thinking about becoming a teacher? for teachers to answer please?

Question

Questions for teachers:
I've been thinking about becoming a middle school teacher. What are the advantages and disadvantages? What is something you like and dislike about your career? Do you regret ever becoming a teacher?
I would like to thank you in advance for your sincere answers.

Answer 1

I love middle school. Many people in the certification programs will scare you. I taught 2 and 3rd grade for 8 years.

I have taught middle for 2 and won't go back.

Less xeroxing, kids are gone in about 55 min if they are having a bad day, some back talk... but depending on school and your discapline..not as much as elementary.

You usually get a 55 min or so prep period.

Most kids are still sweet and childish at this age. Many start rebelling in highschool age 15-18.

Teachers go home at bell....in elemetary teachers stay late...even until 6 or 7 decorating classroom.

Administrators don't have as much time to "inspect" classroom.

If you enjoy kids 11-15 go for it!

One regret: The pay. Hard to move up on pay scale. I get $500 dollars a year for a Master's Degree with Los Angeles Unified School District!

Plus side:Summers off!!! 10 sick/personal days per year. Compare that with other professional jobs! Marry rich!

Answer 2

That's awesome that you are thinking of becoming a teacher.
I am a special ed. elementary teacher. Well in my case some advantiages are working with a great team of people. (always willing to help). I have a great boss. ( If I need to talk to him, I can say what's on my mind. He really listens to his teachers and backs them up 100%. ) I love doing what I do. I love being a special ed teacher. Even ifI had a bad morning ( figth w/ DH, or traffic) , I know when I get to work and see my students' smiling faces. I will feel better. A pay check is also an advantage. Teachers are making a lot more money then they were, say 15 years ago. I know a teacher that has her masters degree and she is making 90, 000. On the other hand for me it's not all about the pay check.

I think in my case the number one disadvantage is parent that don;t help their kids. I know of one student, who is disabled however if mom or dad help her more at home she would be less disabled.

I like that I am helping some one.
I like it when one of my students finially understands a cancept that I have been trying to teach for 3 days and then understand it so well they can help their classmates with it too.
I like that I'm still learning too.
I like that I teach 3 different grades.
I like the distrect that I'm in.
I like that I teacher summer school too.
I like that I have the best job in the world.

I don't like it when regular ed, teachers say bad things about the special ed. system or about special ed students.

I never regret anything, including the career choice I made. I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in second grade.

Answer 3

I have taught elementary, middle and am now heading to high school.

I can honestly say that I liked middle school much better than elementary school (can't judge high school for another 2 weeks!)

The kids in elementary school were cute and wanted to please the teacher, but they still required a lot of "training" just to function. They enjoyed doing cute activities, playing games, and going outside. - - -some people like this, but I am more about the academics. Also, as others had mentioned, it is a somewhat "abusive" position - you are required to be an expect in all subject areas and you get very little planning time when you look at all that you are required to do. Middle school - one, maybe 2 subjects at the most.

In middle school, you will deal with a lot of attitude and hormones, but it is manageable and highly amusing at times. The students know what is expected of them (although they don't always chose to do what is expected!) They are a lot more independent and will not cry if someone steps on their notebook or calls them a baby!

I really liked 6th & 7th graders the best...sometimes I wondered if the 8th graders were possessed or kidnapped by aliens who left only a psychotic shell. ~~~props to 8th grade teachers out there!!!

I have kept all of my elementary school teaching materials, but I highly doubt I'll go back.

Good luck with your decision!

Answer 4

I teach at university level--but what I do there is teach teachers (currently working ones, not trainees). Some people have exactly the right personality for this age group, and maybe you are one of them. It's actually one of my favorites! Old enough to have a real conversation with, but not as jaded as they may be in a couple of years, LOL. You do need to really plan your lessons carefully for middle schoolers, but when you do it can really pay off. And it is the foundation for all the serious schoolwork of high school so it's a very important time.
I think the key is tapping into the curiosity and idealism kids have at this age, and the incredible energy they have--which can wear you out but it's great. Involve them in big projects, give each kid a chance to shine now and then.
It's not easy due to the paperwork etc. that you will have to do, that is a reality that can't be avoided. But teaching is a job where you can really make a difference.
If you *really* want to know, try volunteering at your local middle school! Or check out Teach for America. My niece has almost finished her stint with them and it's been love/hate some days, but she kows it's what she wants to do for sure now.
BTW, all of the teachers I work with are in special needs teaching, and I have to say, every one of them is still enthusiastic about their work (maybe the ones who hate it don't pursue extra qualifications...) I think it's because they get smaller groups of kids to work with, even if the teaching is personalised and can be more difficult.
Good luck in your career!

