Any HS teachers out there? **UPDATE**

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: tec699
Yep. Usually the art and gym classes are the first to go. Luckily I'm a male in special ed so I'm safe. Special ed is mandated and is a federal law so there is no way in hell a school can cut special ed classes. What they can do though is intergrate the special ed and regular ed students together which is called inclusion, but a special ed teacher must still be present by law.

A special ed teacher! Are those jobs harder to get than regular primary education teaching jobs?

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: tec699
Yep. Usually the art and gym classes are the first to go. Luckily I'm a male in special ed so I'm safe. Special ed is mandated and is a federal law so there is no way in hell a school can cut special ed classes. What they can do though is intergrate the special ed and regular ed students together which is called inclusion, but a special ed teacher must still be present by law.

A special ed teacher! Are those jobs harder to get than regular primary education teaching jobs?

Put it this way. My fellow classmates have all found jobs in special ed. There is a HUGE shortage of special ed teachers and if you're a male, you usually have the advantage because there are so few of us. I have to do my student teaching this fall.

I live in NJ so I don't know how it is in other states but the pay is actually decent. The starting salary is close to $40k a year and you get a full benefits package. Within 13 yrs teachers max out at $64k a year but of course it varies from county to county. North Jersey teachers in some districts max out close to 80k a year but everything in North Jersey is so expensive. An average home goes for $600k and so fourth. Therefore, it's all relative.

Finally, the burnout rate in special ed is very high. Special ed teachers are working with students that have behavioral issues and are at least 2 grade levels below their peers. In addition, these are kids that are labeled learning disabled. Working with kids who are severally disabled takes a lot of patience. A fellow classmate was bitten on the arm on a number of occasions while teaching a class a few years ago.

 

[JoeKing]

Originally posted by: tec699

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: tec699
Yep. Usually the art and gym classes are the first to go. Luckily I'm a male in special ed so I'm safe. Special ed is mandated and is a federal law so there is no way in hell a school can cut special ed classes. What they can do though is intergrate the special ed and regular ed students together which is called inclusion, but a special ed teacher must still be present by law.

A special ed teacher! Are those jobs harder to get than regular primary education teaching jobs?

Put it this way. My fellow classmates have all found jobs in special ed. There is a HUGE shortage of special ed teachers and if you're a male you usually have the advantage because there are so few of us. I have to do my student teaching this fall.

I live in NJ so I don't know how it is in other states but the pay is actually decent. The starting salary is close to $40k a year and you get a full benefits package. Within 13 yrs teachers max out at $64k a year but of course it varies from county to county. North Jersey teachers in some districts max out close to 80k a year but everything in North Jersey is so expensive. An average home goes for $600k and so fourth. So it's all relative.

Finally, the burnout rate in special ed is very high. Special ed teachers are working with students that have behavioral issues and are at least 2 grade levels below their peers. And these are kids that are labeled learning disabled. Working with kids who are severally disabled takes a lot of patience. A fellow classmate was bitten on the arm on a number of occasions whilee teaching a class a few years ago.

It's the truth 😉

seriously it does take a special kind of person to last in special ed. Bravo to you for wanting to enter the field. Caring and understand are the most important characteristics I've observed in teaching these kids.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: tec699
Put it this way. My fellow classmates have all found jobs in special ed. There is a HUGE shortage of special ed teachers and if you're a male, you usually have the advantage because there are so few of us. I have to do my student teaching this fall.

I live in NJ so I don't know how it is in other states but the pay is actually decent. The starting salary is close to $40k a year and you get a full benefits package. Within 13 yrs teachers max out at $64k a year but of course it varies from county to county. North Jersey teachers in some districts max out close to 80k a year but everything in North Jersey is so expensive. An average home goes for $600k and so fourth. Therefore, it's all relative.

Finally, the burnout rate in special ed is very high. Special ed teachers are working with students that have behavioral issues and are at least 2 grade levels below their peers. In addition, these are kids that are labeled learning disabled. Working with kids who are severally disabled takes a lot of patience. A fellow classmate was bitten on the arm on a number of occasions while teaching a class a few years ago.

I was just wondering because my sister graduated with a teching degree, she specialized in special ed, over a year ago. I keep trying to encourage her to get a job, but she puts it off saying she's not ready for it.

I was trying to figure out how in demand she would be compared to regular teachers. I think it's getting to where it'll be too late for her to get a job this upcoming year.

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: tec699

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: tec699
Yep. Usually the art and gym classes are the first to go. Luckily I'm a male in special ed so I'm safe. Special ed is mandated and is a federal law so there is no way in hell a school can cut special ed classes. What they can do though is intergrate the special ed and regular ed students together which is called inclusion, but a special ed teacher must still be present by law.

