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Re:how to get an interview for sci or math?

by ML

Aug 2, 2011

Looking for some good advice. Just got my CEAS in k-5, mid school math and sci. Supposedly science and math are in big demand, but out of the 40 apps I sent out, no public schools have called for an interview, only some private schools. I'm getting paranoid that being a beginning teacher is scaring them away from taking a chance on me. I've sub-bed...See More

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Miramira I've never seen an ad for a k-5 math or science. Most schools just have the one teacher in those classes all day. (except for specials)

I have seen many ads for math and science for 7th and 8th grade math and science. If that's what your certifications are, then you should be OK, although it's not like it was two years ago. Many elem ed. ...See MoreI've never seen an ad for a k-5 math or science. Most schools just have the one teacher in those classes all day. (except for specials)

I have seen many ads for math and science for 7th and 8th grade math and science. If that's what your certifications are, then you should be OK, although it's not like it was two years ago. Many elem ed. teachers have gone back to school for middle school math and science.

Many new teachers get NO response. If a private school offers you a job, I'd take it. Many supervisors are a little suspicious of CEAS because you haven't done student teaching. But a year in a private school is waaay better than one day a week in student teaching.

Realistically, there are very few fields in education that are not overcrowded. What was your major in college? Could you get a certification in high school Chemistry, or Physics? High school Physics is probably the last area of real demand.

Miramira

PS I just remembered something. A friend went on an interview in Garfield (I think) for an 8th grade math teacher. She was in a group interview of 5 people. There were 5 groups. So 25 people were interviewed. I just called her to find out if any of them had no experience. She said that everyone in her group was just starting out. The key though is that none were alternate route. Maybe you could improve your letter of introduction. Better idea: Could you get letters of recommendation from any of the schools where you subbed? I'd include them with your introduction letter. Also include copies of your certifications and your resume. That's a biiig package.

PPS When you send a letter, send one to the superintendent and one to the principal of the middle school. This is important : on the lower left corner of the envelope, write math/science. The schools get literally thousands of letters, that note on the outside might make yours stand out.

On 8/02/11, ML wrote: > Looking for some good advice. Just got my CEAS in k-5, mid > school math and sci. Supposedly science and math are in big > demand, but out of the 40 apps I sent out, no public > schools have called for an interview, only some private > schools. I'm getting paranoid that being a beginning > teacher is scaring them away from taking a chance on me. > I've sub-bed for over 7 years and facilitated and taught > afterschool clubs. This is a second career path, so I've > raised children, then gone back to school. I'm very > creative with lesson plans and use lots of hands-on > approaches. I thought this was what schools are looking > for. How can I position myself so more public schools call > me? I know it's tough times, but there's got to be some way > to get a start somewhere. Any thoughts out there? I'd > appreciate it. > > -- ML

Aug 20, 2011

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How much does age play a role in getting hired?

by Dee

Aug 3, 2011

In reading the last post it made me wonder if those of us who are in our second career, are being discriminated against due to our age?

A superintendent once told me he would rather hire a "mature" teacher opposed to a recent grad, as we bring life-experience.

But what I am seeing is the recent grads getting the interviews and the...See More

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Math Teach Which is why I'm leaving out my graduate degree and graduate math credits out of my job applications.

It seems that hiring committees don't give a hoot about expertise in secondary fields being taught. If they were in charge of medical schools, the M.D.s and Ph.D.s would be out the door, and the "Teacher of the Year" from the Middle school...See More

Aug 12, 2011

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ML Math teacher Job opening- math & sci certs

Rev brown (catholic) Sparta, NJ- middle school math with a section of Chem and catechism. High standards. Class act. 973- 729-9174

8/12/11, Math Teach > Which is why I'm leaving out my graduate degree and graduate math > credits out of my job applications. > > It seems t...See More

Aug 14, 2011

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Math Resources for Teachers

by Mike Theodore

Aug 3, 2011

I have developed a free website for math teachers and would like to share it with this chat board. This site is very unique and unlike the other math worksheet sites that populate the web. What makes this site different is the worksheets are not static but are dynamically created. You get a new worksheet with an answer key every time you run one of...See More

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How to Become a High School Biology Teacher

by Andrew

Aug 3, 2011

Hi there, I was wondering on the time frame to become a teacher biology teacher in NJ. I have a bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry but nothing in teaching. I understand the Praxis II Biology Subject test needs to be taken along with other requirements. I was wondering about how long the process would take.

