scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 15, 2016 0:54:13 GMT
I'm having a career crisis. I'm debating on going back to school to become a science teacher. Has anyone here successfully done that at my age? I'll probably be 45 by the time it's all done.
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on Apr 15, 2016 1:00:45 GMT
I would try subbing if you can to see what classrooms are like today.
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Apr 15, 2016 1:03:45 GMT
No one that I know recommends going into education. And they are educators..
|
|
|
Post by annabella on Apr 15, 2016 1:04:25 GMT
Go for it you're still young! However I read so many threads from teachers who are disheartened by the field, they said it's no longer about teaching but about test scores and other nonsense. Make sure this is a field that will satisfy you.
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 15, 2016 1:05:42 GMT
Subbing is where I'm going to start. As for educators not recommending it...it is two educators who are telling me to do it. One has been telling me to do it for years.
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 15, 2016 1:06:51 GMT
I would love to do PE, and it's a PE teacher who has been telling me for years to do it. Another friend who is special Ed said that science, which is my current career, would be a more secure position.
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,467
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Apr 15, 2016 1:11:43 GMT
As a science teacher myself, I say go for it.....if you want to be blamed for every shortcoming in the profession, if you don't plan to ever be able to pay off your student loans, if you don't want to be respected, if you want to raise other people's kids and give them love their parents don't, if you want shit said about the profession all the time.
All of that said, I wouldn't change my job. I have a great staff I work with at a school with mostly good parents in a good district. My school doesn't perform well on state tests and most of my kids are title 1 but I love my job. 17 years in and I don't regret it. You grow a thick skin towards assholes so the crap that gets flung doesn't sting so much. The kids make my job worth all the crap.
|
|
|
Post by mirabelleswalker on Apr 15, 2016 1:12:21 GMT
I went back to grad school just two months shy of 42, got a job right out of school, and have been in that job for over 8 years. So yes, you can do it.
|
|
|
Post by Drew on Apr 15, 2016 1:16:04 GMT
I'm looking at a career change. I passed the incredibly hard math test and 45 minute personality quiz (go figure) and my interview is Saturday. If it doesn't work out, I have another interview in my field next week. I'm 50.
Anyway, I say go for it. The troubling posts you read here about teaching are mostly by long-term career teachers. You may come out of school feeling fresh and ready to teach.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 15, 2016 1:43:04 GMT
This 43 year old teacher would tell you to stay far away. I've only been at it eight years and this is the worst one yet. I would like to say that it's just the parents or just the lack of support and funding or just the school politics or just the long hours and low pay, but the truth is that it's all of those things plus some (not all) of the kids are absolute shits who will make your life miserable. You have to be the kind of person who can focus just on the kids who want to learn and put everything else aside. If you can do that, you'll be fine. I'm still working on it.
|
|
|
Post by refugeepea on Apr 15, 2016 1:49:32 GMT
scorpeao my 42 year old sister has a degree in journalism. That profession, especially newspapers where she used to work is not a great career choice anymore. There is a program through the state where as you teach, you take classes to be certified in teaching. She is now a Kindergarten teacher. It seriously blows my mind! She speaks Spanish and it's been helpful with the migrant population that is in their area because of agriculture and big dairy farms.
|
|
|
Post by peasapie on Apr 15, 2016 1:53:04 GMT
I highly recommend middle to high school. Absolutely. And you will still have plenty of time to teach!
|
|
gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
|
Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 15, 2016 1:54:17 GMT
This 43 year old teacher would tell you to stay far away. I've only been at it eight years and this is the worst one yet. I would like to say that it's just the parents or just the lack of support and funding or just the school politics or just the long hours and low pay, but the truth is that it's all of those things plus some (not all) of the kids are absolute shits who will make your life miserable. You have to be the kind of person who can focus just on the kids who want to learn and put everything else aside. If you can do that, you'll be fine. I'm still working on it. You cannot focus on the kids who want to learn. Now, you must individualize and find ways to make learning accessible even for those who don't want to be there. It is your fault if they don't show up, don't pass, don't want to be there, etc. If you are teaching well, you do it right for ALL. THAT is the prevailing attitude now. OP, if you can be in a higher level science, you will have few of those who are waiting to drop out and come to school to socialize, show up drunk or drugged, threaten you and nothing happens because behavioral interventions are positive, not punitive, will do their work, put their phones away, etc.
