I'm a Teacher?! sheesh...

[millz58]

Hey dc, props on getting through your first full year! By this time, you can sense the end (literally, kids are all grabby and smelling funky as it warms up and they get all spastic), especially with the last testing wave of the year approaching (I assume your school doesn't deal in HSAs, being a Catholic school?). Hey what is your class and course load like? Are you teaching math? I have one class in each of 9th (transitional math), 10th (algebra 1), 11th and 12th (both algebra 2), and I'm also saddled with test-coordinator duties. so I keep pretty busy.

[dc.]

Yikes. That is a crazy course load indeed.

 

In answer to your questions from the other thread - I started in early November of this year (right on start of 2nd quarter almost). I had actually been at the school as a sub prior (was unable to find a full-time position 08-09).

 

Anyway, I teach social studies. Multiple sections of 9th grade World History (On-level and Honors). And one section of AP Euro - only teacher in the school teaching it too... ah!

 

No HSAs, thankfully. I did have to deal with them in student-teaching experience a few years back (Howard Co). They weren't as brutal as I thought they might be; compared to now, I was actually pretty pleased with having a guideline of what to teach. Right now I sometimes feel like there is too little structure around instruction at times (never hear anyone say that, eh?)

 

 

Anyway... Yes, it has been brutal (but fun) and I am feeling some sense of pride in having made it this far. Between coming in late and unscheduled February snow break, it's been pretty interesting. And of course the kids are starting to bounce off the walls. I can't wait to be really start fresh next year and 'make it mine.'

 

 

By the by; I was a math-lete of sorts in high school. AP Calc AB, BC and Stat. It was nice - never had to take math again in college. Which of course has made all of my HS math teachers furious; "you were supposed to be an engineer, not a history teacher!" hahaha

[millz58]

Wow, so you're certified in SS, then you majored in it at UMCP? I majored in math, but have found history as sort of a secondary (no pun) interest; my good friend, old college roommate and teacher-wing-mate for the last 10 years is a history guy and reading specialist, we plan on doing a good bit of co-teaching next year and try to really ramp up the curriculum and instruction at our school for the next few years. always important to collaborate with other staff that you trust and confide in. Also of course, learn your administrators, and (particularly for public schoolers), your district-level nabobs. For the most part I just bang around with the kids, learn them and their families as well as possible, and try to thwart the intrusive efforts of nefarious outsiders. HSAs are kind of a joke, except that the 'achievement gap' really does rear its statisticaly ugly head and put some districts (like Balto. city) behind the 8-ball; luckily my school is so heavily laden with special ed kids that our budget will give us extra SPED staff next year, whereas alot of schools that are losing enrollment numbers have to cut positions across the board.

[dc.]

Well, in my time at MD I earned a double degree in Politics and Secondary Ed. Unfortunately, because of some timing issues, I wasn't able to do the kind of fast-track masters I wanted. Hoping to start that next year when I'm a bit more settled. I think my aim is admin, but who knows... (the dark side?)

 

The co-teaching with your friend sounds great. I am still learning names in my school even, but trying to find some connections. In history, I use literature resources so frequently anyway that I wish I could collaborate/align more with the English department - but again, that's a project for next year.

 

I guess I'm still in that super-optimistic mode (at times... at times I want to pull my hair out) and want to do so much with my classes, really 'embrace' the material in new ways. One of my biggest challenges this year has been coming in later in the year - the students were already used to certain styles of lessons and learning. At times I just want to blow it all away!

[millz58]

If you've gotten to the point where you know your students have learned your 'tricks' then it's your turn to improvise, adapt, overcome (marine corps credo) and reinvent yourself; but it's good you see that. I mostly heard about the "3rd year" mark, where during that year a teacher really begins to figure it all out and become who they are, so to speak (ironically, one year beyond the typical TFA stint, when many bail after their obligatory 2-year contract is over). I went through that myself, finding that pivotal time to really open my eyes to what was expected of me (by students and administrators alike) and to what I was capapble of, and most importantly to what the realities of the job are. By the way, the whole english thing is crucial, meaning instruction of reading, writing, comprehending and articulating in other content areas, very important to know how to get kids to communicate effectively in subjects other than english. Even in math, vocabulary, usage, proper speech, etc. are keys to understanding and speaking to processes and concepts.

[millz58]

I fuckin' hate seniors..., especially this time of year. I'd rather teach 9th graders. Anytime.

[dc.]

Hahahhaa... Our seniors are done next week, I think. Luckily, I don't teach any.

