OT: - Teachers of Boneyard...Back to School Time | Page 17 | The Boneyard

OT: Teachers of Boneyard...Back to School Time

navery12 said:
Curious to get some objective insight here. I'm 31 and getting pretty tired of my corporate job and debating a career change to teaching. I've always been interested in teaching even pre college but for one reason or another ended up going other routes.

Curious if anyone here has made that change, and beyond that if the teachers here think it's a worthwhile move. Not sure if it's too late to be making a move like this
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Depends on where you are located. I am in Indiana, but started school at CCSU before transferring to Purdue after I moved. If I would have known how teaching has changed in my 17 years of doing it and how the pay isn't keeping up with the work involved, I would have chosen something else. I'm halfway done with my career and the only couple saving graces are that summers off with my 2 young girls are awesome and being on the same schedule with them is pretty nice.

If you have a significant other and they make a decent amount, then I would say try it and if it doesn't work then get out and go back to something else. It isn't for everyone and you need thick skin nowadays.

Also depending on where you are you would need to take the Praxis subject test to get licensed in whatever subject and also have a teaching certificate if you don't already have one. In Indiana you just need to pass the Praxis subject test in order to teach.
 
navery12 said:
Curious to get some objective insight here. I'm 31 and getting pretty tired of my corporate job and debating a career change to teaching. I've always been interested in teaching even pre college but for one reason or another ended up going other routes.

Curious if anyone here has made that change, and beyond that if the teachers here think it's a worthwhile move. Not sure if it's too late to be making a move like this
Expand ...

Are you in CT? This is about as late an age as you'd want to make the switch. Gotta have it by 35-ish. You really need 30 years to get a decent pension here.
 
Minicoop69 said:
If you have a significant other and they make a decent amount, then I would say try it and if it doesn't work then get out and go back to something else. It isn't for everyone and you need thick skin nowadays.
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My fiancee is a teacher, so right now I'm that significant other lol. Which is definitely a big factor I have to consider
 
navery12 said:
Curious to get some objective insight here. I'm 31 and getting pretty tired of my corporate job and debating a career change to teaching. I've always been interested in teaching even pre college but for one reason or another ended up going other routes.

Curious if anyone here has made that change, and beyond that if the teachers here think it's a worthwhile move. Not sure if it's too late to be making a move like this
Expand ...
If you pursue this, make sure to put a lot of time into researching where you want to teach. There are problem districts sometimes hiding where you least expect it.
 
The high-school I went to growing up cut music and fired (laid-off) the music teacher. This is one of the best public schools in one of the best states (Connecticut) in the country. I'm scared for the future of education in the US.
 
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Travelman6 said:
The high-school I went to growing up cut music and fired (laid-off) the music teacher. This is one of the best public schools in one of the best states (Connecticut) in the country. I'm scared for the future of education in the US.
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When I started teaching in the 80s my middle school had wood shop, metal shop, print shop, drafting, two art teachers, cooking, sewing, technology, band, chorus, music, two pe teachers, and health.

There are more students now, with only one art teacher, one pe teacher, health, band, chorus, and technology.

Specials are now where students go when their academic teachers have meetings. I still find it odd that not one administrator had ever taught an academic class.
 
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navery12 said:
Curious to get some objective insight here. I'm 31 and getting pretty tired of my corporate job and debating a career change to teaching. I've always been interested in teaching even pre college but for one reason or another ended up going other routes.

Curious if anyone here has made that change, and beyond that if the teachers here think it's a worthwhile move. Not sure if it's too late to be making a move like this
Expand ...
Have you considered independent/private schools? No certification needed and, depending on which direction you want to teach, your previous work experience can go a long way adjusting into the education field.

There are a lot of really good private/independent schools in CT, and, depending in your area, you can apply to the schools that fit the niche you are looking for. Quite a few teachers in the MS section of my school are on second/third careers as teachers. I've taught in the same PK-8th grade international school for 15 years and love it, although the pay is a little under the median salary of nearby public schools and no pension, but there are other perks, including matching 401k contributions. I'm dual certified in CT for 4th-8th English & Math, but I don't have a desire to leave even though I've applied to a few public jobs here and there. Feel free to PM if interested.
 
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Minicoop69 said:
If I would have known how teaching has changed in my 17 years of doing it and how the pay isn't keeping up with the work involved, I would have chosen something else. I'm halfway done with my career and the only couple saving graces are that summers off with my 2 young girls are awesome and being on the same schedule with them is pretty nice.

If you have a significant other and they make a decent amount, then I would say try it and if it doesn't work then get out and go back to something else. It isn't for everyone and you need thick skin nowadays.
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Pretty solid reply here. 22 years ago I switched from corporate to teaching in my early 30s. I thought I was going to LOVE it, and for the most part really do.

