea...See More

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Collaborative Teaching

by carlyag

Oct 30, 2017

Hi everyone,

I am wondering how you all view collaborative teaching in learning communities. I think learning communities are extremely important and I would like to know the best lesson you have learned from a coworker throughout your career or you education may have been? Have you put their lesson or advice into action? Did it work out w...See More

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Teacher Accreditation, lesson plans etc

by Demi

Sep 19, 2017

Hi all,

Just a post for beginning teachers to offer my services where I offer help teachers in specific areas of writing in the teaching field. This includes help writing the proficient accreditation annotations to meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, lesson plans, student report comments, and more writing specific area...See More

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Hopefully this will help someone.

by Spadoinkel

Sep 1, 2017

https://goo.gl/YaiVei

Classroom Setup: Teacher Vlog/ Special Episode: Organizing The Teacher's Classroom

The video I promised for the end of August is Here, mY Classroom setup and classroom tour. All of this was done with the looming threat of Hurricane Harvey b...

YouTube | youtube.com

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Classroom decor dilemma

by Newbie

Jul 5, 2016

Hello! I'm a first-year teacher of a 1st. grade class. I'm trying to decide on room decor and I'm torn between Dr. Seuss or a generic palette of soothing colors.

I've read that bright colors inspire creativity, in which case Dr. Seuss is great. However, since it is a trademark it can be expensive to do, although when it comes to his birth...See More

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TMich On 7/16/16, retired teacher wrote: > Over the years I have visited many, many classrooms and so > many have way too much "visual noise". There are things > everywhere- on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, on the > doors and windows, on their desks, etc. and it's no wonder the > ADHD kids have problems focusing, *I* had t...See MoreOn 7/16/16, retired teacher wrote: > Over the years I have visited many, many classrooms and so > many have way too much "visual noise". There are things > everywhere- on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, on the > doors and windows, on their desks, etc. and it's no wonder the > ADHD kids have problems focusing, *I* had trouble focusing! > > Calm and creative are not opposites. YOU will foster their > creativity, not all the stuff that is around the room. Honestly, > they don't care what the room looks like, if there is a theme, or > if everything is coordinated - you do, they don't. They need > and want a room with a teacher that cares about them, a class > that is supportive and free of bullying, and a room where they > understand the rules and they are applied fairly and > consistently. >

> Tip #2, build the room with them so they can take ownership > in the anchor charts, behavior charts, etc. If everything is on > the walls when they walk in the first day, it is simply "wall > paper" to them and they have no connection to it. Save > yourself the time and money and build the room as you go. > > You're welcome. > >

> > > On 7/05/16, Newbie wrote: >> Hello! I'm a first-year teacher of a 1st. grade class. I'm >> trying to decide on room decor and I'm torn between Dr. >> Seuss or a generic palette of soothing colors. >> >> I've read that bright colors inspire creativity, in which case >> Dr. Seuss is great. However, since it is a trademark it can >> be expensive to do, although when it comes to his birthday, >> the room will already be decorated. All I have to do is add a >> few "happy birthday" signs and voila! >> >> On the other hand, the soothing colors would be much >> cheaper for me to do as I can just get things in that color >> for much cheaper but I'm afraid that it would just be a >> "relaxed and calm" atmosphere with no creativity at all. >> What should I do? Any suggestions will be greatly >> appreciated. :)

I agree 100&37; with this comment. The only things I have hanging up in my room are essentials like the alphabet, class essential agreements and a class schedule for each day. Other things are short vowel cards and a math strategies poster with key math words. Everything is used on a daily basis for instructional purposes. The less stimulation they have the better. I have been in classrooms where every corner of the wall is used and lots of other things around the room and my eyes don't know where to look first. If I'm that easily distracted imagine a child's reaction to all the visual noise. Keep it simple.

Apr 29, 2017

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Judy2/CA As a retired teacher I vote on doing what is cheaper for you to do. Calm and soothing sounds good to me. When special events occur throughout the year you can add what you want to your room. Instead of buying Dr. Seuss things already prepared there a lot of actitivites the kids can make that you can display in the room. As a previous poster mention...See More

Aug 3, 2017

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First Week of School Tips

by Spadoinkel

Aug 1, 2017

https://goo.gl/BrDnFj

Back To School Tips: First Week Teacher Tips

It's back to school time. Those first weeks of school are crucial. There are thousands of things to do and think about. I'll take care of ten of them right n...

YouTube | youtube.com

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New Teacher Information

by Spadoinkel

Jul 6, 2017

I hope this helps anyone who might see it. I wish I had been given a place like teachers.net and the information I am posting at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHAq6189FM_vuoppIpf49gQ

It's nothing super special, but it's all stuff I wish i had known up front. there is a lot more to come.