Any high school teachers in the ATOT section ?
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Brainonska511
Lifer
- Dec 10, 2005
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shiner
Lifer
- Jul 18, 2000
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Not high school, but I did go to college in order to become a history professor. Have multiple bachelor degrees and was about to start my PhD. program in history when I finally got fed up with all the red tape on the university level. I'm sure teaching high school is different, but I still can't imagine putting up with the bureaucratic BS that goes along with teaching on any level.
If I were in high school I would aim to be a Astronaut-Porn Star-Deep Sea Diver-Stuntman
If I were in high school I would aim to be a Astronaut-Porn Star-Deep Sea Diver-Stuntman
rocadelpunk
Diamond Member
- Jul 23, 2001
- 5,589
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Dr. Pizza is a math teacher.
At this point in time, I believe you become a teacher if you have a passion for it/kids/helping others/education. Especially if you're in a major that doesn't have too much market value (art/history etc). Analogously, you don't become a doctor because of the money/respect...there is simply too much much work/sacrifice etc...that if your heart isn't entirely into it...you'll crash/miserable.
If your heart is completely set on it, then I wouldn't hesitate as there are lots of scholarships/loans that can be forgiven for future teachers...easier to get I imagine if you're math/science.
If you're not completely set on it, then I would still major in history, but possibly add a second language or poli sci (especially if you decide later to go to law school)
---
Personally, I always wanted to retire into teaching (which is always an option), but once I got to my senior in electrical engineering I realized I could never ever ever work in a cubicle/be tied down to a city for a job/survive in a business environment. I just know that I would hate going into work every day...so I switched to pure mathematics for undergrad and am soon on my way to grad school for masters in education...then teaching...there's absolutely nothing else I want to do and can't wait to make it my life's goal/work to become the best teacher I can.
At this point in time, I believe you become a teacher if you have a passion for it/kids/helping others/education. Especially if you're in a major that doesn't have too much market value (art/history etc). Analogously, you don't become a doctor because of the money/respect...there is simply too much much work/sacrifice etc...that if your heart isn't entirely into it...you'll crash/miserable.
If your heart is completely set on it, then I wouldn't hesitate as there are lots of scholarships/loans that can be forgiven for future teachers...easier to get I imagine if you're math/science.
If you're not completely set on it, then I would still major in history, but possibly add a second language or poli sci (especially if you decide later to go to law school)
---
Personally, I always wanted to retire into teaching (which is always an option), but once I got to my senior in electrical engineering I realized I could never ever ever work in a cubicle/be tied down to a city for a job/survive in a business environment. I just know that I would hate going into work every day...so I switched to pure mathematics for undergrad and am soon on my way to grad school for masters in education...then teaching...there's absolutely nothing else I want to do and can't wait to make it my life's goal/work to become the best teacher I can.
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
<--- high school teacher
I love it. There are things I hate about it - especially the political nature. Standards are being lowered, tests are being made easier, cut scores (scaling of scores) are getting more and more generous, all so that politicians can claim that education is improving. It's really tough trying to explain to a parent why little Suzie had a 70 average in class but got an 85 on the state assessment in that course. "It's because 40% correct was considered passing. They curved the scores 25 points!"
I love it. There are things I hate about it - especially the political nature. Standards are being lowered, tests are being made easier, cut scores (scaling of scores) are getting more and more generous, all so that politicians can claim that education is improving. It's really tough trying to explain to a parent why little Suzie had a 70 average in class but got an 85 on the state assessment in that course. "It's because 40% correct was considered passing. They curved the scores 25 points!"
- Jul 14, 2005
- 29,307
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- 106
Just wondering what kind of math do you teach?
oh and the whole thing about curving scores i think the most iv ever seen was in chemistry ... i believe the teacher put in a 18 point curve (She takes the highest grade on the test and subtracts it from 100 and thats the curve)
I'm currently 35 and getting my Masters in Secondary Education. I'll have an endorsement in History (my first undergrad degree), and very soon Chemistry and Math as well.
When I was 16 or 17 I decided I wanted to teach high school. My teachers meant a great deal to me...in fact they quite possibly saved my life. I have always loved academics and learning, so it wasn't a stretch to put the two together and decide on education as a career. I put it off for years for various reasons. A couple years ago I decided it was time.
I think the best decision a person can make about their future is to pursue what they love, but never close yourself off to other possibilities. There is no finality before death, and even that isn't assured. If you decide to try something and it doesn't work out, just move on to something else.
When I was 16 or 17 I decided I wanted to teach high school. My teachers meant a great deal to me...in fact they quite possibly saved my life. I have always loved academics and learning, so it wasn't a stretch to put the two together and decide on education as a career. I put it off for years for various reasons. A couple years ago I decided it was time.
I think the best decision a person can make about their future is to pursue what they love, but never close yourself off to other possibilities. There is no finality before death, and even that isn't assured. If you decide to try something and it doesn't work out, just move on to something else.
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
what kind of math:
Calculus (for college credit through SUNY Albany)
Pre-calculus
and Algebra
I also teach one section of physics. Small school, so we only have one section. That's easily the most fun to teach (most of the time.) I still feel a little bad about having fun yesterday. A girl wasn't paying attention (always always always pay attention when the teacher is playing with high voltage stuff and having fun. And ESPECIALLY pay attention to what he's doing on days when that van de graaff is easily hitting 100,000 volts. ) I got her attention back. I think she got a "charge" out of my physics lesson.
