Any Teacher Out There???

I went through Region IV's teacher certification program last year. I had been teaching in private schools for 8 years so I had plenty of experience to go on. Many private schools can hire you with just a bachelor's degree. You would be highly marketable with the math in your background. Finding higher level math and science teachers is difficult for schools. As for the Alternative Certification program I would recommend Region IV, I have heard some not so great things about some of the other programs, not that they are bad, just more hoops to jump through, etc. Through Region IV I was able to do all my course work online. I never went to a class, I never had to take time from my little ones. I fit in all I needed to on the weekends when they were napping.

It is nice to have all the vacations off with the kids. I have worked the 9 to 5 job and do prefer this. It is stressful at times though. I think that is why teachers need the time off. I would avoid TAKS as well. Especially your first few years. It is very stressful!

You need to make a decision now or you will miss out on the next school year. You could start in the summer and be able to get a job in the fall if you move quickly. Good luck!

I am currently in school to become a teacher. I wanted to get an idea of how I would feel in a classroom without having to sub since it is a large pay cut for me. I volunteer for Junior Achievement and am able to lead a class. Basically you choose the school and grade level and the Junior Achievement program gives you lessons and activities to teach. It is 1 hour a week for 5 weeks for each session. It is to teach children about community and businesses and how a city runs.It has helped me get a better grasp on what age level I would like to teach in the future. I live in Katy and have enjoyed it. If your interested you can call any Katy school and they will put you on the right path. Some companies even support the program and allow time off work to teach the classes.

The starting teacher salary is around 42k. The emergency certification programs cost a couple of thousand dollars (4 I think) and the district takes that money directly out of your paycheck if you go through their emergency certification program. The first year in the program you will not get to spend a lot of time with the kiddos. You will be in trainings after school a couple days a week and I think once a month on Saturdays. THis is probably a good time to do it since the little ones are still little and won't remember you being gone all of the time. Once you're certified you will have lots of time off. Just make sure you pick a good school district and a good school. If possible pick an early childhood certificate. Although with your math background I imagine they will try to talk you into teaching high school math. For emergency certification they will want you to teach a shortage area like math, science, bilingual or special ed. Try to steer clear of any TAKS subjects. Try computers or some other elective if they let you. The TAKS area teachers are under alot of stress. Hope this helps. Contact me if you have more questions.

To add to the advice of finding a "good" school...each year the Houston Chronicle publishes a "Report Card" for almost all of the local schools, which I found to be helpful when developing my job search (three years ago). I focused on schools whose report cards paralleled what I was looking for in a school...diversity, in a good neighborhood (which typically means good kids), good test scores, etc.

I love the time off. Just when you're starting to feel tired...wham...Thanksgiving...tired...Christmas...tired...Spring Bread...tired...SUMMER!!! I love the balance. Your teacher schedule will be very conducive to spending time with your family (but like another reponse said...NOT the first year).

Oh, and I have a TAKS grade and I don't mind it. Good luck!

P.,

There are a number of routes to acheiving your credential in Texas, I would reccommend spending some time on the credentialing board of Texas website to answer any questions you may have. I was a teacher in California for nine years and although I had loads of time off in the summer (much of this you can spend preparing for the next school year or even attending special training), I would not plan on having lots of extra time with your kiddos during the school year (even less your first couple of years when your learning curve is highest). There are plenty of after school meetings and if you are teaching upper grades you need to be available to students after school. There are coaching jobs, committees to serve on, and clubs to be overseen by teachers at all levels (someone has to be in charge of that yearbook). I would never discourage anyone from going into the profession, I loved a lot about the job, however, I would discourage anyone from thinking that it is an easy job and is not time consuming. There is nothing easy about teaching if you are doing it right. It is a job that requires 100% committment and can be emotionally trying, some years are amazing and others are dreadful, some kids you just love, others you can't stand and you have to reach all of them. It was an incredibly rewarding job and I plan to return when my kids are older and of school age, but like any job, I will still need child care after school during the school year. You are definitely on the right track, talking to others in the profession, I might even reccommend that you ask permission to observe a classroom at a grade level you think you may be interested in. Don't just watch for an hour or two, stay the whole day and see if you really want to do it. I would also suggest you sub for a while, if that is possible, it would really give you the opportunity to determine if you have a rapport with one age group vs. another. That is the secret, finding the age group you are best able to manage and then just learning the curriculum for that group. Your personality plays just as big a part as your education.

Good Luck,

Carin (junior high teacher who loved 12 year olds)