Answer 5

I just retired from full- time teaching (31yrs) all with middle school kids for at least half the day and the last 16 yrs in inner-city.
It was a blast and I regret nothing. Middle school kids are fascinating and challenging and my favourite age group.
They can detect a phoney in the first 2 minutes and if you are not consistent and fair you will be toast. Any bad situation can be diffused with humour.
The main advantage is how much you will learn about yourself and the main disadvantage is exhaustion.

Answer 6

I just graduated in Education and have not been teaching long. However, the school that I went to was VERY intense. When I went into Education, I thought that I would be good at it b/c I've always done a good job at being able to help others see things and understand them in different perspectives. However, there are many other things involved in the college process to get your degree. These include many professional development hours on the side, long nights of lesson planning and even more hours to get the materials ready for the lessons, lots of psychology (understanding mental and physical development of children and their disabilities), incorporating and being accountable for many diverse students (race, cultures, learning abilities, etc., etc., etc.), passing state mandated tests such as the Praxis (for my state anyway), video taping and critiquing your own lessons and those of your student teaching peers, writing classroom management plans, being able to work in groups for teaching assignments (with other teaching candidates), interviews (at my school we had to go through a debate conference in a room with 8 other students and discuss a "hot topic" issue such as religion in schools and be able to OPENLY give the strengths and weaknesses of it, for example), and many other processes. HOWEVER, I feel as though I am able to conquer any student's learning needs now. It was tough, but I love the job (so far anyway!). You have your smart-mouthed students (usually at least 2-3 per classroom) that will get on your nerves for days at time, then at other times, it doesn't seem as bad. Some parents have NO involvement in their child's work...others will hassle you until you feel like screaming at them. lol. There are the students who (no matter how hard you try and try) just can't seem to catch up, but you are accountable for teaching your state's curriculum in a timely manner. You will end up spending a LOT of your own money on supplies and materials, and if you're in it for the pay, choose another career field. Some days you have to be an actor b/c either you're extremely tired, are not excited about the lesson you're teaching, ill or whatever. You still have to be excited about what you're teaching in order to keep them involved. The advantages are that you can be home with your family (if/when you have children) in time to help them with their homework and have dinner together. You are off every evening, weekend, holiday and summer. You get to make an impression on a child's life and may be the only person who really cares about them. You are educating the generations who will grow up to run our country and take care of us when we get old. Overall, it's just rewarding and fun. So far, no regrets.

Answer 7

Taught middle school (which is grades 6-8; I did 7th & 8th) the 1st 2 years of teaching. They drove me insane and I moved up to high school and then college, both of which I truly enjoy.

You have to be a special kind of person to like that age group. They are so loony, sometimes in a good way, but often very detrimental to the learning process.
Example: They can remember to bring a dime to *buy* a pencil in class every single day, but they cannot remember to bring the pencil itself.

If you see yourself standing at the front of a room of quiet, self-motivated children lecturing 4 days a week, honey you are in the wrong age group. Of a typical 55 minute class, you'll get in 5-10 minutes of actual teaching. The rest? Roll taking, discipline, setting up lessons, shushing talkers, writing potty passes, sending someone to the office for a headache, drink of water requests, writing a referal for clothing or swearing, spitballs, tripping walking to sharpen pencil, telling Anthony to stop looking up Jessica's dress, calling a mom so a kid can expain his love for shouting out "F*CK!!!" in the middle of class; dealing with the blurters, forgetting pencil (again), reviewing what just happened 7 seconds ago, assigning homework, collecting homework, modifying instruction and quizzes and tests for the special needs children, writing failure notices, and on and on.

School has changed dramatically since when we went.

Good luck.