A day in the life of a teacher?

Question

I've been thinking about becoming a teacher, but I can't decide if I would prefer elementary, middle school, or secondary (English/language arts) education. Could teachers out there please describe their typical days? I'd like to get as well-rounded a picture of what being a teacher is like.

Salary is not a concern, and I will probably not be teaching in an inner city school. I've used my vacation days to spend time in schools, and I had fun with all three age groups. I get the feeling that hanging out in a classroom for a day or two is a lot different than facing that classroom every day.

Answer 1

I have been a chemistry and physics teacher for 20 years. I have gotten most of the classroom things into a nice routine. Here is a typical day in my life:

School starts at 8:05 am, I am in the classroom at 7:00 am. I use this time to set out what I will need to teach the day's subjects and to make copies of any paperwork that I will need. I must spend time on the computer to get the required information about each of my students on our school servers.

At 7:40 I go into the hall for my voluntary hall duty. My room is along the main hall where students enter and leave each day. I voluntarily maintain order as the students move through my area. While in the hall, I greet each of my own 1st period students and remind them to bring all their materials to class.

At 8:05 the tardy bell rings. We begin class immediately. This is the most important time in the entire period. You must get their attention right away and focus it on the class subject. This is a class which blends chamistry and physics into a format that lower-ability students can learn. I must use a wide variety of teaching styles to reach the various students. I have demonstrations, labs, video clips, models, and the written and spoken lanfuage to try and teach basic scientific concepts.

When the class is over I go back to the hall to greet my next class. By greeting your students at the door you can talk to each and settle them down if needed. My second period class is a high level 1st year chemistry class. They are very intelligent. I work as hard as possible to challenge these students to think beyound the information given in the book. I use several resources and combine my lessons into a power point each week over the topic. They rest of the week we have labs, demos, and worksheets over the lesson materials.

My third class is a college chemistry 105 and 125 class. I am certified by a state university to teach this class, and the students receive both high school and college credit for the class. It is very rigid and fast paced. This class is for the students who will major in a science when they go on to college, so I give them a very genuine college experience. They have a much greater time involvment outside of class with required work, and their labs are more challenging.

My fourth class is physics. Generally I have high ability studetnts n this class. It is a very "hands-on and discovery" type of class. It takes a tremendous amount of work to teach this class because of the prep time involved. The students do not spend much time in their seats. They are up in groups and learning the laws of nature that govern our world.

My fifth class is a school required silent student reading time. For 20 minutes each day (after lunch) all of the 5th period classes must read a book or magazine with no talking, no sleeping and most of all, no school work.

My sixth class is a low level 1st year chemistry class. I cannot teach it the way I teach my second period class, so I find other ways to demonstrate the same concepts.

My seventh class is a middle-ability 1st year chemistry class. I use a combination of things from my second and sixth classes to teach this class.

My eighth period is my prep period. I can meet with other teachers, meet with students individually, meet with administration, or work in my room.

I am the department chair, and as such I am required to complete more paperwork and attend more meeting. All dept. chairs have 8th prep so we can get to gether.

School dismisses at 3:15. I am again in the hall on duty making sure everyone exits in an orderly fashion. Teachers are contracted to remain until 3:30. I spend those 15 minutes talking to teachers I have not seen during the day.

By 3:30 I am back in my room putting things away and organizing papers. I remain at school until 5:00 or later trying to grade and enter grades in the computer. I will not brings things home to grade unless it is the end of the semester.

All of my lesson planning is done at home on my computer. I research each evening to get current information and teaching ideas before going over the topic the next day.

You may notice that I put a lot of time and effort into my teaching. I have a challenging and rewarding job. I take pride in my ability to teach. My younger child has just graduated and moved out, so I may spend even more time at school each evening. The better you are prepared, the better your lessons will be.

I would teach no other level than high school. I love the students and they seem to really enjoy my classes. I have very few discipline problems. The only reason I sent someone to the office this past year is for writing vulgar things on another student's paper before it was turned in to me.

Answer 2

As a substitute teacher, I've been able to observe and talk with full time teachers. They seem to come to work an hour before the students arrive, or even earlier. They sometimes stay after to plan lessons, but I understand many of them plan at home.

I had to teach ESL as an adjunct professor, and I had to use from 1/2 to 1 and 11/2 for every two to four hours of class. Understand that you get paid salary, so you don't get paid more for planning more. But if you plan well, the students pay better attention, seem to understand you put a lot into it. They can tell when you're off, or if your heart's not in it.

