Is anyone here a teacher?

Holy War · #1 12-22-2009, 05:23 PM

Thinking about getting my certification so I have a job when I get out of the Marines, but I have no idea how to go about it. Can anyone give me some insight on the process please?

For the record, I have my BA in History from the Virginia Military Institute and would probably want to teach History/Social Studies in High School. The idea is that I would teach and pursue higher degrees at the same time.

Phalex · #2 12-22-2009, 05:39 PM

You know what they say: Them what can do. Them what can't teach.

Get yourself an honest job. Don't lower yourself to Maki's level........

hover · #3 12-22-2009, 05:41 PM

DigMe (Brad) is also an educator.

Holy War · #4 12-22-2009, 05:49 PM

edit: never mind

moving on

DigMe · #5 12-22-2009, 08:15 PM

It varies a lot by state so it's hard for me to say from Texas what you need to do in your state but there's a good chance that your state has a certification program for people who already have a degree in something besides teaching. In Texas you'd be able to go to one of these "alternative certification" programs that last 2 to 3 months and then once you get out you take the certification test and you're good to go for History only. In Texas if you have a degree you can get certified to teach any subject from k-6 but beyond that you can only teach subjects that you have a degree in.

I would search for something like "Virginia teacher certification program" and see what you find. I enjoy teaching but I'm teaching 4th grade. High school is a whole different deal.

bc

DigMe · #6 12-22-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

You know what they say: Them what can do. Them what can't teach.

"They" being who? Morons in general or a specific group of morons?

bc

NoTalentHack · #7 12-22-2009, 08:27 PM

Have you looked into the Troops to Teachers program? It wasn't much of a help to me, but it has helped some.

Holy War · #8 12-22-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

"They" being who? Morons in general or a specific group of morons?

bc

glad you tackled that one and not me.

Id actually really like to relocate out of VA. Someone mentioned to me starting out with Teach for America and start in an inner city school somewhere (which is actually where I would want to go). Im thinking Chicago or somwhere in the northeast to be honest, so perhaps I should look into Illinoise or one of those states.

JNowiski · #9 12-22-2009, 08:32 PM

i think the military has a program actual for servicemember wanting to become teachers, i don't know if its just for like elementary school teachers or what, but you should try and find some info on that, they certify you and stuff. i see commercials on AFN all the time here in iraq.

...or is that the teach for america deal? i just saw that above and edit this. i never pay attention to the name of the program and i'm a dum dum

XavidmanX · #10 12-22-2009, 08:41 PM

I've been teaching high school math for 11 years in California and it's a wonderful job.

As far as earning your credential, like DigMe said above, the requirements vary by state so you would have to check with educational institutions in your area.

One thing you should consider, if you are thinking about moving at all, is National Board Certification. There is financial assistance (it costs around $2K) and it should be the equivalent of having a national credential that would be accepted in every state. Without that, if you were to move to CA, where there are stricter credentialing requirements than in most other states, then the State Board would ask you to take more classes before they issue you a CA credential.

Good luck!

Holy War · #11 12-22-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNowiski

i think the military has a program actual for servicemember wanting to become teachers, i don't know if its just for like elementary school teachers or what, but you should try and find some info on that, they certify you and stuff. i see commercials on AFN all the time here in iraq.

...or is that the teach for america deal? i just saw that above and edit this. i never pay attention to the name of the program and i'm a dum dum

Teach for America and Troops to Teachers are different programs.

Holy War · #12 12-22-2009, 08:42 PM

Like I said, this is all tentative. Just something that Im thinking about for a couple years down the road.

JNowiski · #13 12-22-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy War

Teach for America and Troops to Teachers are different programs.

ah yeah thats it. i have no desire to be a teacher and i hate AFN commercial so i pay minimum attention to detail with those commercials

Holy War · #14 12-22-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNowiski

ah yeah thats it. i have no desire to be a teacher and i hate AFN commercial so i pay minimum attention to detail with those commercials

**bassybill** · #15 12-23-2009, 03:56 AM

After you get your BA or BSc over here, training to teach is another year full time at university (for the majority of folks) before you get QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). How does this compare to the programs you have in the US? I'm particularly interested in those of you who teach sciences at high school level, but feel free to answer this query whatever you teach.

Training new teachers is what I do for a living, having taught high school science for *cough* years myself beforehand.

i_got_a_mohawk · #16 12-23-2009, 04:37 AM

What is the job situation like for teachers in the US?

I have quite a few friends who went on to do teacher training after getting their initial degrees (not many jobs here for new graduates). And while they do get given one year guaranteed teaching after getting the qualification, after that, back to square one. There are just far too many qualified teachers for the number of jobs out there (I guess this will be worse in some subjects than in others tho).

And of course, this could be completely different in the US, just something to bear in mind.

DigMe · #17 12-23-2009, 07:34 AM

Bassybill,

it varies by state but in Texas if you know that you want to be a teacher when you're going into college then you would enter a teaching program where you would study education as well as the subject or subjects that you're going to be teaching. Once the regular classroom degree stuff is done then the student does a 1-year internship with a teacher in a classroom.

However, in Texas they started an alternative certification program in response to a need for more teachers. In this program someone who already has a bachelors degree may obtain a teacher certification by completing so many hours of classes and then passing the teacher certification exam. After that they may teach and the first year is sort of considered a probationary or intern year of teaching. If one goes through alternative certification and takes the high school certification route then he/she may only teach a subject for which he/she has obtained a bachelors degree. So I could not teach science or math, for example, unless I had a degree in a science or math area.

I did not take the high school route so I am only certified to teach early childhood through grade 6.

Mohawk,

it varies widely. In some districts if you have a teaher certification and a pulse then you have a job. Around here though Ive heard about a lot of teachers who were unable to find jobs.

bc

**smperry** · #18 12-23-2009, 10:45 AM

I teach teachers and education administrators at the graduate level, but don't have much to add to this thread at this point, between Digme's and XavidmanX's comments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

Mohawk,

it varies widely. In some districts if you have a teaher certification and a pulse then you have a job. Around here though Ive heard about a lot of teachers who were unable to find jobs.

bc

Agreed. Generally speaking, there are jobs; they just may not be exactly where you want to be. I'm not an expert on this at all, but I think there's less unemployment among teachers than many other professions. There are also ranges of specializations that can affect the demand for jobs. For example, in many places, bilingual teachers or teachers trained in emotional behavioral disorders are in short supply.

MalcolmAmos · #19 12-23-2009, 11:04 AM

I'll add this -- High School history classes are saved for the coaches. Your degree from VMI and service background would put you in demand with one of the private High School Military Academies - You and Stonewall - artillery I presume. Most are located in and around University campuses. For example: San Marcos Baptist Academy and Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas - Allen Military Academy and Texas A&M University at Bryan/College Station, Texas. As a private academy the certificates necessary may be a little easier to come by. Teach at the academy and attend graduate classes at the university. You may be able to swing room and board if you don't mind living on the academy grounds and helping with dorm duties and ROTC functions.

Just a thought. Contact the Academies that have a University close by and see what they have to say. Good luck, and thanks for serving.

IconBasser · #20 12-23-2009, 11:06 AM

don't have much to add to this thread except for the obligatory "good on you, Holy War, for wanting to help educate our dunderheaded youth"