|
|
|
Post by zztop11 on Apr 15, 2016 1:55:16 GMT
I'm going to be very blunt. ARE YOU CRAZY. Sorry, I just had to say this. IMO, there is no way you should go into teaching. Especially at the age of 45. I was a teacher for 30 years so I do have experience. I taught home economics and health. Setting up labs for home economics classes is exhausting. You would be doing the same thing having to set up science labs. Teaching is exhausting. There is such a difference as to teaching when you are young and in your 20s and early 30s and being older. The stamina needed to teach is just physically, mentally and emotionally life draining. Do as another poster suggested. Substitute. Do some long term substituting also where you are the one responsible for making out the plans. Keep in mind that you could be teaching 3 different courses at one time. Of course, I don't know you and what your home life is now, but I can tell you, it will basically be gone. Having to grade papers daily, plan, contact parents, all of this takes so much time. Also keep in mind that you can end up teaching courses that are not your specialty. For example, you may find that you don't like physics. But that you are assigned to teach it. I think you'll be trading one crisis for another.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 15, 2016 2:05:21 GMT
This 43 year old teacher would tell you to stay far away. I've only been at it eight years and this is the worst one yet. I would like to say that it's just the parents or just the lack of support and funding or just the school politics or just the long hours and low pay, but the truth is that it's all of those things plus some (not all) of the kids are absolute shits who will make your life miserable. You have to be the kind of person who can focus just on the kids who want to learn and put everything else aside. If you can do that, you'll be fine. I'm still working on it. You cannot focus on the kids who want to learn. Now, you must individualize and find ways to make learning accessible even for those who don't want to be there. It is your fault if they don't show up, don't pass, don't want to be there, etc. If you are teaching well, you do it right for ALL. THAT is the prevailing attitude now. OP, if you can be in a higher level science, you will have few of those who are waiting to drop out and come to school to socialize, show up drunk or drugged, threaten you and nothing happens because behavioral interventions are positive, not punitive, will do their work, put their phones away, etc. I meant focusing on the kids who want to be there in terms of what you allow to have an emotional impact on you. But yeah, point taken. I had a 7th grader - who has spent the entire year talking, playing around, getting out of his seat, wandering the halls when given a bathroom pass, and making inappropriate comments - yell in my face today that it's my fault he can't sight read music because I've never taught him anything. One of my 8th graders barfed during class and it turned out he'd been smoking weed during lunch and it made him sick.
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 15, 2016 2:14:58 GMT
Hmmm... Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll just sub for now and try to figure out what to do.
|
|
gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
|
Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 15, 2016 2:20:05 GMT
You cannot focus on the kids who want to learn. Now, you must individualize and find ways to make learning accessible even for those who don't want to be there. It is your fault if they don't show up, don't pass, don't want to be there, etc. If you are teaching well, you do it right for ALL. THAT is the prevailing attitude now. OP, if you can be in a higher level science, you will have few of those who are waiting to drop out and come to school to socialize, show up drunk or drugged, threaten you and nothing happens because behavioral interventions are positive, not punitive, will do their work, put their phones away, etc. I meant focusing on the kids who want to be there in terms of what you allow to have an emotional impact on you. But yeah, point taken. I had a 7th grader - who has spent the entire year talking, playing around, getting out of his seat, wandering the halls when given a bathroom pass, and making inappropriate comments - yell in my face today that it's my fault he can't sight read music because I've never taught him anything. One of my 8th graders barfed during class and it turned out he'd been smoking weed during lunch and it made him sick. I did not intend to slight you. I meant the general you more than YOU. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. It's more to sympathize with you.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 15, 2016 2:35:36 GMT
Hmmm...I LOVE my job. Are there days I want to bang my head? You bet. Are there kids that can drive me crazy? Hell yes.
I love teaching. I love being with the kids. I love being shocked when that kid I thought hated me, seeks me out to thank me.
I think it really depends on where you teach and what your principal and superintendent are like. It also might depend on the strength of the union and the school and education board. It may depend on the demographic of your students.
Look into the teacher job satisfaction in your area. Some of the shit Merge puts up with would cause me to hate my job, but where I teach is not like that.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 15, 2016 2:36:41 GMT
Eta: as a new teacher you will probably be given the lower level science classes
|
|
|
Post by iteach3rdgrade on Apr 15, 2016 2:39:07 GMT
Teaching has really changed in the last several years. It's frustrating to see the cycle of change after 23 years and I work harder now than I ever did before, however, if you haven't been in the field then you don't really know the change so it may not be that bad for you.
|
|
|
Post by ~summer~ on Apr 15, 2016 2:41:31 GMT
I am a huge proponent of career changes in your 40s and 50s -- go for it
|
|
|
Post by worrywart on Apr 15, 2016 3:52:58 GMT
Everything said it basically true...teaching is tough for sure and expectations and responsibility is at an all time high...I mean, it is always the teacher's fault right? lol!
