Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

Just a few questions, out of curiosity. I constantly battle with becoming a teacher.

1. How long have you been a teacher?

2. What degree do you have?

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. I start in September.

2. Childhood Education 1-6 and Special Education 1-6.

3. My husband has been a NYC teacher for quite a while, so I can speak from my viewpoint. The holidays and summers off are definitely a huge pro as is the great medical coverage and pension. Once you're tenured, you are pretty much good to go with a secure job.

Some cons would be the emotional stress you go through each day. You have to put in extra hours after school and at home. It can be a thankless job.

Overall, I would say it's a good profession, but also a very demanding one. Teachers are held to a high standard and there is a lot expected of you.

I'm not quite sure how the job market on LI is, though I'm sure it's not easy and I find the same to be basically true in the city.


Do you have any type of educational degree? If not, that can actually be a good thing.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher?

Going into my 10th year

2. What degree do you have?

BS Accounting
MS Secondary Math Ed
Post Master's Cert in Ed. Leadership

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?

Pros
-Having kids look up to you
-It can be very rewarding


Cons
-Paperwork
-Politics
-Every changing policies

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher?

Starting my 9th year

2. What degree do you have?

BS Biology
MSed in Secondary Ed - Science

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?

Pros
My favorite part is building relationships with my students.
I also LOVE lesson planning. I really put a lot of effort into my lessons to make sure they are engaging.
I also enjoy the school schedule and the time off.

Cons
Paperwork (photocopying, grading, record keeping, contacting various offices, parents, etc)

Politics especially within my department (but I'm sure you'd find this at any workplace)

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. I've had my own classroom for almost 2 years but I've been working in the school setting since 2007.

2. Childhood Education 1-6 and Special Education 1-6. Working on my Masters in TESOL.

3. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

Pros:
-I LOVE being around children. There are really not many things that annoy me more than teachers that are nasty to their students. I treat each student as if they were my child and I love all of them.

- I love the creativity that teaching allows. I spend a lot of time making my own classroom charts and a hands-on activity to go with each one. Lesson planning is actually enjoyable for me.

- Obviously, getting paid for having the summer off is amazing. It also allows me to sub and earn an additional income for those three months.

Cons:

- Technology plays a really big role in the classroom now. While using a smartboard is great, I hate that I have to post homework and projects on the school website. I really think that children need to have their own sense of responsibility and I see that less and less.

- Teaching five different classes = a LOT of paper work. I get to work an hour early, usually stay late if I'm not working late already, and then have to continue grading when I get home.

Message edited 7/17/2014 8:08:44 PM.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!!

I do not have a degree in education field, but VERY interested in going back to school. I know some teachers who are currently working with a Bachelors and working on their Masters - is that uncommon??

I feel like I need some direction- I know I have the want/desire, but not sure what I want to do. I'm more interested in something that will be useful/needed and not expendable (hah!)

I have an Associates degree in Criminal Justice - I'm currently working in the Business Office (at a school), and I'm very interested in Math/Accounting, but terrified of teaching Common Core Math.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

Business Ed jobs are hard to come by. I am also certified business and loved teaching accounting. They are going to be cut before math teachers.

If you are interested in teaching math, you can check out the NYC teaching fellows. They pay for your masters, train and help place you with jobs.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

I clicked on this board by accident and stumbled on this thread.

Education was my original major in college but I switched after my mom talked me out of it.

She was a teacher.

I had regrets for awhile and actually applied to the fellows and chickened out after hearing tons of bad, and didn't follow up with the interview I got called to.

To make a long story short, I ended up getting my professional degree in social work.

I run a day program now for a specific population, and teach them life skills and lead lots of groups on various topics.

It's a very creative job. (Something I also hear teacher friends say is lacking now in education).

I also get to teach Masters level students in my field and similar fields since I'm in a teaching institution and do field instruction.

While the pay may not be as good as some teachers, and I don't have summers off, all of my clients for the most part WANT to be there. Most of the family is also not bad to deal with because they are beyond grateful for the service.

There's not as much politics in my role (although that's IS FOUND in the field of social work in general), and I only work 8:30 to 4:30.

I don't bring anything home with me.

Just something different to think about other than teaching.

Group work seems to be the wave of the future too for social work since you can bill more and see more clients this way.

ETA: I also feel like I will always be able to find a job in my field. And when you network and get to know people, even more so.

Granted I'm not a teacher but from what I've heard, it's not that easy of a field to get into these days, or not have that worry about losing your job no matter how wonderful you may be....


BTW, I don't ever feel like I'm going to work either. My clients almost have become like second family........

Message edited 7/19/2014 7:02:04 AM.

Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

This coming year will be my tenth in education.

