My whole life I've wanted to be a teacher and I just dont know anymore. Going on to college I'm scared and I was wondering if there are any teachers out there how would help me. I dont know what I would do if I didnt do this my whole life i planned on being a teacher and what if I'm not right for this what if i fail children as a teacher. Help I really really need it!
2006-07-04 13:52:50 · 9 answers · asked by gigglywiggly426 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
All of the classes you will take for education will require you to spend some time observing in a classroom. If you are planning on majoring in education, you will probably take an "Intro to Ed" course in the spring semester of your freshman year or sometime during your sophomore year. Use this class to help you determine if Education is something you want to pursue or not. You won't have wasted any time, as your freshmen and sophomore years are mostly general education anyway, and not a lot of classes for your "major". If you decide its not something you want to pursue, you'll still have time to switch majors and graduate on time.
Good luck to you! You CAN do it. The question is whether or not you want to. :) The fact that you care enough to wonder says that you'll probably make an excellent teacher...the "bad ones" don't care. They just want the "vacation" that they think comes with the territory.
2006-07-04 14:04:22 · answer #1 · answered by KansasSpice 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I left the business world about 15 years ago for teaching, and wouldn't go back unless I absolutely had to. Why? Because I truly love teaching!
And I've done college teaching, corporate training, online instruction, and even worked as a paraeducator for a while. I've worked both full and part-time, sometimes combining teaching with a business world job.
But I know without a shadow of a doubt that I prefer teaching by a mile, and that's my motivation for staying in teaching. It all depends on YOU. Just because you want to be a teacher doesn't mean you ARE or will make a good teacher.
Plenty of people want to be teachers because its less hectic than the rat race of business. These people don't last in general. Good teachers love sharing their knowledge with their students and get personal satisfaction from watching them learn and grow. And they know how to present their material in a way in which students can grasp and respond positively.
My suggestion is this, give teaching a try but also have a fallback career you can turn to in case teaching doesn't work out. For example, I know that I can always go back into the business world if need be.
And I know what I love to teach and what I don't. That's the other key. Don't teach what you don't enjoy, and don't each to those people you don't particularily care about. For example, I don't like statistics, so I don't teach it. And I know I have no desire to teach in the public schools, especially high school, so I don't.
Perhaps part-time or substitute teaching would be best for you. This way, you can sample it and see if you like it. And if so, then you can go for it full-time.
2006-07-04 23:28:09 · answer #2 · answered by msoexpert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with KansasSpice in that most university programs will have you spend a substantial amount of time in the classroom before you get too far along in your education program. Personally, I was a mentor and substitute teacher for three years (senior year of high school + freshman and sophmore years of college) in 2nd grade. I was then hired as an Instructional Assistant in Kindergarten for my junior and senior years of college (while taking night courses). This can be a bit time consuming and busy, but now I KNOW that teaching is what I want to do and I feel so much more prepared to teach with all of the experience I've had over five years time as opposed to walking into a classroom cold or with limited observations. Spend as much time in the classroom as possible as it will help you teach and control a classroom so much more effectively than listening to the lectures of your professor. Hope this helps some.
2006-07-04 21:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by David 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to chuckle a little while reading your plea for help. You sound like me when I started my undergrad studies!
Teaching is all I ever wanted to do. I earned my Special Education degree in 1999. When I graduated, I was sure that I would get a teaching job and be able to do what I dreamed of. Because I don't know the right people, I am STILL looking for steady work.
Do you live in an area where teachers are in high demand? Will you be moving to an area where teachers will be in high demand?
Teaching in and of itself is a great and noble occupation. It's just a shame that there is so much corruption in the public education system.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have a secondary or back-up plan (get certified in something else too--nursing, accounting, etc.). That way, I wouldn't be "stuck" just looking for teaching work.
Best of luck!
2006-07-04 21:34:04 · answer #4 · answered by Obama, 47 y/o political virgin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you discover that teaching is not the right career for you, there are many other possibilites in that field. I would encourage you to go on to college. A college education will open up so many doors.
Can you volunteer as a teacher's aide? That will give you a better insight into what the job is like. Or talk to some of your favorite high school teachers. Ask them what they like and dislike about their jobs.
Good luck in your future aspirations!
2006-07-04 20:59:24 · answer #5 · answered by sunshinegrover 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing I've seen come out of NCLB is mandated mentoring. Start collecting mentors even before you get in the field though--bet you have already! Talk to other teachers you respect and admire. Pump their brains for advice and encouragement. Surround yourself with positive influences, and you'll be okay.
2006-07-06 07:16:59 · answer #6 · answered by Huerter0 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't wait until your senior year to do your student teaching. Ask your advisor how soon you can do that so you can try it out. You might also try finding a summer job as a teacher aide in a day care center or nursery school
2006-07-04 21:40:28 · answer #7 · answered by kadel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not sure then do something else. I certainly would not recommend anybody to go into the teaching profession and I've been there for 6 years. Parents and communities do not respect us anymore! Do something else.
2006-07-04 22:29:29 · answer #8 · answered by jj_redick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should find out what you want to teach first and what level?
like high school, k-12, or college/university..or even kindergarten.
and then you need a teaching credential and a BA in that field you want to teach.
if you like to teach english, you would need a BA in english and a teaching credential.
a master's degree would help too.
2006-07-04 20:57:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