4 answers
Sarah
Student
Ashland, Ohio
2
Questions
Asked
433 views
What is it like to be a teacher not only for many classes but also many grades- and trying to help them plan out their life?
I've always been curious. #teacher
4 answers
Dalena Lee
Recruiter
4
Answers
Singapore
Updated
Dalena’s Answer
So I'm not a teacher, but I'm friends with many and I've asked them the same question. Also I am a corporate recruiter who used to work in the education field AND a part-time dance teacher, which isn't the same but at least gives me some sort of empathy to other teachers I suppose.
The responses I got:
a) Teaching many different classes across different grades means you have to be mentally very flexible, to 'switch' modes quickly when you go from a lower grade class to an upper grade class since the needs of the students are very different.
b) Helping them plan their lives - this probably applies more to older students since the younger ones have no inkling at all, so I would say it's applicable only if you're teaching high school unless you have very precocious middle schoolers in your class. Honestly few teachers can say that they had their lives planned when were they were still middle/high school students, and many "fell" into the teaching job at some point or another. I don't think you need to stress too much about this, it makes more sense to help your students be as equipped as possible for a wide variety of possibilities, to instill qualities in them that are important across fields for success, aside from getting general good grades there are also traits e.g. good soft skills, raising their EQ, communication skills, grit and perseverance, mental fortitude, learning from failure...
The responses I got:
a) Teaching many different classes across different grades means you have to be mentally very flexible, to 'switch' modes quickly when you go from a lower grade class to an upper grade class since the needs of the students are very different.
b) Helping them plan their lives - this probably applies more to older students since the younger ones have no inkling at all, so I would say it's applicable only if you're teaching high school unless you have very precocious middle schoolers in your class. Honestly few teachers can say that they had their lives planned when were they were still middle/high school students, and many "fell" into the teaching job at some point or another. I don't think you need to stress too much about this, it makes more sense to help your students be as equipped as possible for a wide variety of possibilities, to instill qualities in them that are important across fields for success, aside from getting general good grades there are also traits e.g. good soft skills, raising their EQ, communication skills, grit and perseverance, mental fortitude, learning from failure...
This was very, very helpful thank you so much- also another career choice I'm looking into is becoming a dance teacher or owning my own small dance studio! Thank you.
Sarah
Joan Coughey
Teacher Grade 6
16
Answers
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Updated
Joan’s Answer
Hi Sarah,
I have been a full time teacher now for 25+ years. It is a wonderful profession. I’ve made lasting connections with some of my students.
It is also a wonderful profession for a woman that wants to work and have children. I am done at 3:45 each day (there is some homework every so often in terms of paper correcting and planners by) and you have summer off for the most part. You still have time to be with your kids, especially during the summer when they are home full time.
I teach one class five times a day. Literature is the class I teach currently in a middle school setting. In the past I taught three different classes. At the elementary level you will teach more than one subject and you will have to prep for it which does take time, but it is not unmanageable.
In terms of helping them organize there lives...at the elementary and middle school level you are not giving them a career path to follow. With the younger kids you are talking and demonstrating a decent person looks like. In other words, manners and socially appropriate behavior.
If you want to be a teacher, one question is all you have to ask yourself, do you like being around children. If you don’t teaching is not for you. If you do enjoy it find a college with a good education program.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be successful at whatever you chose to do!
Take care.
Mrs. J. Coughey
I have been a full time teacher now for 25+ years. It is a wonderful profession. I’ve made lasting connections with some of my students.
It is also a wonderful profession for a woman that wants to work and have children. I am done at 3:45 each day (there is some homework every so often in terms of paper correcting and planners by) and you have summer off for the most part. You still have time to be with your kids, especially during the summer when they are home full time.
I teach one class five times a day. Literature is the class I teach currently in a middle school setting. In the past I taught three different classes. At the elementary level you will teach more than one subject and you will have to prep for it which does take time, but it is not unmanageable.
In terms of helping them organize there lives...at the elementary and middle school level you are not giving them a career path to follow. With the younger kids you are talking and demonstrating a decent person looks like. In other words, manners and socially appropriate behavior.
If you want to be a teacher, one question is all you have to ask yourself, do you like being around children. If you don’t teaching is not for you. If you do enjoy it find a college with a good education program.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be successful at whatever you chose to do!
Take care.
