Does anyone have any advice for a future teacher

[FuFuLamePoo]

I've always wanted to be a teacher, but for the longest time stayed away from it because I was scared of the bad pay and just the general politics of teaching today.  Well right before I registered for my fourth semester of college classes I had a revelation and realized it was stupid to keep from doing what I truly wanted to do because the money isn't where I wanted it to be.  And I knew it would be my last chance to actually pursue what I cared about.  So I bit the bullet and switched.  And ever since I have I've been so happy.  For the first time since I've been at ASU I'm excited about my career post-college.  But I was wondering if any of you older guys around here might could offer any advice?  I know I'll never be a millionaire but I'm not really a materialistic person anyways, if I manage my money the right way I'll be fine.

[Anybodyhome]

It's good to want to make a career of something you actually enjoy doing. So, why not make the best of it and not only do what you want, but get paid what you want and do it in a place you'd love to live?

Great, you want to be a teacher! Now, where would be your ideal place in the entire world to live? Next, can you afford to live and work in your ideal place?  There, you have it. Don't be afraid to go elsewhere and explore.

Most people don't have the luxury of doing something they truly love for a living. It's a means to and end. But as long as you believe this is your calling and your dream job, there's no reason you shouldn't do it in a dream location.    

[Jangler]

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[bigjohn]

FuFu

First of all, congratulations if this is indeed what you want to do. I changed majors when I was a junior after tutoring and coaching some in college. I know I get on here and complain about how NC treats teachers lately, but I think I regret my career path. I've been doing it for 21 years, and here is some advice from someone in the trenches.

The first year is the toughest.  Period. 

If you aren't happy after about three years, cut your losses and go elsewhere.

You'll have no problem finding a job in NC.  

Find a good school with supportive coworkers. Principals will come and go. Talk to the teachers at your school who have been there a while. If you have good co-workers, you can weather the storm of a horrible principal (been there done that).

Your summers.... be sure to take some time to completely get away from teaching. You'll have conferences and workshops and training to do, but take some time to completely get away from teaching. If not, you'll burn out hard the next year.

Your summers.... find something you can do as a second career/supplement.  Make it something that has nothing to do with teaching.  I have teacher friends that wash cars, work in restaurants, do woodworking, construction, painting, accounting, etc. This lets you make up for the income of being unemployed during the summer, plus gives you a "Plan B" if you leave the profession within the first 5 years (60%+ of teachers in NC leave within the first 5 years).  

If you're not tied down to living in NC, definitely look at other states. You have to take into consideration the cost of living, but taking that into consideration you're still much better off financially in SC, VA and TN. Don't just look at starting salaries-- look at career earnings. I've done the research and I have coworkers who have moved to those areas.

Stay away from the girls.

Stay away from negative coworkers.

Learn to do your job the best way you can and don't be afraid to experiment and be innovative in the classroom. You'll have a poo-ton of hoops to jump through that have nothing to do with teaching. Spend the least amount of energy on that to stay in the good graces of your bosses, and spend most of your energy on the kids.

Just a few things off the top of my head.  Best of luck to you, and hopefully our state will turn things around financially. When I first started teaching we were 47th in the nation in teacher pay. After 10 years we were 27th. Now we are back down (47th again I believe). Hopefully it will cycle back up.

[bigjohn]

Oh, and what Jangler said. :-)

 

Quick story:  I was a good boy in high school. Never drank...good student, etc. Had my fun in college but normally nothing super outrageous.

Got my first teaching job and 6 months in went back home where a friend had a party with a bunch of old high school buddies. I drank about 15 beers and someone said "What happened to John? I've never seen him drink and here he is getting sloshed!".  Someone said "He's a high school teacher now". They brought me another beer. :)

[Goondal]

I taught for three years and am in my seventeenth year working with kids.  I may go back into the classroom at some point, not sure.

Anyway, my first piece of advice would be to consider that there are a lot of different avenues one can take to work with kids.  I am an assistant director at a before and after care and also substitute teach some in the school as well.  I enjoy this a lot more.  I can get to know the kids better and do not have all the politics of teaching.  I loved being in the classroom but everything involved in the teaching that was outside of the classroom drove me into the ground.  That was me though, does not mean that is you.  Just something I always tell people on that path.

If you do decide you want your own classroom my biggest piece of advice is not to just jump into a classroom right away.  You can end up in a bad situation that way.  Do your homework.  As bigjohn said, figure out where you want to live and if you can afford it on a teacher salary.  Do a lot of research, taking into account the districts, the pay, and anything else that will effect how much you will enjoy living there.  The great thing about teaching is that you can do it anywhere so pick your place and go from there.

