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I'm looking into becoming a teacher...

by Kasey

Jan 28, 2010

I'm eighteen, and I've always had trouble in finding a carreer that genuinely intrests me. But after alot of thinking I've decided that teaching would be a career I'd really be motivated to pursue. I've done some research but nothing beats first hand expirence. I'd much appreciate any wisdom relating to things like training and financial assistance that this community has to offer.

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Older Frankly, my first thought was tell this person "RUN!" I am old and experienced too, and teaching is not at all what I thought it was going to be when I student taught and went to college.

However, the time off has been great. Got to stay home with my kids at the holidays and summers. Something to think about in the long term. Now that the...See MoreFrankly, my first thought was tell this person "RUN!" I am old and experienced too, and teaching is not at all what I thought it was going to be when I student taught and went to college.

However, the time off has been great. Got to stay home with my kids at the holidays and summers. Something to think about in the long term. Now that they are grown, I can travel.

I reason for my negativity is because I thought I would spend time actually teaching kids. While, of course, I do, I spend more time disciplining that I ever thought possible, and it gets worse every year! The administration are limited in what they can do too, so we all just wind up counting the days until the next holiday. In addition, I am a middle school tested area teacher, and the accountability is very stressful. I see many teachers quit because there is so much work to do; spouses and significant others don't understand that it really is a 24/7 job. Whether or not you are actually working, you are always thinking. Frankly, I am ok with that since I get so much time off.

Also, we have a lot of change in eduation. It will not be like college when you finally get your own room. Also, the money will never be there; find yourself a rich husband like I did.

If I had known what I know now, I would not have chosen this profession. This is the advice I would give my own daughter. Who, by the way, will never be a teacher after watching me!

As the previous person said, look around and visit schools. It all depends on grade level, subject area, district, etc. Definitely think about math, science, spec ed, and bilingual. It is hard to know at this point what you want to do but

On 2/12/10, Old and experienced wrote: > I can't think of anything I'd rather do than teach. But there > are a few things that you should think about. Do you get > offended easily? Do you always have to be right? Then you may > want a different career. But are you flexible? Can you laugh > at yourself? Are you willing to forgive a student for lashing > out at you? Then this could be the career for you. You have > to have a thick skin anymore!! > > On 1/28/10, Kasey wrote: >> I'm eighteen, and I've always had trouble in finding a >> carreer that genuinely intrests me. But after alot of >> thinking I've decided that teaching would be a career I'd >> really be motivated to pursue. I've done some research but >> nothing beats first hand expirence. I'd much appreciate any >> wisdom relating to things like training and financial >> assistance that this community has to offer.

Jul 14, 2010

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Kasey Thanks so much for your responses. They are both very helpful

Jul 14, 2010

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DHart On 7/14/10, Older wrote: > Frankly, my first thought was tell this person "RUN!" I am old > and experienced too, and teaching is not at all what I thought > it was going to be when I student taught and went to college. > > However, the time off has been great. Got to stay home with my > kids at the holidays and summers. Something ...See MoreOn 7/14/10, Older wrote: > Frankly, my first thought was tell this person "RUN!" I am old > and experienced too, and teaching is not at all what I thought > it was going to be when I student taught and went to college. > > However, the time off has been great. Got to stay home with my > kids at the holidays and summers. Something to think about in > the long term. Now that they are grown, I can travel. > > I reason for my negativity is because I thought I would spend > time actually teaching kids. While, of course, I do, I spend > more time disciplining that I ever thought possible, and it gets > worse every year! The administration are limited in what they > can do too, so we all just wind up counting the days until the > next holiday. In addition, I am a middle school tested area > teacher, and the accountability is very stressful. I see many > teachers quit because there is so much work to do; spouses and > significant others don't understand that it really is a 24/7 > job. Whether or not you are actually working, you are always > thinking. Frankly, I am ok with that since I get so much time > off. > > Also, we have a lot of change in eduation. It will not be like > college when you finally get your own room. Also, the money > will never be there; find yourself a rich husband like I did. > > If I had known what I know now, I would not have chosen this > profession. This is the advice I would give my own daughter. > Who, by the way, will never be a teacher after watching me! > > As the previous person said, look around and visit schools. It > all depends on grade level, subject area, district, etc. > Definitely think about math, science, spec ed, and bilingual. > It is hard to know at this point what you want to do but > > > > On 2/12/10, Old and experienced wrote: >> I can't think of anything I'd rather do than teach. But there >> are a few things that you should think about. Do you get >> offended easily? Do you always have to be right? Then you may >> want a different career. But are you flexible? Can you laugh >> at yourself? Are you willing to forgive a student for lashing >> out at you? Then this could be the career for you. You have >> to have a thick skin anymore!! >> >> On 1/28/10, Kasey wrote: >>> I'm eighteen, and I've always had trouble in finding a >>> carreer that genuinely intrests me. But after alot of >>> thinking I've decided that teaching would be a career I'd >>> really be motivated to pursue. I've done some research but >>> nothing beats first hand expirence. I'd much appreciate any >>> wisdom relating to things like training and financial >>> assistance that this community has to offer.

