teachers please help?

Question

i want to become a teacher im going to 10th grade and i want to know what kind of classes i should take to become a good teacher

Answer 1

It's wonderful that you know what you want to do with your life!

What you can do now:

Does your school have any kind of community volunteer program? If it does, see if you can volunteer in a classroom (if it's elementary/early childhood) and get some hands on experience. You might find out teaching is not for you. You might find out it's your passion. Better to know now than later, dedicating much of your education towards a career you realize you don't like.

Work with kids during the summer in programs like a summer day camp or other program that works with kids. This will give you great experience learning how to manage groups of kids and how to handle the endless situations that come up with kids. Relatively simple things like how to line up kids, how to get their attention, how to properly discipline kids, etc are very valuable and usually transfer to the classroom. These are the type of experiences that are not taught in teacher credentialling programs!

Later:

When you go to college and you want to teach elementary, take a good variety of classes. Often people that know they want to teach at the elementary level will be Liberal Studies majors. If you want to teach at the middle/high school level, select a major in the area you want to teach (science, math, english, etc.).

Again while in college, try to get as much actual classroom experience as you can by volunteering. You can learn so much by just working with teachers and students in the classroom before you become a teacher.

Answer 2

I taught preschool, infant-five years old, for over 6 years before my son was born. He was born with Autism, so now I'm a stay at home mom.

I would suggest talking with your guidence councelor at the school, or a guidence councelor at a local college. I'm sure they'd welcome any questions.

You first have to decide what you want to teach. Do you want to teach special needs children (special education), or do you want to teach children that don't have any special requirements.

You also have a choice of teaching problem children, or not teaching children with behavioral problems.

Next, do you want to be a teacher for a specific subject, or would you rather be able to teach several subjects.

Again, which age group would you like to teach. If you teach young children, like I did, you'll need an Early Childhood Education class.

Some highschools will actually have a daycare center or child care classes. Experience can usually help you decide which route is best for you. Perhaps talking to your teacher about volunteering some of your summer to help out in summer school. Some schools have a "reading" camp. It's a good way to get your feet "wet" and experience what it's like. Try the elementary school first. Talk to someone there about being a reading volunteer maybe for afterschool children, if the school has an after school program.

Many daycare centers will have an after school program as well and if you tell the director that you're wanting to gain experience so you can make a decision of what you want to do in life, well..they may aggree to allow you to help out some.

Really, the best thing I can say is to talk to a guidence councelor and go from there. Talk to them about wanting to gain experience.

Answer 3

Well that depends.

Do you want to do high school or elementary?

Elementary you take many classes in different subjects. High School you concentrate on one subject. Must learn appropriate discipline strategies. Bachelor's Degree Required.

Early Childhood Education?

Usually below age 5, Preschool teachers take different classes on early development and use different methods than elementary teachers. Associates Degree Minimum.

Adult Education?

Same subject matter as high school but different approach.

College or University?

Master's Degree is a minimum requirement.

All teachers must feel comfortable speaking in front of students. Take speech if you don't know what type of teaching you are doing.

Answer 4

I teach 8th gr. geography. Take classes that interest you and that you want to maybe teach in the future. Also, a wide variety like speech class and poss. theater. You do have to entertain to keep their attention. Watch the way your teachers teach. See the things they do to keep the class going. Watch the good and the BAD. There is a reason for everything the teacher does and says. Believe me.

Answer 5

You need to decide whether you want to teach elementary or secondary school. There is a course of study for each in colleges. If you are interesed in teaching HS, you will need to be proficient in a particular subject such as math or history and take courses that will help you get certified as a teacher. Your college counselor will guide you.

Answer 6

You should take the classes you enjoy. Pay attention to your own learning style. How do you teach yourself something? Do you think that might be more or less helpful to other people? Pay attention to how your teachers ask questions. Or how they get you to ask questions. What goes into your understanding of a concept--what kind of thinking do you do?

Answer 7

That would depend on what you want to teach. But a general rule of thumb is to take as many classes as you can in the content that you want to teach.

For example, if you want to teach math, take as many math classes as you can before going to college.

Answer 8

I don't know what type of teacher you'd like to become ( I am a jr high/ high school teacher), but you have three choices. Early childhood (Kindergarden-4th Grade), Middle Child (4th-9th Grade), and Secondary (7th-12th Grade). In Middle and Secondary, you have to select areas to focus on-- such as Math.
The web site below offers great ideas for any major, and can help direct your high school course selection. Good luck!

http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/
Early Child: http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/majors/13.1210.html

Middle: http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/majors/13.1202.html

Secondary:http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/majors/13.1205.html

Answer 9

you can go to a college in your community and get their catalog, it will tell you what classes you need to take nd your high school may have these classes available for you. Also talk to your guidance counselor.

Answer 10

depends on your personal skills as you may be better with youngsters than teenagers or you could still teach adults but teach a subject you enjoy the children will know