Regardless, I say if that is what you want to do, go for it. I got my certification when I was close to that age and have been teaching 10 years. There are good years and bad years but the great thing about teaching is that you get a fresh start each year. Subbing is great experience too but not the same as having your own classroom. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Apr 15, 2016 3:57:51 GMT
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,467
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Apr 15, 2016 4:24:37 GMT
Great article! Yes to every last bit of it!
|
|
scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
|
Post by scorpeao on Apr 15, 2016 5:20:59 GMT
Thanks for the article. I find it interesting that only 26% of science teachers have a science degree. I'm still on the fence about it. When I was in my last year of college my dd was in kindergarten. At that time her elementary school had a science resource teacher...they visited every grade once a week and taught a lesson. That is my dream job...
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Apr 15, 2016 10:52:09 GMT
I meant focusing on the kids who want to be there in terms of what you allow to have an emotional impact on you. But yeah, point taken. I had a 7th grader - who has spent the entire year talking, playing around, getting out of his seat, wandering the halls when given a bathroom pass, and making inappropriate comments - yell in my face today that it's my fault he can't sight read music because I've never taught him anything. One of my 8th graders barfed during class and it turned out he'd been smoking weed during lunch and it made him sick. I did not intend to slight you. I meant the general you more than YOU. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. It's more to sympathize with you. You didn't offend me at all! I must be really tired ... people keep apologizing for offending me when I wasn't offended or hurt. I guess my job frustration bleeds through into everything I say/write these days. Sorry if it seemed like I was jumping down your throat. OP, we certainly need more dedicated teachers and science is a particularly high-need area. I love, love, love working with the kids who actually want to be there and/or make some effort. I work in an urban Title I school and despite the reputation of this kind of school, the majority of my kids are fantastic. What is true is that the ones who are bad, are really bad. And it's also true that the bad ones usually have some kind of problem at home that feeds their issues at school. I've made more CPS calls this year than in all my previous years of teaching combined. I also have some pretty terrible colleagues, including my fellow choir teacher. I think most teachers will agree that kids are kids, generally speaking, but the people you work with can make or break a job. Choose carefully.
|
|
|
Post by Alexxussss on Apr 16, 2016 1:57:15 GMT
This is my 16th year teaching 7th grade world history. I love the kids, love teaching, but dislike the rest of it. I believe you should look for a short term position ( maternity leave, illness, etc) to see what it is really like. Just being a sub isn't reality. Try it and see if you enjoy it. Wishing you the best.
|
|
oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
Jun 26, 2014 12:25:29 GMT
|
Post by oldcrow on Apr 16, 2016 16:56:06 GMT
I am a huge proponent of career changes in your 40s and 50s -- go for it Me too.
|
|
|
Post by annaintx on Apr 16, 2016 17:19:25 GMT
I am a teacher educator and have been a student teacher supervisor for years.
Science is a highly sought out position in our state. I'm in TX. With a science degree, you will get a job and you will probably be able to choose the district with which you work. You will most likely get the beginning science classes like biology, and not the advanced or "honors" courses until you've been teaching a while.
I would recommend a long term sub position to try it out. But many sub positions require a teaching degree. However--please know that unless the students see you as "teacher" and not "substitute" you will get the substitute experience, which means they will generally misbehave because you are a temporary person, not the "real" teacher.
I would NOT recommend emergency certification or alternative certification. Many of the districts here in TX will not even look at a resume of someone who was alternatively certified. (That is, you didn't go through a teacher preparation program.)
When I was teaching college courses (methods courses) I had many students for whom this was a second career. About half of them thought that all they would have to do was stand in front of the class and the kids would automatically listen and do what they were told. This is not so. (Which is an understatement).
I was a high school teacher in the mid 90s and it was hard enough then. I have a friend who has taught this whole time--she teaches upper division math courses in a high school--and she constantly tells me not to go back to teaching. (I have thought about going back when my daughter is a little older, either middle school or high school). I don't think I will, but who knows.
If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to PM me.
Good luck with your decision!
|
|
|
Post by anonrefugee on Apr 16, 2016 17:43:00 GMT
Interesting responses. I know several who have mid career switch to become teachers, leaving corporate life, and are happy, fits with family schedule, etc. I wonder if those making a mid life career change have different perception about reality of teaching profession? Plus they are burned out of other stressful jobs, so this is fresh to them. Lots of jobs are intense and have tough expectations. I don't know many salaried workers who only put in forty hours per week. At least with teaching you can hope you're improving society. Merge this won't help you personally- but your posts are some that help me remember to write my kids high school teachers thank you notes and send occasional Starbucks or sonic gift cards. Two even told me HS teachers rarely get notes so the especially appreciate it.
|
|