A special ed teacher! Are those jobs harder to get than regular primary education teaching jobs?

Put it this way. My fellow classmates have all found jobs in special ed. There is a HUGE shortage of special ed teachers and if you're a male, you usually have the advantage because there are so few of us. I have to do my student teaching this fall.

I live in NJ so I don't know how it is in other states but the pay is actually decent. The starting salary is close to $40k a year and you get a full benefits package. Within 13 yrs teachers max out at $64k a year but of course it varies from county to county. North Jersey teachers in some districts max out close to 80k a year but everything in North Jersey is so expensive. An average home goes for $600k and so fourth. Therefore, it's all relative.

My district is the highest paying in the state IIRC.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Teach for America? Generally well-regarded by grad schools, law schools--I would imagine med schools as well.

 

[TheChort]

Originally posted by: AtlantaBob
Teach for America? Generally well-regarded by grad schools, law schools--I would imagine med schools as well.

Interesting...
Not a bad idea. Plus, they want a two year commitment, which is exactly what I want to do.

 

[TheChort]

UPDATE 6/04: I decided not to do the credentials path because i wont have the time for it. So I sent my resume to a few private schools. Two responded and I went to interviews at each. One is in The Valley, and the other in North Hollywood (~equal drive for both).

The Valley school is offering 7th + 8th grade life and physical sciences, and maybe freshman bio. They also want me to be their HS science lab moderator. But overall, things seem a little disorganized here.

The N Hollywood school -- I just had my 2nd interview yesterday. The principal wants me to teach 7+8 math, and I kept insisting on the upper sciences (AP bio, chem). He said he has to think about it, and will let me know by wednesday (3 days).
If I get the upper sciences offer, then it's north hollywood for sure. Otherwise I will have to think about it.

 

[eflat]

A little late I know, but I thought all you needed was a Masters degree to teach. Does this only apply to teaching at a college?

 

[jds2006]

I wonder if any teachers from my school post here....

 

[montanafan]

Originally posted by: TheChort
UPDATE 6/04: I decided not to do the credentials path because i wont have the time for it. So I sent my resume to a few private schools. Two responded and I went to interviews at each. One is in The Valley, and the other in North Hollywood (~equal drive for both).

The Valley school is offering 7th + 8th grade life and physical sciences, and maybe freshman bio. They also want me to be their HS science lab moderator. But overall, things seem a little disorganized here.

The N Hollywood school -- I just had my 2nd interview yesterday. The principal wants me to teach 7+8 math, and I kept insisting on the upper sciences (AP bio, chem). He said he has to think about it, and will let me know by wednesday (3 days).
If I get the upper sciences offer, then it's north hollywood for sure. Otherwise I will have to think about it.

I think you are wise to try for the upper level courses under the circumstances. I've taught all grades from 7th through community college and the 7th and 8th grade levels can be very difficult for someone new to teaching, much less someone who has had no education classes or student teaching experiences.

I'm not saying that you couldn't do well, I don't know your personality, it's just that in 7th and 8th grade classes you get a very mixed bag of very lively (for want of a better word) students. Much of your time and effort will be focused on maintaining classroom discipline and motivation. For some people, knowing what to do or say when a situation arises comes almost intuitively, for others it can be very frustrating. In the upper level classes, maintaining discipline and motivation is easier because those students are a bit older and more focused and therefore more self-disciplined and self-motivated. There will still be some problems, but they are generally easier to correct by just talking to the student about the situation.

I hope you get the upper level classes to begin your foray into teaching and that you will be so successful that you will want to continue. I'd say the principal told you that he has to think about it because he needs to see if he can get a teacher currently teaching the upper level classes to switch to the 7th & 8th grade ones without raising too much of a stink about it and causing him headaches.

About the best advice I can think of right now to give you for dealing with students is to:

Know your subject.

Plan and be organized. Keep a log of what you actually got covered each day in each class. (It helps when preparing tests and giving out makeup work for absences.)

Have a very short and clear set of rules and plan of discipline that you discuss with or better yet present to the class that you can refer them back to (they actually appreciate knowing what to expect from you and have a harder time playing the "that's not fair" card with the form of discipline you impose if you can show that they knew to expect it beforehand).

Be firm, you're in charge and they expect you to be, but be fair, don't develop a me versus them attitude or atmosphere in the classroom. (You may win on a technicality, but you'll all lose out in the end.)

