Hi im currently 18 and looking forward to getting a degree in teaching high school. im really not sure what subject its going to be yet though im still trying to find my favorite area. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me if its hard to be a teacher and what the benefits of teaching are? thank you so much it would mean alot to me. And of course if you have any open suggestions as to what i should teach i will consider it.
2006-10-05 18:07:40 · 6 answers · asked by Mike S 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Anything you do well will have its difficult moments, and teaching is no exception. If you like teens and you have a passion for a subject, then teaching is a good career choice. Teaching requires more than knowing your subject area well. You must be good at delivery, good at organizing and orchestrating a presentation, good at creating valid assessments, and good at working with all kinds of people: students, parents, colleagues, and administration. These skills improve with practice and if you seek good models (Madeline Hunter, Jim Fay, TESA, etc.). If you read educational journals and take advantage of conferences and continuing education, you can master all these skills and more. Once you have these skills, teaching becomes easier and more rewarding. You will never have enough time and you will always have stress, but that is true in many occupations.
Now, the benefits. Working with young people keeps you young. You continually see new ideas, new ways of looking at life, your subject, people, technology, and so on. Teaching may not make you rich, but you will know that you made a difference in someone's life or many someone's lives. Research says one significant adult in a struggling young person's life can make all the difference in the world. Teaching gives you the chance to be that someone. Teaching keeps your brain active. You can't scam teens so you have to stay on top of your subject. Most educators are pretty decent folks so your colleagues are nice to work with. I also enjoy having summers off so I can explore other interests like history and archeology. I couldn't do that in a year round job. I've been teaching 25 years, and it is still the best job I could have chosen.
2006-10-06 16:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by readerlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I went to college, I was torn between Accounting and Music Education. I should have gone with Accounting. Almost 30 years later, that's what I'm doing. I was good with the music ed thing; I was going for being a high school band director. The kids loved me and my methods. I just wish they would let you do your student teaching in your very first quarter, so you can see what a pain in the a$$ it is having to deal with the parents. My advising teacher had once been thrown in jail for calling a kid an "airhead". He was a very jovial kind of guy (the teacher), and the kid WAS an airhead who insisted that his parents take action. That's only the tip of the iceberg of what you'll face. On the other hand, there's the joy of watching kids grow and learn under your direction. If you go about it in the right way, they'll become little sponges, eager to absorb more. It's very rewarding. As for what to teach, it should be whatever you are most passionate about. Follow your heart. Good luck!
2006-10-05 18:29:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that you can major in Elementary or Secondary Education in college. You don't have to pick a subject just yet! I'm not a teacher, but just think back to how much trouble teachers have with students sometimes. Kids who don't want to go to school are pains in the tooshy. Some people are very suited to being teachers in that they can handle the amount of students and keep their attention in class so that they don't get bored and start causing trouble. It's a lot of hard work what with dealing with the kids and trying to get them to learn some subject matter that they may not like, but it's a very rewarding job once you see how you affect the kids in good ways. How you can inspire them to do well in school, how you can show them that the classes are interesting and worth studying, how you can make them think outside of the box. You can change a kid from hating school and wanting to drop out, to sticking with it and really enjoying it. Make kids become better people!
I know that math and science teachers are tough to find, but so are teachers for the liberal arts, such as history and english. I know I had my fair share of boring hostory teachers and crappy math teachers. It's really nice to be in a class and come out learning something and then wanting to learn more!
2006-10-05 18:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by Mary Catherine M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Knowing that you have made an impact in a childs life that will last forever. Children never forget their teachers, especially the good teachers that have went above and beyond the call of duty.
2006-10-06 01:59:03 · answer #4 · answered by madtyga2002 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you are a teacher, your influence goes on. thus, making you immortal in the minds and hearts of those people whose lives you touched.
without a teacher, there are no doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.
teachers may be underrated and underpaid but teachers have the best job in the whole world.
2006-10-06 05:01:07 · answer #5 · answered by jedi_rei 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it is hard.......but one of the best thing about it is that u get to meet so many great kids............and teach them things that they will be greatful for
2006-10-05 18:16:46 · answer #6 · answered by pixie7 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