9 question survey for teachers (i am interested in becoming a teacher)?

Question

1. How long have you been a teacher? What grade do you teach?

2.Why did this type of work interest you?

3. What are the most important personal satisfactions and disatisfactions connected with your occupation?

4. What are the skills that are most important for your position?

5. Do you find your job exciting or boring?Why?

6. What are the major frustrations of your job?

7. If you could do things all over again would you choose the same path for yourself?Why? or What would you change?

8.What kinds of experience paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?

9. What special advice do you have for a student seeking to become a teacher?

Answer 1

1. How long have you been a teacher? What grade do you teach? 30 years, grades 6,7,8 (have taught 9-12 as well)

2.Why did this type of work interest you?
I teach languages, and originally planned to teach a few years, earn money for grad school and study either linguistics or become a translator. I actually fell in love with the job.

3. What are the most important personal satisfactions and disatisfactions connected with your occupation?
satisfactions: the kids, the freedom, the sheer joy--hanging out with smart kids all day instead of boring adults!
dissatisfactions: the burocracy, the kids that don't care to learn,

4. What are the skills that are most important for your position?
people skills: managing groups, keeping your cool, organization, planning...(of course knowledge of subject area or areas and the development of the student

5. Do you find your job exciting or boring?Why?
Middle school is never boring. It's a rollar coaster! Wonderful, exciting, irritating, maddening. Dull? Never! (Well, when giving state and federal mandated exams, but otherwise...)

6. What are the major frustrations of your job?
burocracy, lack of respect for any subject other than Eng/Sci/math/soc studies. lack of communication. Tons of work on those 'free' afternoons, idiotic in-services during 'professional development'...

7. If you could do things all over again would you choose the same path for yourself?Why? or What would you change?
I don't know. I really can no longer see myself doing anything else because I enjoy it so much.

8.What kinds of experience paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?
Volunteer anywhere there are kids. Day cares, summer camps, enrichment programs. If you don't like working with kids, get out. There are too many teachers hanging on because it's decent pay (with enough years of experience). Teachers that don't like kids hurt the profession. If you don't like kids--not the idea of kids, but the irritating, smart alec, loud, obnoxious kids themselves, don't get into this job!

9. What special advice do you have for a student seeking to become a teacher? Hang in there for the first HORRIBLE year or years. It gets better. Seek out help. We all remember and nobody thinks that you're perfect when you get do your first field experience, internship, student teaching or job. Never laminate your lesson plans, but change it up every year. Your subject area may never change, but you get different kids every year, and you teach kids, not curriculum
Good luck!

Answer 2

1. I have been teaching 3 years in the middle school level (6th grade mainly, but this, my 4th year, I am 6th-8th grade)

2. I can't stand to sit in a cubicle and I love to share my knowledge. I am a mother of 2 and this is a perfect fit into their schedules too. Middle school age children are at an impressionable age and need as many positive influences in their lives and I hope I can be included in that.

3. Personal satisfaction- seeing the growth that each student has throughout the school year and learning new stuff all the time myself.
Dissatification- Having to teach to the test! (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills TAKS) It is not designed to be a test to be taught to, but with everything laying on the line...

4. Skills most important- Communication-with the kids and the parents most importantly, but also your collegues.

5. Every day is a new adventure with adolescents!

6. Major frustrations- classroom discipline when the parents don't back you up.

7. I would choose to teach again if I was given the chance to go back. It was all I ever really wanted to be. I tried several other path before landing here, but I find this more exciting and the best fit for me.

8. Experience- Volunteer. Work with an afterschool program. Tutor

9. Always be open to change. The best certification, leaves you with many options. (In Texas you can be a "generalist" through grade 8. This means you can teach any of the 4 core subjects through those specified grade levels.) Principals love that they can move you if needed to another are vs. hiring someone new!

Answer 3

1. I have been a teacher for almost 9 years. I teach English and ESL (English as a Second Language) at State College and Community College.

