Questions for teachers?

Question

I was thinking about pursuing a career in teaching. What do you like most about your job and what skills/traits do you need to be a good teacher? I love tutoring kids, but i've never done anything in a classroom setting. What are ways I can get some experience of teaching before I decide to get a masters degree in education?? I have no background in education or taken any classes like that.

Answer 1

Just a suggestion. Try posting this in the education area and you may get more of a response.

Answer 2

How about volunteering in an after school program or something like Upward Bound? Most universities sponser a program like that. Some areas allow you to try substitute teaching without a certificate. Ask the school districts where you live. Maybe you can shadow a teacher. That may help you see what it's like to be in the classroom. Also, some graduate programs have TA jobs. Have you tried that? It's what I did and realized I like the classroom (most times).

I like it when a student finally "gets" a concept. It's the best part of the job!

A good teacher LIKES the subject she teaches as well as the students. The kids can tell when you're not interested. Be enthusiastic and try to be patient. Be strict by flexible. Set rules and expect much. The kids give you what you ask for if you motivate them.

Answer 3

Why would you want to get a Master's degree in education? I would recommend getting a Master's degree in a subject you would like to teach instead. Neither one is necessary, however. All you need to teach is a Bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate (which will require a certain amount of education hours, of course).

I teach at the university and junior college level, but I've taught high school as well. The things I love about teaching are interacting with other people, sharing my love for the subject matter I teach, being my own "boss," having a certain amount of flexibility in my schedule so that I can be involved in my children's lives, and having half of the summer off. The things I dislike about teaching are the long hours of planning and grading, the administrative b.s., behavioral problems in the class room (which I only encountered at the high school level), and the extremely low pay.

The skills and traits required to be a good teacher depend on where you're going to teach. If you're going to teach at the elementary school level, you need to be organized, patient, and truly fond of children. If you're going to teach at the university level, you need to be organized, well-versed in your subject matter, and willing to starve to death for a Phd. If you're going to teach high school, you might consider training for prison guard duty first.