Hi everyone. I’m planning to become an elementary school teacher or possibly a high school teacher. I was just wondering what the pathway is for those careers.
What are your opinions on becoming a teacher? Any experiences?
All help and advice will be beneficial!
Thank you
Get your bachelor’s degree, then decide to go for credentials or master or a special program at UCLA that you dont have to take credentials. If you go for master, you will have a chance to teach at community colleges, but to teach at highschools, you still need to get the credentials even that you already have the master degree.
That’s fantastic you want to become a teacher! A couple of things I’d advise. Try to get on or off campus jobs working in the after school programs at area schools. This may help you make connections with area principals and teachers in the area. Also, KEEP YOUR STUDENT LOANS DOWN! Starting pay is okay, but over time your income will not compare to other professions in the long run. All that said, it’s a very satisfying profession that allows you to have great impact.
I’m assuming you are in the California area. There is a looming teacher shortage, so you should have an easier time finding employment. http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-california-teacher-shortage-20161129-story.html It’s gotten so hard to find teachers in some areas, some districts are offering signing bonuses and offered to pay for masters degrees. Consider that for the masters. Here’s a list of teacher shortages by state: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.pdf
Using my high school as example, in the 37 years I’ve been there, we haven’t hired any additional Core teachers, but the positions we have hired exponentially are special education teachers and aides. (In my estimation, that’s where the increase in the cost per pupil has gone!) You may want to consider getting a special education endorsement along with your degree.
Good luck!
In case you’re not in CA or don’t plan to stay there, look carefully at the requirements to teach in the state you want to teach in. It will help, though it’s not mandatory, to go to college in the state where you want to teach. Some districts will offer a break on continuing ed such as master’s degrees. Agree to keep your loans down. There are forgiveness programs in place (for now, anyway) for the Stafford loans if you teach and pay down on the loans for a certain number of years. There’s also the TEACH Grant, which requires no repayment if you teach in a state with a shortage of teachers in certain areas (think low-income STEM schools or special ed). Look at schools where you won’t be just a butt in a seat, but where you can get to know your professors in your major. Some will still be dialed into the local school district and might be sources of jobs, internships or volunteer opportunities, which will come in very handy.
My D is a sped major in a state with a real shortage. She’s worked with kids since she was in middle school herself, and has sought out summer opportunities in HS and now college that are related to her goal of teaching. Connections with her profs have led to several off-campus opportunities for next year. Also, in some states, you can substitute teach after a certain number of college credits. My teacher niece did that in her hometown during every break from college as soon as she was able. It helped her decide what she would teach and what grade level, along with the size of the school she hoped to work at. The money didn’t hurt, either. Good luck!
I’ve been teaching high school math since 1980, and there’s no other job in the world for me!
My advice is to spend as much time in the classroom as possible, as early as possible. Observe everyone and everything- what’s taught, how it’s explained, how the teacher handles homework and bathroom requests and interruptions and the bee in the classroom and the fire drill and the kid who walks in late and the kid who doesn’t understand. Take notes on all of it-- the good, the bad and the ugly. Use it all to form the type of teacher you will be, as well as the type of teacher you won’t be; both are important.
Be careful about claims from colleges about teacher shortages. Sure, some do exist. Secondary math and Physics are generally high need areas across the board. But remember that colleges are in the business of graduating teachers; they may not be the most unbiased predictors of future jobs. Take a look at the employment sites in your area; look at the websites for local districts. Over time, you’ll get a much more balanced picture of the needs in your area.