Stuff has changed quite a bit though, and generally not for the better.
  • we used to have a lot more control of our lessons, tests/quizzes, and curriculum. Now we have more layers of administration and coaches dictating this stuff. Not necessarily a bad thing, but when they force a shit math curricula like IM down your throat, it sucks.
  • pay just hasn’t kept up with high inflation. Teacher pay got destroyed by the recent high inflation, and we’re not getting it back. Govt data shows inflation and pay increased together in the private sector, but NOT for teachers over the past few years.
  • kids are a LOT different these days. They are very tuned into phones and instant gratification, and productively struggling to learn and deep thought are becoming a thing of the past for such a large portion of students. Fighting with kids to put their phones in a designated caddy, and the endless arguments over who is next in line for the lav takes its toll on you. EVERY day.
  • post COVID, kids are REALLY struggling with mental health, and that is hard to see. School learning can be secondary to just getting through the day … I guess it is good that we can be part of the support system, but it is hard.
  • there’s a lot of BS like mandatory passing (or retakes or minimum grades on tests) that are training kids to not be accountable.
  • Now that I’m 54 and my corporate friends are starting to make real $$$$, it is very noticeable.
  • my job is less about teaching math, and more about managing students behaviors, expectations, and rewarding those executive functioning skills that employers like. If I didn’t get to teach AP Calc once a day (math content is important, students behave like adults, …), I don’t think I’d still be around.

Probably 96% of students in my high school are nice and likeable. But so many are disengaged from learning for any number of reasons. It is EXHAUSTING at times.

You need thick skin, and you GOTTA LOVE TEACHING/INTERACTING with your age group. I love that part, and it is still exhausting. Every now and again the personal rewards are incredible. Summers off are also incredible.

Get certified to sub (easy), and go check it out by subbing a bit. Or tag along with someone like me for a day.

Good luck!
 
navery12 said:
Curious to get some objective insight here. I'm 31 and getting pretty tired of my corporate job and debating a career change to teaching. I've always been interested in teaching even pre college but for one reason or another ended up going other routes.

Curious if anyone here has made that change, and beyond that if the teachers here think it's a worthwhile move. Not sure if it's too late to be making a move like this
Expand ...

I started teaching public schools in my 30s. No regrets after all said and done, but there were some really rough years towards the end.

Do you have a specific subject or grade in mind?

I agree with Adrien: consider private schools. Smaller class size and fewer behavior problems.

One negative is many private schools require teachers to coach a sport, which includes later hours, including Saturdays.

One big positive: most offer free tuition for the children of employees.
 
temery said:
I started teaching public schools in my 30s. No regrets after all said and done, but there were some really rough years towards the end.

Do you have a specific subject or grade in mind?

I agree with Adrien: consider private schools. Smaller class size and fewer behavior problems.

One negative is many private schools require teachers to coach a sport, which includes later hours, including Saturdays.

One big positive: most offer free tuition for the children of employees.
Expand ...
I'd want to teach high school math, maybe middle school but preferably high school. I'll have to look into the private school route, that wasn't something I'd considered
 
navery12 said:
I'd want to teach high school math, maybe middle school but preferably high school. I'll have to look into the private school route, that wasn't something I'd considered
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'What's your undergraduate degree?
 
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navery12 said:
I'd want to teach high school math, maybe middle school but preferably high school. I'll have to look into the private school route, that wasn't something I'd considered
Expand ...
Middle school math teacher here and I love teaching the IB-MYP approach of mathematics and I also coach the school’s Mathcounts team. More public schools are applying IB and it’s much more holistic and interesting than brain-dead rote stuff and doesn’t have the weird check marks of some common core standards. I’m the curriculum leader at my school, so I’ve basically created all of the curriculum and assessments and can freely adjust, when appropriate. To be honest, I can imagine it being hard/boring to teach middle school math in some district districts.
 
Hey Adrien! said:
Middle school math teacher here and I love teaching the IB-MYP approach of mathematics and I also coach the school’s Mathcounts team. More public schools are applying IB and it’s much more holistic and interesting than brain-dead rote stuff and doesn’t have the weird check marks of some common core standards. I’m the curriculum leader at my school, so I’ve basically created all of the curriculum and assessments and can freely adjust, when appropriate. To be honest, I can imagine it being hard/boring to teach middle school math in some district districts.
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I currently teach high school math and all levels including college courses. I am transitioning into being an engineering and CAD teacher at my high school.

I have taught MS math for my 1st 7 years of teaching and while it was ok, nothing compares, for me at least, teaching high school math. The maturity in HS vs MS is a vast difference and that is all I needed. My MS that I taught at had 1500+ kids and admin wanted to be more friends then having discipline and it showed with the students.ass turnover with staff every year.
 
Pm
navery12 said:
I'd want to teach high school math, maybe middle school but preferably high school. I'll have to look into the private school route, that wasn't something I'd considered
Expand ...
There’s the Alternate Route to Certification, a program that gets you an accelerated teaching certification (8 weeks over the summer?). I did it … in 2002 and have been teaching since.
 
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There is a varsity basketball job over the border in MA.. my buddy is engaged to the principal’s daughter I get it easily… I just don’t think I care anymore.

