What's the pros and cons of an Elementary teacher, High School History teacher or a teacher for autistic kids.

Question

I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. I love little kids but i also love history.At the same time i wouldn't mind helping or being a teacher for kids who have autism. I just wanted to know what are some of the pros and cons of the 3.

Answer 1

I am a special education teacher. One of the major cons for SPED is that in many states it requires more education (a master's degree). Specifically teaching Autistic students is very difficult. Students range in function, can sometimes be violent to others and themselves, they can be sexually inappropriate, they can have a wide variety of needs. Unlike many other areas of teaching there are often few connections with the student. You may not get a thank you or even a smile in a day. It can be stressful. Special education teachers are usually also required to be case managers; this requires a massive about of paperwork and meetings, all of which require additional time outside the classroom. Before you start your education I would do some volunteering with Autistic students first.

Answer 2

The hardest job to find would probably be that of a high school History teacher, but once you get the job, you'd be teaching what you like. I know people who've taught children with autism. The only thing is that they usually don't stick with it for too many years because it just wears you out.
If you're in school now, you can still keep all your options open. Because of NCLB, even if you are not planning to teach a specific subject area, you still need to major in one so that you'll be "highly qualified." If I were you, I'd major in History and Special Education. Depending on the Praxis exams you take and the state you live in, you could become certified to teach in all three areas. A nice compromise would be Special Ed History (or in-class support). It wouldn't necessarily be working with autistic kids, but you would be helping students with learning disabilities. Also, once you do your classroom observations and student teaching, you will have a much clearer idea of which grade level (elementary or high school) you want to teach.

Answer 3

Wow! There is a BIG difference in all 3 of those choices...

I only substitute... so some of my information may be a bit skewed off...

Little kids have great demands upon your time to keep them safe from themselves... but they can be totally absorbed in what you are teaching them...for very short periods at a time...

elementary... you will have the same students all day... so that can be a plus... or a minus... depending upon your students.. haahahaahahaaa!!

High school kids can be so stupid when they don't like the subject... for some reason they not only won't listen.. or try to learn... or won't participate...

but... then you get the ones that want to learn everything they can get their hands on... and they do projects.. and reports... and research... and make it all worth while because they actually think about what they are learning.. and try to fit it into their life...

I have no clue about autism children.

Answer 4

As a teacher who has taught Elementary and middle school, I can tell you that being an Elementary school teacher is the hardest work in the field of education. They never get a break. If the kids are out at recess, the teacher has duty and has to watch them. If the kids are at PE, the teacher spends most of that time walking them to the gym and then going to pick them up. Your 1/2 lunch break is spent making copies and hurrying to get prepared for the afternoon. High School teachers have many more students, and, therefore, many more papers to grade. They have more complex papers to grade, as well. The essays and research reports for 150 students will take you forever to grade. High school teachers, do have a prep period to help with that, but you still have a lot of work to do outside of the school day, but at least you have some time at school when you are not feeling under the gun with students to take care of,too. Special Ed teachers have mountains of paperwork to contend with to ensure that the laws are being followed to protect the students. There are fewer students to deal with, but their problems can be overwhelming. Having said all of that, teaching is the most rewarding profession possible, and I love it! I have given you the pitfalls of each, it's up to you what you would rather contend with.

Answer 5

Elementary schools tend to be more inclusive (working with the student in the general education classroom), but less at middle school and not nearly as frequently in high school. Major in history, get a master's degree in special education, and attend as much training as you can about autism spectrum disorder.
Very rarely (in most states and school districts) would you have a class of students with just autism. If you don't want the extra schooling, you could also try working as a paraprofessional in any of the settings (more at elementary, and less as the children get older). Good luck.

Answer 6

experts - holidays, get to artwork with young infants, fullfilling Cons - coping with mom and dad, NCLB, no longer sufficient time My answer after being a college room instructor for 2 years exchange into to alter right into a college librarian. I nonetheless teach, yet basically have 40 5 minutes with a type. Being a instructor isn't even remotely user-friendly. even with the undeniable fact that in case you prefer to artwork with young infants and are good at self-discipline, it may artwork!

Answer 7

If you are in college now and starting to take education courses, you should go to different classrooms and schools and start observing what you are interested in. The choices you have listed are so different. Get your feet wet, go volunteer in a classroom and then you will get a better feel of it.