Jul 26, 2010

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DHart Hello, Well, when I began teaching I was inspired. I planned to bring to the classroom creativity, an opportunity to support kids, and above all, I would teach subjects I love - English & Art. My student teaching went well, but of course, the sponsoring teacher was always present.

But the reality of teaching middle school for 10 years...See MoreHello, Well, when I began teaching I was inspired. I planned to bring to the classroom creativity, an opportunity to support kids, and above all, I would teach subjects I love - English & Art. My student teaching went well, but of course, the sponsoring teacher was always present.

But the reality of teaching middle school for 10 years in the public schools with the pressure of No Child Left Behind almost did me in. Count on grading and correcting papers at least one weekend day, and two additional evenings a week, and possibly more. Nor will any student pay much attention to all that grading unless you make them redo the paper. Plus every afternoon, a good teacher is either meeting with a student, a parent, or calling a parent about a discipline issue, or cleaning up a littered classroom. Family life will be interrupted and put on hold. I found myself putting the needs of my children behind the needs of my students (sad).

The biggest issue will be discipline. No longer are teachers dealing with a few fidgety kids in the back row or a passing quarrel. Last year, I had 35 students in an English class: 6 were special ed with Individualized Lesson Plans and all sorts of attending behaviors (even though this number was illegal with no aide present), 3 were ESL students who needed adapted lessons and Spanish books (and I don't speak Spanish), 6 acting out boys who would mentally gang up on me and try to control the classroom with comments, laughter, tawdry remarks, and rowdiness. I was constantly interrupting the class, sending them out, and the Administrator would bring them back in. While they were away, the counselor had nice, long chats with them, and back they came. No better discipline was offered than "give them detention" and "you must inspire them" - even though their reading and writing abilities were far below grade level. I tried tutoring some students after school, but most middle school students will not willingly stay after school. I couldn't call on the help of volunteers or aides because there were none -- although, down the street there was a picket line with at least 30 retired adults protesting abortion - I would love to have had them in my classroom. But they are your students, and you are responsible for their learning. Not only that, the results of their standardized test scores will determine if you have a job the following year. Count on many students having no homework, no binders, no paper, and no pencils on a daily basis. But believe when I say they all have expensive tennis shoes, ipods, and a wide assortment of computer games. In fact, some students told me they spend at least 3 hours a day playing computer games, if not more. You will have students who have no bed time and fall asleep in your class, students who call you every name in the book (and you must stay calm because you are their only role model). I regularly had 8th graders who were high on various drugs and alcohol, not to mention a few teens who were already sexually active at 13. I kid you not.

And, don't think teacher meetings are for teachers. They are not, in fact, you will never be asked to add an agenda item, or rarely will you be asked to share a lesson idea. Faculty meetings are for disseminating information from the higher ups. Most faculty meetings are about assessment and meeting No Child Left Behind standardized testing and how to do it. I haven't had a discussion about inspiring students since I left college and student teaching. Nor will you have a regular lunch, most teachers work through lunch on a regular basis - they have to just to keep up. On occasion, I would get that rare mix of kids and real teaching would occur, like the year I set up centers to explore cultural diversity in literature, complete with music and crafts. That was a great year, a rare year.

So what did I do? I left the larger classroom behind, and am now teaching reading in small groups, a better choice. Over the years, my daughter has watched me struggle, receive little respect, and bring home the personal problems of my students. No, she will never be a teacher, she says. All that ails our society is magnified in the classroom. . .bullying, violence, lack of attention span, poor parenting, divorce, and oh, did I say poor parenting? You name it. . .if you become a teacher, you will have to be a stand in parent, counselor, nurse, and sometimes a referee as well

Jul 26, 2010

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joe As you can see from these worn out folks, teaching is not a career for everyone. You really need to have a strong personality in order to inspire. Sadly, many folks simply do not have that and are better suited to be pushing papers in an office. I know it sounds harsh, but the fact remains that you can walk into any building and there will be at le...See MoreAs you can see from these worn out folks, teaching is not a career for everyone. You really need to have a strong personality in order to inspire. Sadly, many folks simply do not have that and are better suited to be pushing papers in an office. I know it sounds harsh, but the fact remains that you can walk into any building and there will be at least a few teachers who do not have these massive management problems that some others seem to have. Sure, if you are in the inner city you really need to be good, but hey that's life.