[millz58]

I still have 5 seniors who owe serious obligations, and time is running short. The other that have "made it through" are either not showing up (thankfully) or still showing up and being a pain-in-the-ass. yikes; at our school we have "trimesters" instead of semesters; so, passing kids into graduates is like giving birth...

[dc.]

AP Euro exam was last Friday... never gave an update.

 

Feeling pretty good. Actually think I 'gambled' pretty well about what the essays would hit.

 

The DBQ was on the Weimar Republic (post WWI Germany), which we had done some serious investigation into while looking at the rise of Hitler. That made me feel good.

 

One essay was on the role of Atlantic trade on Western European economies before 1800 - which we had discussed almost word-for-word in one review session. I had even created a "development of economies" worksheet which focused heavily on the shift from mercantilism to capitalism thanks to Atlantic trade. (Niiiice)

 

Another essay was on comparing feminist movements in the 19th century to those in the 20th century. Again, discussed in class just prior to the exam. Dumb luck there. A student had asked for clarification on 20th century feminism - so we went pretty in-depth into what the 19th century wanted/failed to get vs what women in the 20th century wanted/why/how they got it.

 

 

I think 80% of my students answered those two questions when given the choice. That made me feel good. We hit on the others as well, and some students went to those (one of my students was in AP Psych and a question came up about Freud's impact, so he took that one). Regardless... nervous, but excited.

[millz58]

Glad to hear you hit the mark on those topics; I would forward your comments to our history teachers here, see what they think, but I'm fairly ignorant of those areas. I just remember feeling very relieved about AP week being over, and watching seniors move to graduation... . I also remember various disappointments regarding scores, but that was then. I'm at work as I type, organizing HSA test materials for next week, listening to Blackhawks radio on the internet...

[dc.]

The relief from having the AP out of the way right now is unbelievable for me. And the impact it has had on the school as a whole is almost palpable. It's pervasive in everything happening with teachers and students.

 

I have a feeling I will see a pretty wide range of scores... and as much as I don't want to have expectations (its hard to predict when I didn't teach 1/4 of the material they learned, we lost 4+ weeks of time, spent a quarter 'readjusting' to a new teacher/style) I do have some thoughts on what I would like to see - what I would 'accept.'

 

My true hope is that none of my students fail. And if they all were at their best, I think that's quite possible. But I kept tallies on which students came to review sessions and how frequently... and for some, the numbers were dismal. In fact, I think I had one student not come to any reviews, not take any practice tests, etc etc. That's upto 250 fewer practice questions, up to 5 hours less study time than others in the class. And if that student gets a 'sub-par' score - I will have trouble feeling any sympathy.

[millz58]

But I kept tallies on which students came to review sessions and how frequently... and for some, the numbers were dismal. In fact, I think I had one student not come to any reviews, not take any practice tests, etc etc. That's upto 250 fewer practice questions, up to 5 hours less study time than others in the class. And if that student gets a 'sub-par' score - I will have trouble feeling any sympathy.

good man. It's all about checking your feelings against your observations, and then having the proportional reactions. the sooner new teachers get to that, the better for their longer-term occupational health.

[millz58]

I hate trying to pretend to convince students that there's something important to do leading up to finals.... SO, I don't; but then, neither do they.

I hate late May.

[dc.]

Same boat. Luckily, my finals start a week from today. Tomorrow thru Friday are for review.

 

So, Monday and Tuesday I was just like... "Listen, we have a few more things to cover for the exam... I'll lay off, you lay off, but let's get thru it!"

 

A birthday and engagement haven't hurt my mood, either, though they have certainly created a few stirs in my classes.

[millz58]

pregnancies are the best stirs in any class (or school), I encourage them this time of year for staff (or graduating seniors, we have some of each at my school)

edit: this might seem inflammatory to some..

[millz58]

good lord, the students are finally gone (some silly 9th graders lingered to the very last, earning "service learning hours", they really had nothing better to do...) and grades are in, got to partially clear off my desk. I hate the EOY discussions concerning staff that are leaving under undesirable circumstances; we graduated 93% though so that's a bright side of this year.

 

10 days of vacation for me, then back to work, prepping for next year; I always like taking a road trip immediately when the school year's done, clears my mind, puts things behind. also, I love hotel rooms, and I'll be in one late Thursday night, ready to wake up at 6:30 am central time and watch more world cup action. Or at least by 9:00 am when the US plays slovenia.

[dc.]

been out for almost two weeks now... and bored out of my mind to an extent. i am going to try and get a head start on next year pretty soon - especially because my AP grad class was canceled.