Don't imagine that inner city kids are really that much worse than suburban or country kids. Read the book 'Tis by Frank McCourt. He became a teacher in NYC in the Sixties. It's very inspirational. Also, read Christie, about a female teacher who went to teach in the Appalachians in the fifties. And have you read any of the Foxfire books? Start with the first, if you can. It explains how Foxfire started.

Also, watch Stand and Deliver. It's my favourite.

You are right. Standing in a few days or a week at a time is not the same as going day in and day out. I recommend you consider getting work as a para pro while you are finishing your studies. You can, in some states, take a test to get certified as a parapro. You don't need a B.A., and you can start working and work steady for a year or more till you know if you like it well enough to be a teacher.

Or you can volunteer. You have to commit to a certain time. The students will become attached to you, so don't just decide you don't like it and stop showing. You're in it for the whole year or at least a semester.

Answer 3

The trouble is that days are rarely "typical," in our trade. Sure, there are patterns, but there are a billion variables in any day. In my teacher blog, linked below, I have a not-atypical day I had not so long ago.

Basically, your day also depends on how involved you are in extracurriculars and your students' success, not to mention if you need other classes. Many's the day last year when I did not get home until 6:30 because I was either going to a class for certification (I'm an English teacher turning into a Spanish teacher) or because I was catching up from dashing out those days. But basically, here's how my days usually go:

Arrive 7:30, sign in and set up
First period starts 8:05
Lunch 12:10-12:30--10 minute duty every 2 weeks
Kids out at 3:00
Tutoring/shuffling about until about 4:30/5:00

At the high school level, be sure you keep them busy from the second the first bell rings until you dismiss them (YOUR class, YOU dismiss--not the bell).

Expect a little belligerence each day, a little chatting, and in a block schedule, I suggest a schedule that is broken up into starters, whole class time, individual work time, and partnered or group time. Shift activities at least every forty minutes, preferably every 30 or so.

Anything else you want to know, just drop me a line!

Answer 4

It is good that you feel salary is not a concern as the powers that be feel teaching is a secondary career. That said you should look for the age group you feel your best capable of being patient with. The children need two things: one is a teacher with the knowledge to teach them, second is a teacher that has the patience to nurture the even the most temperamental child. It may sound extreme but try spending some time with an LD class.
Whatever you decide, remember that a teacher makes a commitment to their students that can not be broken, every child deserves your best, everyday.

Answer 5

That's a hard question to answer, because alot of the answer depends on your personality and the way that you deal with situations. I teach elementary music (K5-6th) and Computers (4-12th), so I get a wide span of age groups every day. Personally, I like it that way. It gives me variety and makes me keep everything fresh. But if I had to pick an age group it would be the jr/sr high. They are a bit more complex to deal with when it comes to discipline and attitudes, but are so much more rewarding. You can have intelligent conversations with them (sometimes lol) and if you really reach out to them, they will listen to you. The younger ones are fun and cute and bring so much joy to me all the time. I love it how I can walk through the day care room after school and just about get tackled with hugs!

But you are so right, each grade and each class comes with its own unique challenges and rewards. Follow your heart and enjoy teaching, it really is rewarding, no matter what age group you decide upon.

oh! And you can always change your mind during student teaching in college...it's not that hard to change from elem. ed to secondary ed, or vice versa

Answer 6

I am a teacher's aide but my daughter attends college for Elementary Ed/Special Ed. We found when looking for colleges that you really need the double major. A lot of schools are asking for it now and it will make you more marketable. I work in a kindergarten classroom and at 54 have a lot of trouble sometimes keeping up with them! You have your days, but for the most part it is very rewarding and the kids love you and it is fun because they volunteer all kinds of information. LOL My daughter will be graduating this coming year and is pur suing her masters after that. She minors in computer science and has a concentration in sign language.

Answer 7

It's tough! There's a lot of work to do in and out of the classroom and it requires a lot of energy and patience and dedication.

I taught almost all levels from elementary to university. I must confess I loved working with young children and adults. With young children it's so much fun and I like children. With adults, it's again easier because they are more responsible. I also worked with high schol teenagers which was worst. Because of their critical age, they have lots of problems and I was not very experienced when I worked witht hem. I was young, just 24 years old.

Well, as I said it's a tough job, but whenever a young student of mine (who I don't teach anymore) calls me on teacher's day and says "I miss you, miss" or whenever an older student texts me to say "I'm lucky to have you as a teacher. I miss you", I forget all the hardship.

Answer 8

I am not a teacher but if I were a teacher I would teach a grade that is easy but with mature students.

Answer 9

everyday is an adventure in itself.You have great days and headache days !
Middle school is the best,they still respect you, but they test you.
This school year we have 945 middle school students and we see everyone of them everyday in gym class.
Our classes start at 8:45 - 3:45.
Go for the middle schoolers !