- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Working Moms
If you're a teacher....
I am considering getting my teacher certification. I have a bachelor's degree and it would only take 6 months to get certified. I have been working in the school system (elementary) for a couple of years. There are so many things about it that I love but for some reason I am hesitant about becoming a teacher. My husband is a teacher/coach at the high school level. He tells me to do whatever will make me happy (very supportive but no help) Please tell me what grade you teach and what you love/hate about your job! TIA 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: If you're a teacher....
I am elementary certified and teach 6th grade math and science. I always thought I'd love the primary grades (K-3), but I've found the upper elementary grades more enjoyable. Students are more independent and the content is more challenging.
What do you currently do in the school system? If the program only takes 6 months and you enjoy it, I'd go for the certification.
I started at public high school and made the switch to private middle school. Private isn't better, just different- so consider what you want your priorities to be before you choose public or private (ex- access to better supplies in private, higher expectations from families too though). i love that i have summers off, but you can't just leave work at work with teaching. you bring a lot home. Plus side- you are home with the LO, downside, it can be stressful not having that clear division.
There's plenty more to discuss, feel free to PM me!
I'm certified K-6 and Middle Level (7-9) Math
I teach 6th grade LA at a middle school (6-8). I love this stage of independence and I see a new class for 80 minutes (3 "blocks" per day).
I think LA is a great class to teach because the period does go by fast since there are several areas being concentrated. One challenge is that this is the "hormonal stage" and new things start happening. We see a lot of students change since the beginning of the yr.
Are you going through your region or through iTeach Texas? I'm considering iTeach Texas. My SIL did it a couple of years ago and loves teaching. I always planned on law school and teaching at the college level, but getting married early and having DD early changed our plans.
I would probably get certified to teach Spanish and then take the certification test for 8-12 Social Studies.
I would make sure and discuss with your principal their feelings on alternative certification. It's more and more accepted these days, but some are still a little bit old fashioned when it comes to that. Let me know how it goes! I'm curious to see how you'll decide. I don't think I'll do it for another year or so, but we'll see...
I teach English 9, 10, 11, 12 and yearbook. I love that I get to talk about stuff I love (literature) all day, and that at this level my sarcasm is an effective discipline and teaching tool, and that I get to watch them become real members of society and they freaking make you love them even when you want to kill them, and they send you texts about how much they miss you while on maternity leave or that they got accepted to the college they wanted to go to or they hit a deer on the way to school so please tell the secretary they're going to be late, and they trust you when they have no one else to trust, and I get left alone in my room to teach as I see fit and there aren't administrators breathing down my neck every two seconds.
I hate that teaching APPEARS to be very family-friendly, but in reality, soooo isn't. I could go on and on and on about how teaching and all its accompanying duties slowly chip away at my life while I'm not looking and suddenly it's been 4 consecutive days since I've seen my 3 month old while he was awake. I hate state testing (which is what my kids are doing right now) and being given 4700 extra duties (morning duty, cheerleading, class sponsor, prom, salary committee, professional development committee, etc. etc. etc.)
But even when I hate my job so much I just want to cry, I know that it's the only job I can honestly see myself doing and I'm good at it. I see that in my students and my graduates.
And another things I hate: when people are all, "well, you're a teacher, you get summers off. I wish I got paid to sit at the pool from May to September". Because I counted; this "3 month summer vacation" you think I get? It's 19 days this year. So shut it.
Seriously. It drives me batty.