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Math Teach You can go to an alternate certification program, as I did in my home state (CT). This takes three months, depending on the program.

At least you'll have an easier time getting a job, as the Praxis 2 does a good job of weeding out non-science majors. I wish they would raise the Math Passing score in my state to eliminate those seeking to t...See More

Aug 3, 2011

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sped opening

by ron/nj

Aug 7, 2011

[link removed]=

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job-losing hope :(

by lisa

Aug 9, 2011

I must have sent over hundreds of resumes this summer and have not heard one thing. I received my special ed certification along with having my P-3 AND K-5 to become more marketable. I feel as if I will never going to get a job!

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keep_up_the_morale Addendum. There is a simple rule : If you don't get any feedback from applications, something could be done better in your applications.

On 8/10/11, keep_up_the_morale wrote: > Use available time to volunteer in education-related activities > (activities with lots of contacts work better that one-to-one > activities). > - It is...See More

Aug 10, 2011

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Lisa Yes! Thanks for your kind words... I should volunteer... I am currently a paraprofessional in a school and hoping to get a job through the district. I have subbed for a year and nothing as come out of it because we are a dime a dozen. ;/

Aug 17, 2011

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Getting a job as a HS English teacher in NJ

by Cherry B

Aug 15, 2011

I have read many posts about how difficult it is to get a teaching job in New Jersey...I am wondering if having a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree would help? I graduated with my BA in 2001 and am hoping to transition from the nonprofit field. I have 7 years of experience tutoring for a highly respected agency. I am planning on teaching high...See More

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Math Teach Congrats on your certificate of excellence.

One thing I found about teaching in secondary schools,(at least in my current "home state" of CT), is that dministrators don't put much emphasis on an applicant's expertise in the subject area. I too have been subbing and have seen absurd statements written on some of the "regular" math teachers'...See More

Aug 17, 2011

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Miramira I don't know if you need to do the MAT to teach, I'm not up on alternate route. I assume that your BA is in English. That's better than social studies, but still an over- crowded field. If the MAT is not a requirement, forget it/

I've seen ads for special ed English teachers, but your 15% cert won't carry much weight, neither will the MAT...See MoreI don't know if you need to do the MAT to teach, I'm not up on alternate route. I assume that your BA is in English. That's better than social studies, but still an over- crowded field. If the MAT is not a requirement, forget it/

I've seen ads for special ed English teachers, but your 15% cert won't carry much weight, neither will the MAT. The English praxis covers a lot of literature which is what a regular ed English teacher needs, but there are hundreds of teachers like this. High scores are not uncommon. I scored a 190 on the English praxis and I never got an interview. I went back to school for science. I got lots of interviews.

When a school is looking for a special ed English teacher, they want someone who can help students who struggle with reading and writing. If you want to teach special ed. English, you should get certified as Teacher of Students with Disabilities. But there are still a lot of special ed. English teachers. In addition, get certified in a reading program, something like Wilson reading or Orton-Gillingham. Then you'll get hired.

On 8/17/11, Math Teach wrote: > Congrats on your certificate of excellence. > > One thing I found about teaching in secondary schools,(at > least in my current "home state" of CT), is that dministrators > don't put much emphasis on an applicant's expertise in the > subject area. I too have been subbing and have seen absurd > statements written on some of the "regular" math teachers' > blackboards. I'm currently a grad student in classic math, and > never managed to get an interview in the school where I'm > practically a daily sub. > > I'm planning on ultimately finding work at a two year college, > where the "Math Ed" degree doesn't carry much weight. > > > On 8/15/11, Cherry B wrote: >> I have read many posts about how difficult it is to get a >> teaching job in New Jersey...I am wondering if having a >> Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree would help? I >> graduated with my BA in 2001 and am hoping to transition >> from the nonprofit field. I have 7 years of experience >> tutoring for a highly respected agency. I am planning on >> teaching high school English, and am considering a dual >> certification in Special Ed/Teacher of Students with >> Disabilities. >> >> I also got a near-perfect score on my Praxis II in English >> Literature - Content (198/200). My high score means ETS >> provided me with a Certificate of Excellence, marking me in >> the top 15% of all test takers for that exam. >> >> I wouldn't start the MAT program until Fall 2012, and would >> likely not finish until 2013 (if I entered an accelerated >> program) or 2014. What else can I do to increase my >> chances, or am I positioning myself well?

Aug 18, 2011

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