I have a degree in health education

Pros: I love teaching kids about their health

Cons: I can't teach kids about their health. I resent what the profession has become. Watching children suffer so adults can play political games is amoral and if I could afford it I would go back to school and do something else. (though people tell me politics are a part of every profession but at least it wouldn't be at the expense of children)

Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

I've been a teacher for 13 years. Originally, a leave replacement, then full time, then laid off, then part time.
I have a bachelors degree in history and geography. I have my MS ed in Secondary ed. Social Studies, and another in Special Ed (30 credits)

I became a teacher because I was passionate about history and geography, and I was born to teach. Some of the pros are a fulfilling career where you can use your mind and make an impact on others. If you are lucky enough to teach in a Long Island public school, it could mean a good salary and benefits.
Cons: ever increasing pressure to turn out numbers instead of learners, less and less allowance for creativity, ever changing initiatives and theories, the eventual breakup of unions, and less and less job security as the regulations change and budgets fail. I encourage many seniors to study IT or healthcare.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher?
Going into my 9th year

2. What degree do you have?
Bachelor's in Childhood Education
Master's in Literacy

Certifications:
Early Childhood
Childhood
Literacy

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?

Pros:
--The kids...they keep me laughing and I love seeing the growth that they make from September to June. It truly is amazing how much they grow.
--Obviously summers off is a huge bonus
--My colleagues

Cons:
--Politics
--All the changes being made to education by non-educators
--Testing
--Paperwork
--Seeing the struggles that many of my students & their families face outside of the classroom

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

Message edited 7/21/2014 5:47:50 AM.

Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher? Starting my 6th year in Sept

2. What degree do you have? BA in Secondary Education & Social Studies and MA in Secondary Special Education

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?
PROS- I love what I do, lesson planning, making connections with students, when a student "gets it", seeing progress, my coworkers, summers off (obviously), having a parent tell me I'm the best Resource Room teacher her son ever had (one of the best compliments I've ever received!) I work in a private school and absolutely love it. I didn't have the same experience in public school and voluntarily took a pay cut and moved to private. Probably the best decision I've ever made.

CONS- my commute and state tests

Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher?
Since December- I'm starting a new job this Sept

2. What degree do you have?
BA/MS Math/Special Ed 7-12

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?
PROS: Well the obvious ones are summers off lol and christmas/holiday/end of year gifts from the students haha... I love kids, and while they can be a pain, they really make your job so worthwhile. It is much more rewarding than any other job out there i feel

CONS: state tests, dealing with parents can be a pain (esp in the special ed setting i found), paperwork (again, esp in the special ed setting because there is like DOUBLE the work)

If you decide to go into teaching, I would highly suggest getting your students with disables certification. Also, math, science, TESOL, ESL, and foreign language are good subjects as well. I'd be weary of English and SS because those are pretty popular certifications. Definitely become dual certified though

Message edited 7/22/2014 1:12:08 PM.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. How long have you been a teacher?
11 years....going into my 12th in September. I've taught both 7th and 8th grade English.

2. What degree do you have?
MS Education, BA in English, Certified in Secondary Education

3. What are Pros/Cons of your job and being a teacher?
Pros:
I love my students....Middle School kids are great!
I love that I get to have control of what I do in the classroom.
I love that each day is unpredictable.
I love when my students are successful after struggling.
I love seeing my students grow up (I work in 7-12 building)
I love having my summers off to spend with my daughter, and all of the vacation time my job allows.

Cons:
Administrators can sometimes be less than helpful.
10 mini-observations during the year
Teacher evaluations
Standardized tests
Parents who think their kids are perfect.
Never being able to take a vacation when I won't see 74895743890 people because they're on vacation from school also.

Re: Questions (out of curiosity) for Teachers

1. i have been teaching for 18 years
8 yrs as a 3rd grade classroom teacher in a catholic school
10 years as a reading specialist in the doe, i do pull out

2. my degree ba elem ed, ma, literacy
i have certifications in early childhood, elementary ed, and literacy

3. pros: very similar to what so many others say,
seeing a kid finally get it, knowing you really made a difference, when a parent actually compliments or thanks you, i take kids from 1st - 8th grade so i get to watch them grow up and really form a bond with many of them, i see many different classes throughout the day, i do get out at 2:50, i bring home work only if i want to due to the fact that i am not a classroom teacher( i often do will tell in cons)

cons: paperwork which is what i often do at home, there just isnt enough time in the day, the common core and lack of materials to teach it, administration on your back because they have someone on their back

i have to say that there are times i feel very burnt out, but i know i am very lucky to have a situation where i am not a classroom teacher anymore and i love it, i don't think i could ever go back they have it very hard right now and i give them a lot of credit for doing what they do, i think ultimately its the kids that keep most teachers going cause right the rest of it is pretty bad

i also am very happy with my salary, and am grateful for benefits and pension, i have never complained about my salary, yet! we will see what the future holds