2. I wanted to help people learn to communicate. Unless you can properly communicate with your society, doors are shut and your life is lonely.

3. My personal satifaction comes on a daily basis. Seeing the "lightbulb" go off for a student. Also, when students tell me that their boss (or co-workers or children or...) has noticed a positive difference in their communication skills. Dissatifaction is also there. Since I am a "freeway flyer," my job is not stable. It's frustrating to have to worry if I will have enough money from semester to semester. Your classes may also change from semester to semester, so you have to create new lessons, etc. I won't even talk about our "status."

4. Interacting with others, being able to adjust to different learning styles, having a positive attitude, and TIME MANAGEMENT.

5. When I am teaching and sharing my knowledge, it is VERY exciting! Even though I haven't taught for that long, I am getting bored with grading papers. My hands hurt a lot, and sometimes, I just can read another essay or try to decipher another sentence.

6. Hmm...major frustrations.... Well, too much paperwork. I left a well-paying accounting job because I hate paperwork. Now, I am constantly grading! I'm up to my eyeballs in papers! However, my major frustration is when I spend time to help students (especially my English - not the ESL) with their papers, and they do not put any time into making their writing better. Why did I give so much of my time, and they give so little?

7. I love being a teacher, but I might not choose teaching English. Being an English teacher is very time consuming. There is never a chance to give any kind of scantron test or such. Also, people never argue that 2 + 2 = 4, but they will become "debate masters" if I tell them they need more proof or a better thesis. It's like I just told them that they were a failure. ESL is also very challenging because English has so many rules (and exceptions)!

8. I have had many student teachers in my classes. I would suggest that if you are interested in this field that you student teach for an extended period of time. (If you can, present lessons, grade papers, and tutor. Be as much of a teacher as you can for the class.)

9. Really love what you do and the people you work with. (Don't do it for the money or time or any other reason.) Also, never stop learning. Collaborate with your colleagues and attend conferences/training seminars.

Good luck!

Answer 4

1) I have been teaching for 6 years . . I teach Algebra I and Geometry . . I will teach Trigonometry for the first time next semester . . and I have also taught Physics . . I teach grades 9-12 . .

2) I have always liked being able to help others learn . .

3) satisfaction - helping others succeed, making a difference, seeing the "light bulb" come on for the first time :)
dissatisfaction - having to deal with the fact that no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to reach everybody . . there are just some kids who are too far gone and don't care . . .

4) PATIENCE, classroom management, time management, the ability to make learning "fun" . . you must be flexible and be able to go with the flow . .

5) honestly for me, it varies from day to day . . most days I am excited and anxious to get in the classroom and teach something new . . other days, I dread going to school and can't wait for the last bell to ring . . .

6) not enough pay . . poor discipline from administration . . also, lack of communication (I say this because there have been times when I was scheduled to teach a class that I don't usually teach, but I didn't find out about it until 1 week before school started)

7) I would probably most likely be in the education field, but knowing what I know now, I probably would not be a classroom teacher . . .

8) anything where you would be working with kids . . work at a summer camp or a day care center . . apply to be a substitute teacher . . try teaching Sunday School or Vacation Bible School at your church . . .

9) make sure that this is something that you really want to do . . and once you make that decision, don't let anyone persuade you from it . . teaching is very rewarding to those who get into it for the right reasons . . . if you really care about kids and have the heart to help them, go for it . . but just remember that not all kids will be receptive of what you have to say . . and not all of them will appreciate what you do . . . but remember to always do your best . . and that way, in the end, you can say "I tried!" . . .

best wishes!!

