How does one become an elementary/middle school computer teacher?

[Turgon]

I'm 27, graduated 5 years ago with a B.S. in Accounting, and currently am the Assistant Manager of Info Systems for a small company. My job provides me with a comfortable standard of living, but I'm just not satisfied in a deeper sense.... I guess I should say that it's not meaningful. But I do enjoy (speaking in generic terms) the field of information systems and anything related to computers. So why not combine the two (info sys and greater fulfillment) - Computer teacher?? I wouldn't want to teach in today's crazy high schools, but middle or elementary would be cool. I think it would be pretty cool helping to prepare these kids for a much more competitive future. Does this kind of position exist on a large scale? If so, what kind of schooling is involved? Like I said before, my degree is actually in Accounting.... and I've never taken any sort of teaching courses.
It's only an idea... one of a few that I have... but I'd at least like to know if it's in the realm of possibility.

 

[Lager]

Get a teaching credential or certificate from a local state college? I think you can get it in two years?

It's nice to know you want to do something that can make you happy and others happy.

 

[vegetation]

You would need to be certified if you want to be a full-time teacher. If considering as a career, you should probably get a masters in education, perhaps a masters in educational technology.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Eh, just do some volunteer work for them

 

[JackHomer]

Do like Jack Black did in School of Rock and just steal some substitutes job

 

[shopbruin]

well... you'll be dealing with a bunch of kids that are gonna be touching the screen all day, trying to jam things in the disk drives, and going "where's the any key?!"

but you would need to get a credential. look up how to become a teacher in your state. there may be some additional classes you will need to take. also try looking up the teacher's union in your state, there should be some info on how to become credentialed in your state.

 

[UglyCasanova]

The most I remember our computer teachers doing in elementary/middle school was organizing everyone's floppy disc and telling them how to start up our "labs". Those were basically time wasting programs so the teacher got a day off. If you just like being around kids and you get to play with your own computer then that might be fine, but if you are actually looking to teach things about computers to kids (and in a sense I would guess a greater sense of "reward" or like you are actually doing something constructive in someone's life) then high school might be the way to go, even with the smart ass kids these days. Just my opinion, though. And I would do alot of research before I made any kind of decisions.

 

[cw42]

im at NJIT and they were offering an IT degree with a concentration in teaching in conjunction with Rutgers-newark. I was thinking about it, then I realized how much pay sux for teachers :/

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: UglyCassanova
The most I remember our computer teachers doing in elementary/middle school was organizing everyone's floppy disc and telling them how to start up our "labs". Those were basically time wasting programs so the teacher got a day off. If you just like being around kids and you get to play with your own computer then that might be fine, but if you are actually looking to teach things about computers to kids (and in a sense I would guess a greater sense of "reward" or like you are actually doing something constructive in someone's life) then high school might be the way to go, even with the smart ass kids these days. Just my opinion, though. And I would do alot of research before I made any kind of decisions.

It also depends on the school. At my school, there is one or two CompSci 1 classes (hello world for the whole year) and a very (ten people) CompSci 2 course (AP class). Being an AP teacher is nice at my school, they can get rid of you any time they want.

 

[Turgon]

Thanks all for the replies. I'll probably contact the teachers' union in my state and talk to a few local districts.
freesia39, I deal with ADULTS that do those same exact things, and even worse. The other day I had to deal with a very upset employee that blamed me, the new system and caps lock on an error she received while trying to export the file g;\apdata.mdb. It's always "my computer did this, my computer did that." Or questions to the effect of "why can't you develop a system that will do all my work for me?" And then there's the users that open strange looking email attachments from unknown sources. I could fill up page after page of similar stories. I can't see how kids will be worse.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: cw42
im at NJIT and they were offering an IT degree with a concentration in teaching in conjunction with Rutgers-newark. I was thinking about it, then I realized how much pay sux for teachers :/

and NJ has the highest paid teachers.

(in northern nj)

i work in a school system in Northern NJ.
my advice would be what many others say, start the schooling, so the student teaching, start with almost ANY small position inside a district that you like and then....wait.
sad to say that waiting is a big part of getting the position you want in most school systems. especially if it doesnt exist yet. but make sure you plan it all out. administrators in schools love when you have a plan.

 

[badmouse]

Originally posted by: Turgon
Thanks all for the replies. I'll probably contact the teachers' union in my state and talk to a few local districts.
freesia39, I deal with ADULTS that do those same exact things, and even worse. The other day I had to deal with a very upset employee that blamed me, the new system and caps lock on an error she received while trying to export the file g;\apdata.mdb. It's always "my computer did this, my computer did that." Or questions to the effect of "why can't you develop a system that will do all my work for me?" And then there's the users that open strange looking email attachments from unknown sources. I could fill up page after page of similar stories. I can't see how kids will be worse.

The kids will be worse because they all come equipped with parents.

You do realize that you'll be teaching computers about 3 percent of the time and doing school paperwork, administration, etc the rest of the time? I taught music for a year and realized I couldn't stand it.