For the past couple months, of nonstop thinking, I have decided I want to become a teacher. The only thing is I am not sure what grade(s) I would be really interested in. How did you choose? What are the pros/cons of what you teach? I am trying to narrow it down and I always come back to Kindergarten. Any advice is helpful.
What other professions are you considering? This is one hell of a profession to be in - most of the nation hates us, the government thinks they can tell us how teach when they don't know how to even run our nation, and I think education isn't very valued in this nation. This is year 10 - I love the idea of teaching and I love being with my students - this is my only dream job, but even I am considering other things in a few years. As for kindergarten - so many teachers want to teach young kids - I'd try middle or high school if you want to get hired "easily". Overall I think all subjects/grades will have hundreds if not thousands of people putting in their resumes.
A GENERALITY I have heard is this: secondary teachers go into it because of a passion for their content and then have to learn to have a passion for kids as well; elementary teachers go into it because of a passion for kids and then have to learn to have a passion for their content as well; middle school teachers are just a different breed all together
I find this very true. I knew I wanted to spend my days with young kids, then realized I wanted to teach. I think it's what you're more drawn to. And I also have to agree with BioAngel, that you feel like a punching bag sometimes with the way teachers are perceived in the US. And actually teaching/working with students only feels like 40% of my job after evaluations, district initiatives, lesson planning, and all the paperwork. If you choose to go to school for education, choose a program that will allow you to experience more than one grade level. My college had us do one semester of student teaching in a preK or K and another semester in 1 or 2. That will help you decide what level of maturity you seek in your students. I also recommend subbing. Doing so helped me realize I liked upper elementary a lot so I ended up getting additionally certified in Elementary (after Early Childhood). Try not to get your hopes set on a specific grade. You may always have an ideal grade, but when you're first starting you gotta take whatever you can get which in early childhood is most likely preK or special ed (I highly recommend you get certified in sped). Pros of K: lots of room for fun and creativity. If you get excited about teaching it- they will get excited about learning it. And you form really strong, powerful bonds with your students. You see the growth they've made at the end of the year and you truly feel like you made a difference in their life. Cons of K: you feel overwhelmed by how much they can't do and sometimes it's only you there to meet all of their needs. You don't have much, if any, knowledge on the student before school starts so you have no idea whether you are about to have an awesome year or a year from hell until the first day. And the hardest part- students who are undiagnosed or have a hard time managing classroom behaviors because you have to troubleshoot all of this and quickly, whereas in other grades much of this has been worked out.
A few generalizations I would add to those already listed. Kindergarten teacher's job is basically keeping them from playing in traffic. The word is German which means 'children's garden' which reflects the idea that children learn by playing. They'll learn everything you do or say, so you can't make mistakes because that mistake on your part will become an error for them. Elementary school is a lot of work. The students have ten times more energy than you do, and you're vastly outnumbered. On the other hand, they're incredibly fun and insightful. middle and high school is when the teacher has more energy than the students, and you will need every ounce of it you can muster because that's when kids start to realize that school and parents and teachers suck a lot more than their friends and the opposite sex do. I think the most important thing to point out is that teaching is not always fun. You'll have students who have been abused both physically and mentally. You'll have students with health problems or develop serious medical problems, and parents you'll want to take a baseball bat to. You need to know how to read the signs of children with learning disabilities, or if they just need to wear glasses. Kids can be mean to each other, and that's not going to change no matter what the school's rules on bullying are. If you can take part of your heart and put it someplace where it can't be broken, yet still have room to love with the rest, then you'll enjoy the job. For teachers, we call that being professional, but it's not easy sometimes.
Thank you so much for all your input! I will keep this all in mind and do some research on it. I have always found myself enjoying kids company. I have a 4 year old of my own and I absolutely love seeing him learning. All the kids run up to me to show me things and to tell me about stuff. They are so creative and smart. Never underestimate them! lol I get genuinely excited about it. It makes me feel the need to make a difference. A great teacher is so important for their learning. I had some terrible teachers back in the day. They make you not want to learn.