Answer 5

1. This is year 4.
2. It keeps me connected to young people and allows me to pass on my passion for communication and exchange of ideas and culture.
3. What satisfies me most is when students really learn something, making actual connections to their lives--and they ENJOY it! The dissatisfactions have to do with all of the grading--a problem I create myself--and the lack of motivation among some of my charges.
4. Thinking on your feet has got to be at the top of the list. That plus creativity and compassion, though I don't know if that's exactly a "skill."
5. I find my job mostly pleasant. My heart's not always racing, but it's filled.
6. The major frustrations are the kids who don't get it and don't care.
7. I definitely would. I might have gotten more background in Spanish, because I've been enjoying teaching that more than English. I might also have done more with technology to become a webmaster, something else I've found I enjoy tinkering with.
8. Upward Bound tutoring was helpful to me, and any enrichment you can find where you have to be patient with people in any age range, such as tutoring or giving lessons at community colleges or churches.
9. Find your passion and your reason for getting into education before you commit to it. If you're not sure, it'll be an unnecessarily bumpy ride.

Answer 6

1. I have been a teacher for 24 years. I teach high school math. I used to teach Spanish, and I also work at a community college.

2. All my life people have told me I was good at explaining things. I always helped people with homework when I was in school, and they said they understood it better when I explained it than when the teacher did. I still get that when I respond to homework questions on Yahoo Answers.

3. Having taught for a long time, I am able to see a lot of my past students go on to be successful in life. Some have even come back to specifically thank me for things they remember from school. That's the biggest satisfaction. I also like the fact that I can be creative as a teacher, and that I have a lot of personal input into the job I do. The biggest dissatisfaction is all the things involved with the job that don't really involve TEACHING. There's a lot of clerical work and a lot of supervision that doesn't actually have anything to do with real education.

4. You need to understand what you're teaching and be able to communicate on the level of the students. Bad teachers either don't really know what they're talking about (they constantly refer to the answers in the back of the book) or are TOO smart--they can't say things in a way that makes sense to someone who doesn't know everything. Besides that, you need a lot of patience in teaching and a good sense of humor.

5. Both. There's a lot of routine in teaching, but that's not necessarily bad. There's also a lot of variety. Each student is different, and while I sometimes think in 2+ decades I've seen it all, they always manage to surprise me. All in all, it's probably more exciting than boring.

6. It's frustrating when you have students who really don't care at all. I sometimes think such students would do better to go off into the "real world" (like work at McDonalds) until they grow up and then go back to school once they have a reason to care. At the high school level I also see a lot of students who make bad choices in their lives, even after they've been repeatedly warned about the consequences. There are times when the money gets me down--like when I think that even with a master's degree and working two jobs I make less than people who do a whole lot less work than me. I make enough to get by, though, so I really can't complain too much about that.

7. Yes, I'd definitely go into teaching again. There are few other careers where you can really feel that you've made a difference in people's lives. While I won't pretend that I've made a big difference in the lives of all my students, I know there are some who I influenced strongly. That makes me feel my job was worthwhile.

8. You'll be required to do various field experiences (observations and helping out in area schools) as part of any college's teaching program. I'd suggest you volunteer in an after-school program at a community center or similar facility. You might also consider teaching Sunday school at church, coaching a youth sports team, and volunteering for a homework help program. Another thing that's good is to do some work in speech or theatre, because to some extent every teacher is always putting on a show.

9. Always be in control. Let the kids know you want them to have fun, but the main reason both they and you are there is for them to learn. Respect the kids, but always insist that they respect you in return.

Answer 7

1) I first started teaching in 1975 but I took a long break when I had small children and wanted to be home with them. So I now have 16 years of teaching. (If I had worked straight through, I would now be eligible for full retirement benefits, but I don't regret taking the time to stay home with my kids. I'm still strong and healthy at age 53 and I plan on teaching for at least 10 more years.)

2) I am a special education teacher, and I was inspired because I have a sister with Down Syndrome. When she was born in 1965, there were no legal rights to education for kids with disabilities. Actually, in 1965, they called kids with Down Syndrome "mongolian idiots" and advised parents to institutionalize their infants. But my folks brought my sister home, and it soon became clear that she would be able to learn a lot, even if not on the same schedule as typically developing kids. But seeing her progress made me decide to teach other kids with special needs.