I gave 15 years of my life, ate slept breathed hoops, but maaaaaaaaan.. life is different, I don’t need the ego boost, the late nights, the drama.. I’ve become such a grumpy old man at 46
 
M.S.G. said:
There is a varsity basketball job over the border in MA.. my buddy is engaged to the principal’s daughter I get it easily… I just don’t think I care anymore.

I gave 15 years of my life, ate slept breathed hoops, but maaaaaaaaan.. life is different, I don’t need the ego boost, the late nights, the drama.. I’ve become such a grumpy old man at 46
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Teaching and coachint sucks. I was at school from 7am-9pm 5 days a week during the season. Plus Saturday mornings.

Not worth it. I'll coach my kid's travel teams so they don't get some psycho parent.
 
I have only been an Adjunct faculty first at Mercy College then at Rutgers. At Mercy I was low man on the biology faculty so I got the bottom jobs, Bedford Hills Correctional, Taconic State, Sing Sing and the worst the Cross County Shopping Mall Campus. When I left Rockland County and moved to NJ I team taught a year long toxicology course at Rutgers and mentored predoctoral students. I taught at night after my corporate day job and loved every minute of it. I was tired but so were the students many had to listen to me after working all day!! I knew if I had a bad day teaching that they would have an even worse day learning. I retired a few years ago and my wife said you ought to go back to teach a bit. I thought about it for a second - its a young person's sport! God bless the teachers of this world - Happy Easter
 
Anyone ever taught at a school where math has been cut?

When I built our curriculum about ten years ago, we had 300 minutes a week (which I know is a ton) and a few years ago we’ve been whittled down to 225 minutes a week (45 minutes every day), which I realize is pretty normal in most schools, so I kept my complaints minimal.

Anyways, last week, I had a meeting with our head of MS to discuss next year’s schedule and she proposed four days of math per week at 45 minutes, totaling out to 180 total. I was pretty shocked, especially considering the high standards these kids have at our private school, and especially with many applying to private high schools after graduating after grade 8. When it was clear I was very unhappy with this change, another option was proposed: two days a week for 90 minutes/week. I laughed out loud.

Good news is that the HOS got word of my disappointment so we’ll meet Wednesday to discuss schedule.
 
Hey Adrien! said:
Anyone ever taught at a school where math has been cut?

When I built our curriculum about ten years ago, we had 300 minutes a week (which I know is a ton) and a few years ago we’ve been whittled down to 225 minutes a week (45 minutes every day), which I realize is pretty normal in most schools, so I kept my complaints minimal.

Anyways, last week, I had a meeting with our head of MS to discuss next year’s schedule and she proposed four days of math per week at 45 minutes, totaling out to 180 total. I was pretty shocked, especially considering the high standards these kids have at our private school, and especially with many applying to private high schools after graduating after grade 8. When it was clear I was very unhappy with this change, another option was proposed: two days a week for 90 minutes/week. I laughed out loud.

Good news is that the HOS got word of my disappointment so we’ll meet Wednesday to discuss schedule.
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That is crazy!!! 180 minutes a week is nuts. What's the other minutes look like for other content areas?

I'm in HS and we have 50 minute classes every day. So 250 minutes a week. Other districts around do 180 minutes 1 week and 270 minutes the next as like an alternating block.

My JH in my district is double blocking math next year because our scores suck. So 80-90 minutes of math per day. Electives take a hit.
 
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week...need to vent...

We had coffee provided on Tuesday and lunch provided later today, which is all nice...

But also it's the same day that mother's and special visitors are also at school, visiting classes. It's a half day, so after the half day, we have three hours of meetings, and we have to park off-campus to allow enough parking for visitors.

Just feeling grumpy and need to vent!
 
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Good luck to all you teachers out there. My wife just retired after 53 years in the classroom just amazing to me and she's 77 how she did it I'll never know. Just looked outside and saw the first schoolbus of the year which prompted my post as I was reading this thread. I changed careers and started teaching when I was 48 and retired at 61,14 years ago. Yes I'm old and started and became a uconn fan as my father took me too see the huskies in the old field house in 1957. Again good luck to all you teachers.
 
Edward Sargent said:
I have only been an Adjunct faculty first at Mercy College then at Rutgers. At Mercy I was low man on the biology faculty so I got the bottom jobs, Bedford Hills Correctional, Taconic State, Sing Sing and the worst the Cross County Shopping Mall Campus. When I left Rockland County and moved to NJ I team taught a year long toxicology course at Rutgers and mentored predoctoral students. I taught at night after my corporate day job and loved every minute of it. I was tired but so were the students many had to listen to me after working all day!! I knew if I had a bad day teaching that they would have an even worse day learning. I retired a few years ago and my wife said you ought to go back to teach a bit. I thought about it for a second - its a young person's sport! God bless the teachers of this world - Happy Easter
Expand ...
Sounds like my daughter, a genetics major there, would have loved your toxicology lecture.
 
Last year I sweat through my undershirt and dress shirt by 9am.. yesterday I wore a fleece pullover to school, I’ll take it
 
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