 

meanwhile... AP grades delivered online this year... yikes! just a few weeks away

[ForceEight]

Come lifeguard. ;)

 

In other news, reading this thread is intriguing to me. I'm going back to school in September, and teaching has caught on for me as a career desire since leaving the 'Cuse. Any general thoughts? No, I'm not entirely confident in it, yet.

[millz58]

In other news, reading this thread is intriguing to me. I'm going back to school in September, and teaching has caught on for me as a career desire since leaving the 'Cuse. Any general thoughts? No, I'm not entirely confident in it, yet.

Here's my considered advice: think grad school, and think soon, particularly in an area you know you'd want to teach. don't necessarily think education degree, but if so, go for a masters in teaching reading; reading specialists are always in demand. otherwise, go for a masters in a content area you'd like to teach. simultaneously scope out districts in states you are looking at, some states are pickier than others as far as certification is concerned for public schooling (virginia and maryland are pretty demanding regarding teacher credentials).

 

also take note of alternate certification programs (specifically designed to take those who have degrees not in education, who also may have non-teaching-related work experience, but who desire to go into teaching, and train them up quickly); such programs are used regularly, but also battle against the glut of existing union employees going through the revolving-door of musical-chairs system positions. I myself was a hire from the 'outside', using my advanced math degree to get into an alternate cert. program to get my foot in the door to teach in Baltimore city. I think maybe 2% of those that were brought in in my training cohort are still in BCPS, it's not for everyone. And, you have to fight to distinguish yourself and not get weeded out or ground to bits by the nefarious and weighty bureaucracy. I've only been in 10 years now and it feels like a lifetime...; but I still love it.

[millz58]

been out for almost two weeks now... and bored out of my mind to an extent. i am going to try and get a head start on next year pretty soon - especially because my AP grad class was canceled.

 

meanwhile... AP grades delivered online this year... yikes! just a few weeks away

before I became a 12-month employee I used to teach summer school, did that for 5 straight years. I loved it, really. I think the AP scores come out in early july, same time as the HSAs (ETS runs everything). I'm certainly awaiting the state test scores, we have our largest 11th grade to date, and if they go into their senior year dogged by unmet testing requirements it will be rough-going...

[dc.]

Ken... you still have to finish undergrad, right?

 

If so, there are a few paths I would consider... the most important being to NOT get a degree in education undergrad, unless it's an easy tack-on credit-wise. That's what I did. For secondary ed, you need a content area degree, so just pick your normal major and add on the ed classes to get a certification or the additional major. OR the even better option if you have the time, interest and drive is to add on education in a 'fast track' masters as offered by many programs. Then you leave school only one year later with a regular degree in whatever you like and a masters in ed (could be ed admin, content, etc etc).

 

I wouldn't turn you away from teaching - I've loved it. But I would tell you to maybe aim for some volunteer experiences and 'test' stuff. Ed courses can be dreadfully painful and tedious, so I wouldn't recommend 'testing' the field through a class. But call up a local school and substitute or volunteer or simply ask to shadow a bit... some public schools may be less open to it because of "safety" but many private schools can work things out (background checks always necessary). It could give you a good feel.

 

 

 

As for guarding... nah. Manage? Yeah, I'll do that and pick up some shifts (reminds me I have to call my old pools to get in), but no sitting in the chair. But even that is boring as hell. I'd rather just sit by the pool and talk and not have responsibilities. I need something to intellectually stimulate me.

[ForceEight]

I still have to finish freshman year...

 

I never did or will have any intent of getting a degree in education. That's a pretty obvious waste of time and money. The only reason I asked was simply because I'm not sure what my interest is, and wondered how I might still parlay that into teaching (akin to taking general ed classes when unsure of a major). I suppose I'm just asking whether it's any different.

 

Tedious and dreadfully painful don't phase me. I think they apply to quite a few subjects, and certainly all of those where I hold interest.

 

And you know you miss the chair. I've barely been managing (while open) for a month now, and I already miss the chair.

[dc.]

Ed history classes? Worth taking. Ed theory classes? Maybe worth taking. Just plain ed classes? Not.

 

That's all I'm saying. I could handle geology and geography and all kinds of science classes that I find, broadly, boring as hell. But even as an ed major... ed classes were painful.

[dc.]

AP Scores are out... Happy to say 15/15 passed for me. Mostly 4's... average score just under 4, compared to a national average under 3!

[millz58]

AP Scores are out... Happy to say 15/15 passed for me. Mostly 4's... average score just under 4, compared to a national average under 3!

Holy crap, that's truly awesome! congrats, love it! I will find budget room and buy you... *'hem*

 

Back to school here for me in a few days, thinking much after reading the cumulative files on my incoming. Lots of framing to be done...