Spinoff to teaching job - how long/how do you start-go about getting into teaching?

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up but I have an aptitude for teaching and I would love to have the time in the summer w/my baby girl. Anyone have any advice here on how long it took to become a teacher and what the steps are in order to get there?

Thanks!

Well I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and after working in the city for a few years I went back for teaching....

I received my Masters at CW Post in 2 1/2 years while I was working as a teaching assistant (which I highly recommend doing)

NYS now also requires that you do 100 of observation hours in various grades within your area of certification.

In addition to the degree you also need to take state license exams

After I got my license I subbed for a few months and then got a job in NYC last April which is where I currently am teaching.

I am trying to get a job in LI..but its really hard especially since 1/3 of the budgets were voted down....Any questions FM me...Good Luck

I agree with using a teaching asst. job to get experience and a foot in the door in a district.

You also need 6 credits in a foreign language. I believe that American Sign Language can be used for that requirement. When I was in grad school a lot of my classmates had to go to community college part time to make up those FL credits.

I think if you get a background in ESL you will be especially marketable- with the rising immigrant populations there is more demand.

I have my BS in Business Admin and after 5 years of the corporate world I decided to pursue teaching, which is something I wanted to do for a long time but thought Business would bring me more $ Well it did but it did not bring happiness!

I live in NJ so what I did first was look on the state's website to see what the requirements are. I had to submit my application and transcripts and then I had to take (and pass) the Praxis II exam (which is called LAST in NY I think). I now have my certificate of eligibility (CE) to begin teaching and when I do get hired (soon i hope) I can pursue my Alternate Certification. I am also applying to a Master's Program in Early Childhood so that I can get a head start and maybe through that some doors will be opened.

What you should do is check the DOE website for NY and see where to start (paperwork, transcripts, classes, etc).

I worked my way to the top of the ladder at my job in the city, and decided to leave it all to pursue a teaching job. It took me a year and a half full time to get my masters, (39 credits + 2 student teaching semesters) but most don't finish that quickly. I crammed so many classes into a semester, including summer sessions. I also had to take English and Math undergrad classes to meet the 6 credit requirement of all subject areas. My only recommendation to you is to get dually certified if you want an elementary teaching position because almost all of the districts on LI are demanding that now bc there are too many qualified candidates that want to teach on the island. Go into Bilingual, ESL, Reading, or SPED and you should be fine. Best of luck to you!