Poll of the Day > I was considering a career in teaching

(+) Yeah! (+)

@green_dragon since I know you're one

anyway, I'm seriously considering a career where I can have more... creativity. I already tried the money route, and all I'm doing is buying more expensive things. No matter how much I look at it I'll always be working whether it be some hotshot VP at a bank or a janitor, why not just do something that is actually worth doing (at least in my opinion)

Thing is, I didn't study something like English or math in college, just business and hospitality.

Would I be able to teach if I just got my masters in English or something? Also I know that teaching is a difficult job but I hear the rewards from it can be worth it.

Was also wondering if middle school or high school would be better... I'm assuming the higher grade = less confrontation with parents
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Zangulus posted...

Teacher.
Creative.

Pick one.

you dummy

Yea you have to follow the state's curriculum but you do have the ability to teach it in your own way <.<

Only similar things I notice everyone had to do was

1) Grade exams + HW same way
2) Same chapters

Your explanation and examples on how to explain the required topics are up to your style.
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Zangulus posted...

Teacher.
Creative.

Pick one.

lol, you don't know much



mastermix3000 posted...

Thing is, I didn't study something like English or math in college, just business and hospitality. Would I be able to teach if I just got my masters in English or something?

I think it might depend on your state. In Washington, where I live, they have some of the strictest rules for certification, iirc.

I think you could teach english if you pass the state wide certification test for english. yYu could also possibly teach a business class. You need to check with your states superintendence office (they should have a website), and also check with the masters programs you want to apply to.

I got my BS in biology, and for my masters is in education. the masters program i went to required that I had a degree in some field of science.

As for high school vs middle school, I enjoyed teaching high school more. the kids relate to me pretty well since I am young and the kids are more responsible. And as you said, less face time with parents.

Middle school isn't bad either and I enjoy it still. You really don't have a lot of face time with parent (at least compared to elementary, which i've never taught).

Zang doesn't really know what he's talking about. you could teach a core class (where there is a defined curriculum set by the state or district) or you could teach an elective, which has more freedom. And like you said,they creativity comes from how you teach the students, not explicitly what you teach them.

Zangulus posted...

Until you get a few helicopter parents complaining their snowflakes aren't doing well enough and you have to change your style to suit them.

lol

green dragon is bae <3

Zang you disappointed
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You might consider teaching at a private school as well, if your main goal is to make a difference and be creative.


You would have the advantage of having more then one teacher per class, which is a huge difference. You do not need to focus on classroom management as much, and have far more control over the content you cover and the methods you use (this is especially true for elementary level classes, it does get better at higher grades in the public school system).

I started teaching at the elementary level to give me a chance at teaching 1 group of students all day, instead of 6 different classes etc (although some middle schools have less).

If you teach at a private school though, you can often end up with the same students for years, which is very nice.

I have not taught in Washington yet though, just California, and the schools are far less crowded here. I plan on starting in a few months actually (still elementary level).

I can say it's very rewarding to teach, but it does require very long hours, especially at first, to do a good job. The teacher I mentored with usually didn't leave the school till about 6-7pm each night and still had homework to grade, so had well over 12 hour days for instance.

I'm still going to teach at public schools for now, since it's a new state, things may be better here. In CA, we had classes of over 40 students and had special needs students mixed in as well (3 in my first class, 4 in my second). At least in my second one of the special needs students had an aid that always was with him, but yeah, it's quite a challenge to teach classes like that.

From everything I have heard, it's not as bad here though, and some of the schools even average around 20 students per class (or so I have heard).

Anyway if you do decide to teach, you can get your masters in Education (that is what I did), which will give you a bump in pay a bit probably:).
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