Concentrate more on positive reinforcement for good behavior than the more natural tendency to give more attention to the negative behavior. Kids will get with the program much faster and easier if they see that doing so actually reaps some rewards and they can feel good about it. Recognize who the class leaders are (and I don't mean necessarily academically, but who the other kids respect) and make sure that they are among the first to recognize that. Spread the positive around for everyone, not just the perfect kids.

Be prepared to follow through on what you say you are going to do. If you don't mean it, don't say it! They may think you're a hardass at times, but they'll have no respect for you if you're wishy-washy. (Especially when it comes to things like discipline, makeup work, test dates, grades, etc.) Be especially strict about classroom decorum in the beginning to set a pattern, you can always lighten up or become more flexible later in the year once you get to know each other better. If you start out too lenient, it will be very difficult to gain more control later and they will resent you for it.

Show them some respect. Be polite, they have feelings too ya know.

Be patient, don't take the little annoying things they do personally (they're usually not doing it to annoy you, they're doing it because they're kids).

When something happens that does upset you, don't let your emotions get the better of you, take a moment to decide what the best way to handle the situation would be before you react.

Be alert to little things that are happening or being said in the classroom that could lead to bigger problems and take action to prevent it from escalating.

Don't sit behind your desk, be up and walking around the classroom helping them and trying to prevent problems. Sometimes just walking up to help or standing near a student goofing off is all you need to do to get them back on task.

Always try to remember how you felt when you were their age.

It helps to have a sense of humor, but not at their expense. And you're going to have to be able to laugh at yourself at times.

Be their teacher, not one of the guys. It's something that happens a lot with young teachers who are only a few years older than the students they are teaching. Do get to know them, it helps to know something about their lives outside of the classroom to better understand and help them, but be professional. Don't try to impress them with how cool a guy you are. There's nothing worse than the teacher who tries to be the coolest kid in the school. A cool teacher, yes, one of the guys, no.

Let them know that you're always interested in hearing their ideas and opinions and willing to discuss them seriously if they are as well.

But never let them gossip about another student or some silly controversy at the school during class. I know it sounds trivial, but it can lead to serious problems.

Always let them see that your main motivation for being there is to help them to be successful now and in the future, whether it be at school, a job, or in dealing with others.

There's more, but this is too long already and it's late. And that's just the students. It would take volumes to discuss dealing with other teachers, the administration, parents, the central office, and boards of education.

I hope you find some of this useful. Good luck!

 

[TheChort]

thanks for the input montanafan

I guess i missed an update, but i got offered a high school level job at the Hollywood school, so i took it. Principal says they still have to work things out w/ other teachers, so my class isn't certain yet. In fact, i talked to him today, and he asked me to email him my top choices for what i want to teach.

alot of the stuff you mentioned, i've heard from other people as well, so it's definitely getting reinforced.
Your list is pretty thorough though. I think i will take a look at it again when i am coming up with my lesson plan. 😉

Personally, I've had a lot of experience with high school age kids, and i deal with trouble situations fairly well. Right now i'd say I am most worried about making the material presentable and interesting.

 

[montanafan]

Originally posted by: TheChort
thanks for the input montanafan

I guess i missed an update, but i got offered a high school level job at the Hollywood school, so i took it. Principal says they still have to work things out w/ other teachers, so my class isn't certain yet. In fact, i talked to him today, and he asked me to email him my top choices for what i want to teach.

alot of the stuff you mentioned, i've heard from other people as well, so it's definitely getting reinforced.
Your list is pretty thorough though. I think i will take a look at it again when i am coming up with my lesson plan. 😉

Personally, I've had a lot of experience with high school age kids, and i deal with trouble situations fairly well. Right now i'd say I am most worried about making the material presentable and interesting.

The fact that you really care about making it interesting convinces me that you will. :thumbsup:

As far as the presentation goes, just be sure and mix it up, not everyone has the same learning style. Assigned reading, lectures, notetaking, research with visits to the library and computer lab, reports, debates, hands-on activities, games and competitions, videos, interactive software, role playing, making models and posters, group work, cooperative learning, field trips, guest speakers, experiments, interviews, bell ringers, vocabulary, essays/critiques/creative writing, demonstrations, surveys, making charts/graphs/diagrams, timelines, pop quizzes, current events, review, reteach, journals, invent/devise, consensus, walk arounds, worksheets, open ended discussions, outlining, brainstorming, and on and on. Oh, and if you teach chemistry, don't forget to have a mole day celebration. 🙂

It sounds like you already have people you can talk to with some experience, but if I can help in any way, especially with the getting started stuff, I'll be glad to. Good luck and have some fun while you're at it.