Feedback on Teaching/carreer change
Judy
In my town there is a shortage of teachers so the city has implemented a
program for people with bachelor's degrees
to get certified with a Master's in education at the same time.
If selected,one is thrown into a classroom after a brief intoductory
training,
paid a small salary with benefits and assigned a "mentor".
Take three summers worth of Graduate Level education courses -no tuition
fee at one of several participating local Universities.
After 2 years one is fully certified with regular starting salary,and has
to agree to teach in the city school system for another 2years.
Now I was not a stellar student,so I would stick with early
childhood/Elelmentary and would'nt even be interested in High School.
My first choice would be Art,but thats not one of the choices.
However, having spoken to three or four educators in the area,I've been led
to believe the Arts are making a comeback where they had previously been
deemed frivolous,and they are now also being integrated into the rest of the
curriculum--an idea I love,and do see this in my kids' school.
I am ambivalent,for a few reasons: One : I still want to be a potter and
teach that part-time--but the money is far less than the fullfillment....
Two: What if I actually
find that I hate it? A neighbor quit the program I described after 6
weeks,because
he was put in
an awful school where he spent 90% of the time disciplining,and got little
support.
He did'nt
give up on Education,however. He simply took out a whopping student loan to
do it
which is not
an option for me .
Three: What if I can't
deal with the administrative issues like time-management,lesson plans,OR
school politics?
So,any feedback,anyone? Except for the fuzzy guys who live under
bridges,please.
Judy
GOtterBMe
"So,any feedback,anyone? Except for the fuzzy guys who live under
bridges,please.
Judy"
Judy -- maybe you could get a part-time job as an art teacher?
If I were you, I would work as a volunteer for several weeks in a classroom.
Find a teacher who will let you observe all day ... for a couple of weeks. Make
note of what he or she takes home, what extra things come down the pike
unexpectedly...
It's a HUGE time commitment to teach, and the first year, the amount of time
needed is horrendous. I am VERY glad I had neither husband nor children my
first year of teaching.
It can be very rewarding, and I believe that potential teachers would learn
more that's useful from good mentoring than classes, but the most valuable part
of teacher education is the student teaching.
Where I am, that process begins in the student's sophomore year, when they come
in a couple of times a week and work with small groups with lots of guidance.
Then their junior year they are like a "junior" student teacher and spend a LOT
of time in the classroom, and take on more respnsibility.
As a true student teacher (they're called "practicum" teachers here), beginning
the first week they take over entire responsibility for a small part of the
day, and at the end have spent several weeks entirely responsible for the
entire day.
They go to all IEP's and faculty meetings, and they attend whatever committee
meetings the teacher is on. They prepare the lesson plans (which are approved).
They do the whole thing.
It's a trial by fire except that there's lots of support, and in my opinion
it's invaluable.
Go for it if you think you would love it passionately. You'll be miserable
unless you really, truly want to be there. But most art teachers I have known
love teaching elementary art... the children come up with delightful and
remarkable expressions sometimes.
Judy
My three passions in terms of teaching would be art,reading and writing.
And I do enjoy elementary aged kids and their untainted access to
creativity.
I volunteer each week for a couple of hours in my son's classroom(first
grade) and less often in my daughter's pre-school class.
I do an art project that I try to tie into the thematic unit of the month.
Its inspiring to see what they do with the
projects I present and what aspects of their personalities surface. I can
readily see who the
conformists are,who is extremely talented,etc. This it what I really enjoy
the most.
I'm sure youre right about the time committment, and your point is
well-taken
about how the student teaching was easier for you before kids and marriage.
Maybe you're right that I'd be better off teaching art part-time.
I would consider going to a less prestigious/less expensive local college to
get an Art ed. certification,
but only if I knew for sure I could get a regular part-time teaching job in
the school system or private schools.
I think i need at least some formal training/guidance on developing art
curriculum,because I don't have that experience.
Right now I kind of wing it! I love doing my art work,but my husband
carries all the financial weight
since we had kids and my art sales have dwindled,but will come back by next
year when both kids are in school full-time.
Even so,I never made alot-mostly just above breaking even,and I'd like to
ease my DH's stress!
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