More proof that I may be serious about teaching..

[Josephine96]

I have more proof that I may be serious about becoming a teacher instead of pursuing Journalism.

I talked to 2-3 teachers I had at my old HS and they all said I'd make a good teacher.. which made me feel good.

I have already decided what grade I want to teach {either 5th or 6th}

and I have already decided which schools I'd like to teach at..
{elementary for 5th: Mill Creek Elementary or Kissimmee Elementary}
{Middle school for 6th: Kissimmee Middle or Denn John Middle School}

I will probably choose 5th graders, because unlike 6th graders.. 5th graders don't change classes all day {I think lol} so I would have the same group of students every day all year. When schools here in FLA were graded last time.. both Mill Creek and Kissimmee made pretty good grades.. {I believe Kissimmee got a B and Mill Creek a B as well}

Oh the decision making process turns lol

[Stephanie]

Good luck John with your decision!

[Josephine96]

Thank you Stephanie.. I really know I'd be great at both {teaching and Journalism}.. I just have to ponder which I want to do more..

[Stephanie]

Thank you Stephanie.. I really know I'd be great at both {teaching and Journalism}.. I just have to ponder which I want to do more..

I can't see why you can't do both. At least get your teaching certificate, you'll always have that.

[Josephine96]

True Steph.. you're right. Even someone said today I could major in 1 subject and minor in the other.. That way if I ever choose to quit 1.. I can do the other..

By the way.. this post has a lot of replies for it's lack of views so far LOL!

[timNms]

John,
As a former teacher, I can tell you that the pay sucks, the hours are bad, the stress is TERRIBLE, your under constant pressure to see that you're kids perform to the standards of someone who hasn't been in a classroom in years, you are mom and dad to those who either have no parents or have sorry excuses for parents, you are mentor, confidant, and all of this comes with little or no recognition for what you do, and you will be among the most unrecognized and unappreciated professionals on earth......

BUT

GO for it! There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child who has been struggling with a concept finally understand! Words can't express the joy you feel in your heart knowing that you have helped to shape and mold a possible future leader of our country, or a future scientist who discoveres the cure for cancer!
While teaching has it's downfalls, the good outweighs the bad 1000 to one!!

I've often said "A teacher is like a preacher. In order to teach, a person truly needs a calling from a higher authority!"

Good luck in making your decision.

[David]

I'll tell you this... if you wanna teach, especially middle school (6th grade and up), be ready for some smart @$$ students...

[timNms]

I'll tell you this... if you wanna teach, especially middle school (6th grade and up), be ready for some smart @$$ students...

David, believe it or not, there are some

smart @$$ students

even as young as kindergarten (been there and done that!)

[Josephine96]

I am receiving that calling I think.. I'm just getting advice from all sorts of people..

I for 1 am a person who appreciated my teachers, especially in high school because I learned tremendous lessons when I was there. Things that can't be taught in textbooks..

I also have seen what happens when you teach a kid something he or she has struggled with before and it can be quite a heart warming decision..

I think my main decision is whether I wanna do 5th grade or 6th grade.. That's either the kids getting ready to enter middle school or the kids just starting middle school lol..

Hmm.. Tough choices here...

[timNms]

I think my main decision is whether I wanna do 5th grade or 6th grade.. That's either the kids getting ready to enter middle school or the kids just starting middle school lol..

Hmm.. Tough choices here...

In my area, 5th and 6th grades are considered middle school.