Calculus is my second favorite to teach, because it's the easiest to teach. The students are generally quite eager to learn, so all I have to do is present it to them the best way I can to facillitate their learning as quickly as possible. Pre-calculus, this year I have some students who didn't go through the more rigorous courses to prepare them for pre-calc. In some schools, they'd say "didn't meet the pre-requisites." But, I don't want to shut kids out of the course and cause them to have a year off with no math before college. That makes the course 10 times harder to teach - the ability levels have a very wide spread in that class. i.e. verifying trig identities, I had a couple students who struggled to even learn that sin^2x + cos^2x = 1, let alone actually use it to verify a more difficult identity.
Calculus (for college credit through SUNY Albany)
Pre-calculus
and Algebra
I also teach one section of physics. Small school, so we only have one section. That's easily the most fun to teach (most of the time.) I still feel a little bad about having fun yesterday. A girl wasn't paying attention (always always always pay attention when the teacher is playing with high voltage stuff and having fun. And ESPECIALLY pay attention to what he's doing on days when that van de graaff is easily hitting 100,000 volts. ) I got her attention back. I think she got a "charge" out of my physics lesson.
Calculus is my second favorite to teach, because it's the easiest to teach. The students are generally quite eager to learn, so all I have to do is present it to them the best way I can to facillitate their learning as quickly as possible. Pre-calculus, this year I have some students who didn't go through the more rigorous courses to prepare them for pre-calc. In some schools, they'd say "didn't meet the pre-requisites." But, I don't want to shut kids out of the course and cause them to have a year off with no math before college. That makes the course 10 times harder to teach - the ability levels have a very wide spread in that class. i.e. verifying trig identities, I had a couple students who struggled to even learn that sin^2x + cos^2x = 1, let alone actually use it to verify a more difficult identity.
I've been teaching history for 29 years, mostly at the high school and college levels, but spent some time teaching middle school kids too.
First of all, if you like history at the high school level, you're probably going to love it in college. There you can go into more detail about some of the more interesting topics instead of having to cover thousands of years of general history in a relatively short time. You may want to check into whether or not the college you're planning to attend offers a comprehensive social sciences specialization. It gives you a variety of interesting classes in your major, and that you will be qualified to teach. I've taught American History, World History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Geography, and Anthropology.
Secondly, rocadelpunk pretty much hit the nail on the head when he said you need to have "a passion for it/kids/helping others/education". Teaching is quite a bit different now than it was when I first started. There's a lot of bureaucratic, administrative, and political nonsense that tries to detract and distract from real learning and teaching, especially with the advent of NCLB, but as long as you always try to keep your focus on that passion that rocadelpunk spoke of, you can love teaching most of the time.
But if you don't have that, you could become miserable very quickly, as many I've known who've come and gone did.
You also have to have the right kind of personality to be comfortable and successful in this career. You have to be patient, confident, compassionate, strong-willed, but also flexible, have a sense of humor, and always be able to remember what you were like when you were their age.
There should be a lot of demand in the coming years because a huge segment of the certified teachers out there are retiring. It's going to be a more financially rewarding career right from the start than it's been in the past too.
If you have any questions I may be able to help you with, just let me know. Good luck.
First of all, if you like history at the high school level, you're probably going to love it in college. There you can go into more detail about some of the more interesting topics instead of having to cover thousands of years of general history in a relatively short time. You may want to check into whether or not the college you're planning to attend offers a comprehensive social sciences specialization. It gives you a variety of interesting classes in your major, and that you will be qualified to teach. I've taught American History, World History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Geography, and Anthropology.
Secondly, rocadelpunk pretty much hit the nail on the head when he said you need to have "a passion for it/kids/helping others/education". Teaching is quite a bit different now than it was when I first started. There's a lot of bureaucratic, administrative, and political nonsense that tries to detract and distract from real learning and teaching, especially with the advent of NCLB, but as long as you always try to keep your focus on that passion that rocadelpunk spoke of, you can love teaching most of the time.
But if you don't have that, you could become miserable very quickly, as many I've known who've come and gone did.You also have to have the right kind of personality to be comfortable and successful in this career. You have to be patient, confident, compassionate, strong-willed, but also flexible, have a sense of humor, and always be able to remember what you were like when you were their age.
There should be a lot of demand in the coming years because a huge segment of the certified teachers out there are retiring. It's going to be a more financially rewarding career right from the start than it's been in the past too.
If you have any questions I may be able to help you with, just let me know. Good luck.
AznAnarchy99
Lifer
- Dec 6, 2004
- 14,695
- 117
- 106
Im actually taking Pre-Calculus right now and half the class out of 40 is failing. Our teacher is weird, he says things like:
"Whats the answer for #40?"
*answer*
"Is it? Cause i dont know either"
and then he moves on.
coldmeat
Diamond Member
- Jul 10, 2007
- 9,234
- 142
- 106
I have 5/6 friends that are going through school right now to teach history, including my brother.
I think if I wanted to be a teacher, I would want to teach in a small high school like the one I went to (~400 students) and I would want to teach some kind of science.
I think if I wanted to be a teacher, I would want to teach in a small high school like the one I went to (~400 students) and I would want to teach some kind of science.
Why coudn't you have been my math teacher for high school? All my math teachers were boring and tried lame antics, like tying math review sessions into a psuedo game with jock jam music playing in the background. I had really bad teachers, and without outside tutoring, I probably would have never really learned the material. It wasn't because I had difficulty with the material all that much, but it was because of the fact that I just couldn't stand most of their crap.
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