Do some substituting before you commit yourself. Study the pay, the benefits, the presence and strength of unions, and your state's relationship with its teachers.
This website has provided me worksheets such as Units Assessment, Weekly assessment, Grammar, and also I was able to prints out copies of materials that my students are able to understand and comprehends. But recently they've change either the passwords or my username. Before I was able to log on by using the sample username; Wonders and password: mhe2015reading. But now that the password have expired, I am unable to print worksheets and grading any of my students homeworks.
Hello, does anyone know the new sample password for ConnectEd? In the past, I've being using this website to prints out worksheets and correct my students homework thru connect Ed. I usually log in with username: wonders and password; mhe2015reading, but I think the passwords have expired, so now I'm unable to prints out worksheets and correct my students papers. I am a volunteer teacher currently teaching in rural area of Thailand. My students are now accustomed to my teaching using Wonder technique. In addition, its allow me to print out Weekly assessments, and prints out worksheets such as "Approaching, Beyond and ELL reproducibles" I have tried to created an account with connectEd but unfortunately its requires Redemption Code which I don't have. Can anyone help me please. Cuong Dao
Don't let people dissuade you from pursuing teaching. There are high expectations and lots of work but it's probably one of the coolest regular jobs in the world. Non-regular jobs include astronauts, nba players, etc.
Definitely not! Most of the day I was looking up colleges in the area for the education programs. I have never been excited about going to college. Teachers are always needed. Being one would be so meaningful and there would be a purpose. Working in retail all my life would be stupid and a waste.
Another difference in methodology, I guess. Would it be fair to assume that Piaget's form of constructivism is viewed with disdain in American kindergartens?
Piaget is considered the authority in ECE. However, I think what Caesar was disagreeing with is the generalization that "a kindergarten teachers job is basically to keep kids from playing in traffic" which minimizes the role of a K teacher especially considering the push down effect caused from policy makers who are not aware of Piaget.
Then I certainly apologize for seeming to downplay their role. As far as education goes, they should be placed on a pedestal above the rest of academia, considering how important the formative years of a child's life are. Perhaps a better way to put it is that a kindergarten teacher's job is to facilitate, rather than dictate a child's education.
It's a good profession to get into. Just be aware that you may need to "move" to another school a few times before you find the right fit. I've noticed that some cultures in schools are different than others. Also remember that some maybe actually quite a few teachers, "don't just teach". You may be encouraged to help out with student counsel, attend a few other events the school has, and a few other things as well like helping out selling tickets on a Saturday soccer game, especially if teaching high school. Even those these "after work" things are not required, it is looked highly at those who can help. Some schools require these things a few times a year. It may not sound like much, but after a long week, staying late monitoring a dance on a Friday night or helping with selling tickets to a game on Saturday can add a lot, even if it's just once a month or a couple of times a year. This is how it is in my school, however, other schools, not as much.
I'll say it again, because no one else is saying it. Do not shell out $40 thousand in tuition because you think you want to be a teacher. Teaching is tough, unappreciated, and underpaid. You will make twice as much with most any other four year degree. Do a good deal of substituting, and do it at a variety of schools. Be certain to substitute in economically distressed areas, areas with a good deal of racial integration, and other areas identified as being "tough" to teach in. Get a large, accurate picture of what you will be in for BEFORE committing tens of thousands of dollars and years of your life in preparation. Don't base this decision off of others' "teaching is great" or "teaching is terrible" advice. Get out there and see for yourself!!!
I have to agree with this! It's a lot more than just "teaching" in some ways. As Amy says, you must do research on environment, even though one principal can require this and that while another principal won't require this but require that and so on. You also must do a lot, including student teaching without getting payed, having to deal with varying workloads at times. It's a lot of work and a rewarding profession but make sure you think about it. Teaching subjects like middle/high school math and English require state testing in public schools, and teachers get evaluated with that. Oh ya, the pay can be good for only working 9 months, but is the salary good for the work we put in and for our needs? Something to always think about.