I loved teaching. Sometimes I really miss it, but with my problems with depression and anxiety, I felt I could no longer be effective in the classroom and resigned last Dec after being in the school system for 13 yrs.
I started out as a teacher assistant (of all things). But I wanted to see if teaching was what I really wanted to do before I invested 4 yrs into college. I worked with 2nd grade for 3 yrs and 3rd/4th grade for half a year while taking night classes. After getting my BS in elem. ed, I've taught kindergarten, 3rd grade, 5th grade, and 7th-10th special ed. My favorite is 2nd grade. They're not babies anymore, but not quite grown enough to deal you as much misery as 5th graders LOL. I never lucked out and got assigned to 2nd grade, but 3rd wasn't too bad. There were lots of new things for 3rd graders to master, tho. I'm not sure how Fl's ed program is set up, but in MS students have a list of competencies in Reading, Language, Math, Science, and SS that must be mastered each year. It's a pain to try to get them all done in a year, especially when you have a diversified classroom (I've had as many as 28 kids in my class and on many occassions, well over 75% of them were functioning below grade level in at least one subject (math, reading or language) and we were expected to perform miracles in one year )
But, like I said before, there is no other job that I can think of that is more rewarding than teaching. I always looked at it this way. If it were not for teachers, we wouldn't have doctors, lawyers, or any other professional out there
If you decide to major in education, and need some help, let me know!

[Josephine96]

Thank you Tim.. I'll keep that in mind

[azskyman]

Much wisdom in your words, Tim. You are absolutely right about being rewarding. Nothing gives you more satisfaction than a student who turns on to science or math or history or English or spelling or reading because of something you do, the way you present it, the way you convey it, or the time you spend with that student!

It may be the most rewarding career.

Wish I knew then what I know now. I would have been a much better teacher.

10-year-olds are terrific.

I made an 8 mm movie of each class I taught...doing funny things, doing good things, doing things that 10-year-olds do.

At the 15th year high school reunion, those kids sought me out, made a VCR tape and showed it for all to see. I guess it was the hit of the night!!!

John, when you get a chance find a way to spend some time with some 10-11 year olds helping at a school nearby...or maybe with a school activity.

That's a great way to start!

Teaching is not for everyone, but those who are the best teachers are irreplaceable!

[HurricaneGirl]

Good luck John! I know you'll do well in whatever profession you choose. Sounds like there are going to be some lucky kids there to have you as their teacher.

[Josephine96]

Aww thank you Mary... That means a lot to hear you say that..

It's a shame that the school year ends next week here lol.. I was going to maybe go around to the schools I was interested in and maybe get some information..

Of course that information could change 2,3,4 years down the road when I get a teaching job {should I choose to pursue it..} but maybe getting a little bit of info about each school wouldn't hurt.. I tried the internet but the schools' websites weren't too much help

[timNms]

John, have you looked at the Florida Department of Education's website? http://www.firn.edu/doe/ There might be some good info there for you. Also, in MS, there are summer school programs. If there are some in your area in Florida, you might want to see about working in one of the schools during the summer as a teacher assistant. That would give you some experience and you'd learn a lot! I would have been scared to death if I'd walked into a classroom for the first time right after graduating college. They didn't teach us one thing about what it was like in the "real world". All we learned to do was to make cute little games and we were taught that kids still sat in the neat little rows, everyone raised their hands when they needed to talk, and no one left their seats without permission. They didn't teach us how to deal with the everyday problems that arise, the kids who were ADD or ADHD, or crack babies.
If I were in charge of teacher training in the state of Mississippi, the first two years of college would be for the basics...English, History, Math, Science....then the last two years would be an internship where the would-be educator would work in a classroom as an assistant to the teacher. That hands-on experience is much more valuable than anything you'll learn in college

[wx247]

I spent a summer working with kids in elementary school while in high school and loved it. You might also check into what mentoring programs schools in your area might have.

[sunnyday]

Best job in the world! Some students can be a trial, but most are wonderful!

[Josephine96]

That's what I have been told Sunny Day.. The more and more I think about it.. the more and more I am leaning towards it.. I don't think the community college offers education courses though so I'd have to go to UCF or wait till I can go to another major university {assuming I choose to pursue this..}

If it makes any difference.. I have a list of schools I'd consider teaching at in my area here.. I call it my.. "Teaching top 5"..

5. Central Avenue Elementary
4. Kissimmee Middle/LakeView Elementary {tie}
3. Kissimmee Elementary
2. Denn John Middle
1. Mill Creek Elementary

Those are my choices.. If I choose to pursue this I will narrow my list down to 2 or 3 so that I can make an easier decision..