3) I love seeing my students come to realize that they CAN learn and can take responsibility for themselves. Also, they are so incredibly cute and lovable! (I teach ages 5 -7, with a variety of special educational needs, and these kids are among the most adorable in the universe!) I also love my co-workers, who are committed to working for the best possible outcomes for our students. The dissatisfactions are mostly in the bureaucracy of the educational system. There is an incredible amount of data and recordkeeping, which can get a bit overwhelming and is often redundant.

4) There are 2 major skills that I feel are mandatory. One can be learned, and that is classroom/ behavior management. The other cannot really be learned, and that is the ability to find what is loveable and positive in every child, even when he or she is doing their best to be completely unloveable and negative.

5) I find my job quite exciting. It's a thrill to be a part of the growth and development that we see in our kids.

6) After all these years, I no longer take it personally when people dump on teachers; sometimes these people are open to enlightenment, and other times they are not. But it does annoy me when people say things like," Well, you only work 6 hours a day, you don't work all summer, you are a bunch of whiners," etc. If only they knew how many hours, days, weekends, days during winter break and summer (and I do teach summer school) were devoted to school and the needs of the students! Not to mention the constant need to upgrade and update our training.

7) I absolutely would do it all over again. And I absolutely would take the 15 years out to be with my children when they were young. No regrets! (If I had taught straight through, I would have much better retirement benefits, and I could retire now. But I'd never trade away the time I spent with my kids! It's been the best of both worlds.)

8) Volunteer to work with kids, in an educational or a recreational capacity. Be a tutor, a soccer coach, a Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher - just be with kids in a leadership role. If you can get paid jobs, including as a babysitter or nanny, that is also valuable experience. Anything that you do that helps you to develop your comfort level and ability to be a leader with kids is a big plus.

9) Go for it! If this is what you know you want to do, listen to everyone who offers you advice, but use your critical thinking in evaluating what people say. Often people are negative about teaching because of the low pay relative to the amount of education required. But teachers are such an important (if greatly undervalued) factor in society and in the future of our world. We NEED dedicated teachers to maintain society! It's a huge responsibility, and it can be an incredibly rewarding career to those who are dedicated to it.

Best wishes to you. I hope you have a wonderful teaching career!

Answer 8

Ok...

1. I have been teaching for 3 years in highschool...Grade 12

2. No other job like it, working with youth is very rewarding and interesting

3. Satisfactions- helping students succeed, especially those at high risk of failure, interacting and pushing students to new levels.
Dissatisfactions- not reaching ever student

4. Time management, Classroom Management, Creativity, Vigilance

5. Very exciting, every day brings something new, no two classes are ever the same, everything is constantly changing!

6. Administration, politics

7. Definitely, I love my career and most things about it. There is something almost surreal about being in a classroom with a group of unmotivated teenagers that will suddenly become alive with good planning/creativity

8. Volunteer in a school, any grade but try and move around...I thought I wanted grade 5 then I went to a highschool and changed my mind, volunteer or work at a camp for students with disabilities in the summer (special ed is awesome to have), participate in literacy/mathematics programs whereever they are available (libraries, schools, etc)

9. Enjoy every minute of it, get lots of experience to ensure its the right career for you because its a lot of school and stress if its not something you truley want to do!Make sure you get the right age group, it makes a huge difference in your happiness. and Good luck, have fun!

Answer 9

25 plus years...stay out of draft, have a short work year, and help kids appreciate jazz, show and classical music...some nice kids, but too violent with little backup or accountability...fast on your feet to avoid things thrown at me, literate, skiulled in my subject....terrifying, becuase I got seriuosly assaulted too often....little money for the dangerous work done....NEVER. I would have chosen to leave thye country rather than be risking being drafted....NOT: Go into other fields, espceially creative ones, and make sure you are treated well. .

Answer 10

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