Mrs. J. Coughey
Joan Coughey
Teacher Grade 6
16
Answers
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Updated
Joan’s Answer
Hi Sarah,
I have been a full time teacher now for 25+ years. It is a wonderful profession. I’ve made lasting connections with some of my students.
It is also a wonderful profession for a woman that wants to work and have children. I am done at 3:45 each day (there is some homework every so often in terms of paper correcting and planners ) and you have summer off for the most part. You still have time to be with your kids, especially during the summer when they are home full time.
I teach one class five times a day. Literature is the class I currently teach in a middle school setting. In the past I taught three different classes. At the elementary level you will teach more than one subject and you will have to prep for each which does take time, but it is not unmanageable.
In terms of helping them organize there lives...at the elementary and middle school level you are not giving them a career path to follow. With the younger kids you are talking and demonstrating what a decent person looks like. In other words, manners and socially appropriate behavior.
If you want to be a teacher, one question is all you have to ask yourself, do you like being around children. If you don’t teaching is not for you. If you do enjoy it find a college with a good education program.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be successful at whatever you chose to do!
Take care.
Mrs. J. Coughey
I have been a full time teacher now for 25+ years. It is a wonderful profession. I’ve made lasting connections with some of my students.
It is also a wonderful profession for a woman that wants to work and have children. I am done at 3:45 each day (there is some homework every so often in terms of paper correcting and planners ) and you have summer off for the most part. You still have time to be with your kids, especially during the summer when they are home full time.
I teach one class five times a day. Literature is the class I currently teach in a middle school setting. In the past I taught three different classes. At the elementary level you will teach more than one subject and you will have to prep for each which does take time, but it is not unmanageable.
In terms of helping them organize there lives...at the elementary and middle school level you are not giving them a career path to follow. With the younger kids you are talking and demonstrating what a decent person looks like. In other words, manners and socially appropriate behavior.
If you want to be a teacher, one question is all you have to ask yourself, do you like being around children. If you don’t teaching is not for you. If you do enjoy it find a college with a good education program.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be successful at whatever you chose to do!
Take care.
Mrs. J. Coughey
Justine Brunett
ESL Teacher
3
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Justine’s Answer
Hi Sarah!
That's a great question. I teach middle school ESL, so at the most, I've had three different grade levels. That in itself can be difficult because I have to spend a lot more time planning lessons than I would if I just had one grade level. However, an additional challenge is that my students are at a wide variety of ability levels depending on how long they have been in the U.S. and what their educational background was like in their country of origin. It can be really challenging to differentiate for all of them. Over time, though, I have learned how to make modifications to my lessons that help all learners access grade-level content, like adding pictures, strategically pairing students, and establishing clear routines and procedures. As you build relationships with your students, you become better at responding to their needs as well.
Like Dalena said above, middle school students don't always know what they want to do with their lives, but I do encourage them to think about the future and how they can achieve the future they want. I always start the year by having my students write their goals either for the year or for their lives, and we discuss the assets they have and the strategies they can use to achieve those goals. Some of their goals are not very realistic, but it provides an opportunity for me to at least learn about their interests and aspirations, which can help me build a relationship with them and encourage them. I can also tell them, "Well, even if you want to be the next Lionel Messi, you still need to learn how to read. You're going to want to be able to read the contract they offer you to make sure they're not cheating you out of the millions of dollars you deserve." :)
That's a great question. I teach middle school ESL, so at the most, I've had three different grade levels. That in itself can be difficult because I have to spend a lot more time planning lessons than I would if I just had one grade level. However, an additional challenge is that my students are at a wide variety of ability levels depending on how long they have been in the U.S. and what their educational background was like in their country of origin. It can be really challenging to differentiate for all of them. Over time, though, I have learned how to make modifications to my lessons that help all learners access grade-level content, like adding pictures, strategically pairing students, and establishing clear routines and procedures. As you build relationships with your students, you become better at responding to their needs as well.
Like Dalena said above, middle school students don't always know what they want to do with their lives, but I do encourage them to think about the future and how they can achieve the future they want. I always start the year by having my students write their goals either for the year or for their lives, and we discuss the assets they have and the strategies they can use to achieve those goals. Some of their goals are not very realistic, but it provides an opportunity for me to at least learn about their interests and aspirations, which can help me build a relationship with them and encourage them. I can also tell them, "Well, even if you want to be the next Lionel Messi, you still need to learn how to read. You're going to want to be able to read the contract they offer you to make sure they're not cheating you out of the millions of dollars you deserve." :)
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