Once you get to that place, figure out the district you want and substitute teach for a year.  This will get you the opportunity to explore different schools and decide which ones you do and do not want to work in.  Once you are known you will have the chance to spend most days substituting in the same 3-4 schools.  I owuld not narrow it to one though, they may not have an opening, keep your options open.

Most importantly, if you are doing okay financially as a sub then cherry pick when jobs for the next school year being to open.  Do not just apply to the first ones you see.  Trust your gut.  I had four schools that I spent a lot of time in as a sub, two in particular I really wanted.  I was out of school for two years at the time and wanted a job and while I cherry picked those four schools I also jumped on the first one.  The day after accepting that job (fifth grade) and job in the grade I really wanted (fourth) opened at the school I really wanted.  The next day while subbing at that school I was asked if I was applying.

In the end, I wish I had waited.  I was in no bind financially and had it not worked out I could have subbed another year.  The school I ended up at seemed nice, but I did not feel that it was exactly what I wanted.  There were some things with the school politics that really became a major reason why I finally decided to pursure things outside of the classroom.  My friend meanwhile got a teaching job teaching second grade at the other school and is now in Year 9.

As I said, the great part about teaching is you can do it everywhere.  As long as you are not hard up for money then be picky and get the job that you want.

Oh, and the custodian and office manager are your best friends.  Be very, very kind to them at all times, it pays off if they like you!

[Jeff L]

Like you, I have always wanted to teach.  After spending 20 years in the Air Force I went back to school to finish my degree; I graduated from Appalachian State in December of 2014 and am currently in my first year teaching high school in Catawba County.  I LOVE IT!  

It is harder than I ever thought it would be, but I genuinely look forward to going to work every day.  

PM me if you have any specific question and I will be more than happy to answer them.

[PandaPancake]

Don't bang students. Cooler heads prevail. What are you teaching?

[Jimmy]

I was a high school AP History teacher for 5 years. If the pay doesn't bother you that's great.  But my one piece of advice is this...you may love "to teach" but if you don't truly have a heart for the students you are teaching then you will be miserable.  I was good at it, nay great.  I just couldn't afford to do it anymore.  It wasn't hard because I loved it and I cared about the kids.  Easiest job I ever had...best job I ever had.  I just wanted to make more money.  

[d-dave]

Congratulations and my condolences! ;)

Teaching will completely change you, which is wonderful and terrible. I'm in year 12 right now, spent 11 years inCMS, and currently teaching elsewhere.

Here's some advice which I tell to student teachers.

1. If you're bored teaching it, think about how bad is for your kids! Have fun!

2. They have plenty of friends, they don't need you to be one. You can have some wonderful mentor relationships with kids, but if you become their friends, you're doing them a disservice. I love my babies, but  never their Friend.

3. Set limits on your time. From grading, to lessons, to anything, you only have one life. I used to burn myself up working 18 hour days... It's just not worth it! If you are overly exhausted, tired, emotional, whatever, the kids suffer. Take care of yourself!

Bonus: use a digital classroom for turn ins. I hate paper, I hate late excuses, and I despise "what did you do while I was gone?" Google Classroom has been so awesome! My wife got sick this year, and while I was shuttling her to doctors, I set up Google classroom to handle their notes and work. They had zero excuses when I got back! >:)

[FuFuLamePoo]

I can't begin to thank all you guys enough for the advice and nice words.  To clarify a few things:

1) I'm studying to teach high school history.  History has always been my favorite subject; typically American but I'll be able to teach world history and stuff too.  I know a lot of students view history as boring but I think if I put enough time and effort into this I have some ideas that could make things fun for the students.

2) As far as where I want to live... I really have never planned on leaving North Carolina.  I love NC, and it keeps me close to my beloved Panthers, Mountaineers, and Hornets :).  But I do realize teacher pay in NC is not good.  I have considered somewhere like South Carolina, Virginia or Georgia but I don't see myself ever leaving the Old North State.  I'd like to stay in the piedmont/foothills.  Close to Charlotte and Boone.

[d-dave]

Since I've been in the Charlotte area for ever l, PM me if you want some less filtered opinions of some of the local things.

I teach History as well, among the other things I do!  History is awesome. It's all about creating relationahips between what you want them to know versus what they care about. Like this is a fun time to talk about how laws and rights work!  I love relating what they say and how they feel about stuff to what we're studying.

[SCMunnerlyn1]

As someone who has lived with a teacher since birth..stay as far away as you can. You're not prepared for the stress especially if you get stuck in the inner city. 

[cookinwithgas]

my sister made a career out of it and is now a principal of a giant K-8 school in California and LOVES IT, it really is her lifes passion.

She got out of Charlotte after 3 years and moved back to California where they pay you decently, help you advance, and generally care a bit more about education.

Here in Charlotte I tell people teaching is a great profession if you are married to someone who actually makes money.