The really sad thing about this is that these sad sack posts are from real teachers who are staying in just for the benefits and time off. If they had even an ounce of honor/good will, they would step aside and find a career so we could let more talented people into the field.

The unions protect these sad, miserable people, and there are many of them. That is why, in general, private schools are always better schools for kids. They hire people who model leadership behaviors and stray away from the victim-type thought process that pervades most American public school systems.

Also, one last note...NCLB is a miserable excuse that almost all teachers who are afaid of change use. What?!?! You wouldn't have to correct papers or manage your classroom if not for that? Also, your school is obviously still open if you have a job, so you must not be swaeting it that much.

On 7/26/10, DHart wrote: > Hello, Well, when I began teaching I was inspired. I planned to > bring to the classroom creativity, an opportunity to support kids, > and above all, I would teach subjects I love - English & Art. My > student teaching went well, but of course, the sponsoring teacher > was always present. > > But the reality of teaching middle school for 10 years in the public > schools with the pressure of No Child Left Behind almost did me in. > Count on grading and correcting papers at least one weekend day, > and two additional evenings a week, and possibly more. Nor will any > student pay much attention to all that grading unless you make them > redo the paper. Plus every afternoon, a good teacher is either > meeting with a student, a parent, or calling a parent about a > discipline issue, or cleaning up a littered classroom. Family life > will be interrupted and put on hold. I found myself putting the > needs of my children behind the needs of my students (sad). > > The biggest issue will be discipline. No longer are teachers dealing > with a few fidgety kids in the back row or a passing quarrel. Last > year, I had 35 students in an English class: 6 were special ed with > Individualized Lesson Plans and all sorts of attending behaviors > (even though this number was illegal with no aide present), 3 were > ESL students who needed adapted lessons and Spanish books (and I > don't speak Spanish), 6 acting out boys who would mentally gang up > on me and try to control the classroom with comments, laughter, > tawdry remarks, and rowdiness. I was constantly interrupting the > class, sending them out, and the Administrator would bring them > back in. While they were away, the counselor had nice, long chats > with them, and back they came. No better discipline was offered > than "give them detention" and "you must inspire them" - even > though their reading and writing abilities were far below grade > level. I tried tutoring some students after school, but most middle > school students will not willingly stay after school. I couldn't > call on the help of volunteers or aides because there were none -- > although, down the street there was a picket line with at least 30 > retired adults protesting abortion - I would love to have had them > in my classroom. But they are your students, and you are > responsible for their learning. Not only that, the results of their > standardized test scores will determine if you have a job the > following year. Count on many students having no homework, no > binders, no paper, and no pencils on a daily basis. But believe > when I say they all have expensive tennis shoes, ipods, and a wide > assortment of computer games. In fact, some students told me they > spend at least 3 hours a day playing computer games, if not more. > You will have students who have no bed time and fall asleep in your > class, students who call you every name in the book (and you must > stay calm because you are their only role model). I regularly had > 8th graders who were high on various drugs and alcohol, not to > mention a few teens who were already sexually active at 13. I kid > you not. > > And, don't think teacher meetings are for teachers. They are not, in > fact, you will never be asked to add an agenda item, or rarely will > you be asked to share a lesson idea. Faculty meetings are for > disseminating information from the higher ups. Most faculty meetings > are about assessment and meeting No Child Left Behind standardized > testing and how to do it. I haven't had a discussion about inspiring > students since I left college and student teaching. Nor will you > have a regular lunch, most teachers work through lunch on a regular > basis - they have to just to keep up. On occasion, I would get that > rare mix of kids and real teaching would occur, like the year I set > up centers to explore cultural diversity in literature, complete > with music and crafts. That was a great year, a rare year. > > So what did I do? I left the larger classroom behind, and am now > teaching reading in small groups, a better choice. Over the years, > my daughter has watched me struggle, receive little respect, and > bring home the personal problems of my students. No, she will never > be a teacher, she says. All that ails our society is magnified in > the classroom. . .bullying, violence, lack of attention span, poor > parenting, divorce, and oh, did I say poor parenting? You name it. . > .if you become a teacher, you will have to be a stand in parent, > counselor, nurse, and sometimes a referee as well

Aug 15, 2010

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