How do i know if i am the right sort of person to become a teacher or to work with young children (e.g either in a nursery or in a school as a teaching assistant?) I have 4 cousins who i adore looking after but how will i know if i will be good enough to work with children?? Any help appreciated!
Ta, :o)
2007-01-27 06:09:32 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I'm a teacher, and never thought I would be. You should try volunteering in schools. Also, most colleges have an intro course that allows you to observe a classroom and volunteer. You can also try substitute teaching. If you do decide to teach, do not be afraid to ask for help from other teachers.
2007-01-27 06:16:51 · answer #1 · answered by cutemonkey_face 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Volunteer or babysit. If you have any open time where you could go volunteer in a classroom once a week, that would be ideal. You might also be able to strike up an agreement with a daycare/nursery school director during the summer to just come and hang out, help out, to see what it's like. Or, if you are old enough, see about getting summer jobs in summer camps, boys and girls clubs, that kind of thing.
Really, though, working with children is a learning process. You're not just automatically 'good enough' or not--there's a lot to learn and you learn as you go.
2007-01-27 13:47:01 · answer #2 · answered by glurpy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really the only way to know is by doing it for a while. I have a similar experience to someone above - I never thought I'd be good at teacher or enjoy teaching (I teach at the college level), but turns out I do enjoy it and apparently I'm somewhat good at it, too! I had to be begged to teach my first real class (I don't count being a teaching assistant when I was in grad school, since they weren't really *my* students), and that was part time. I taught part time for 3 years, then decided I wanted to do it full time. I've been teaching full time for 6.5 years now, and I can't imagine doing anything else.
2007-01-27 08:38:13 · answer #3 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I teach 6th and 7th grade English in an inner-city minority school. Just last Thursday one of my students informed me, he was moving. We talked about where he was moving to for about 5 minutes. I could tell he wanted to talk more, possible about more then just the move so I asked him to stay after school and tell me all about it. After school I learned a horrible truth. This move was prompted by a series of terrible events, His mother lost her job, times were getting rough and to top it all off His mother and her husband (not the students father) were up arguing untill 5 AM and at the end, the husband struck my students mother. Right then and there, I prayed with my student. We prayed, talked some more, then I walked him part of the way home. I returned back to my classroom and I cried. I'm 33, was in the U.S. Army for 8 years, and yes, I cried. Now, I told you this story to ask you a question. If this touched you and your heart went out to this student who you don't even know, and you wish you knew if he and his family were going to be ok, you are meant to be a teacher.
2007-01-27 11:23:31 · answer #4 · answered by LTin2000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a teacher and love every second of it, but it is hard work. You also need to think of the planning and assessment side of things, this is alot of paper work. I feel teaching is more of a life choice than simply a career choice beacause you tend to live and breath school taking work and problems home. You need to have the qualities to enthuse and motivate children in their learning as well as offering them a safe and secure environment to thrive in. Hope this helps!
2007-01-28 03:50:07 · answer #5 · answered by AmyLoosie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try volunteering for a couple of full days in a primary school (ie 7.30am-6pm - a full working day). That way you'll know how kids get crabby later in the day, the paperwork after they've gone home - basically the 'lows' as well as the fun stuff. If you feel you'd be OK at all of it, then go for it.
2007-02-03 21:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by squeezy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You already sound like you are good with children. Can you connect with them on their level? Can you help them with their questions - do you want to help?
Like most have said, it is like a calling - I always knew it was what I wanted to do and, having just graduated this year, I am loving every minute of it! It is hard work - but it must be one of the most rewarding career options.
Go for it - you won't regret it. Good luck!
2007-01-27 06:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by chrismyarse 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you won't know until you do it...it sounds like you have the right attitude and mind set...but studeents are different than family...volunteer to work in a day care, or substitute teach if you are old enough...
2007-01-27 06:13:55 · answer #8 · answered by techteach03 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with most career options, you will feel a draw to the profession and you will know it is right for you.
2007-01-27 06:13:28 · answer #9 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you prepared to embark upon an all-consuming way of life? If the answer is 'yes' then go for ot - you are what the profession needs. If not, please don't do it - our children deseve the best!
2007-02-03 10:40:51 · answer #10 · answered by Sandy H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