Is anyone on here a teacher? I've been thinking a lot lately about becoming a high school math teacher. I'd like to hear your experiences in the field.

Thanks

8/21/2012 5:44:23 PM

paging smath## and wolfpackgrrr

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

8/21/2012 5:50:08 PM

Prepare - Words:

I taught middle school Social Studies and Language Arts. I know its a different level and a different subject matter, but a lot can be pulled from it. What type of experiences do you want to hear about?

I worked at what Charlotte-Meck called a "Focus" school which for us meant that about 95% of our students were on free or reduced lunch so it was definitely a change from what I had growing up. I was also with TFA, which added some difficulty to it, but you don't have to worry about that. Dealing with students is definitely trying - and this is the case regardless - you could work at the best school in a district or the worst, kids will be kids and if you thoroughly enjoy teaching and value what you do - you'll get over that. The part that sucks is the hours. Yeah it's great to have Summers off - it really is, but I still maintain that when I was a teacher, still worked more than the average employee in just 10 months. A day for me included getting to school around 7am, getting things taken care of and having before-school meetings before our day started at 845, teaching 3 class periods (we were on block scheduling) with one period off. The students left at 345, but I typically had students after school until 5 or so. Then came lesson planning and grading. Expect 2-3 more hours of work at night either at school or at home (or you can put it off till the weekend, but that was MY time).

If you add in coaching like I did you're looking at a 7am-10pm day for a lot of the time, but like I said - its a job where you can see obvious results and that's definitely worth a lot.

PM me if you want any other details.

8/21/2012 6:19:19 PM

What state? NC? You have to think about certification and it can vary a lot by state.

8/21/2012 6:21:56 PM

I live in Austin right now, but i might like to move before I got settled somewhere, most likely new mexico, colorado or utah

^^ thanks for the info, ill reply later I have to head out now.

8/21/2012 6:29:26 PM

I'm entering my 6th year teaching high school and would never encourage anybody to become a teacher.

8/21/2012 7:48:43 PM

I think there is a thread for this already but I don't know the title.

8/21/2012 7:50:29 PM

I love the job. It gets stressful at times (like most jobs) and everything is always your fault (like a lot of jobs) and the pay sucks (like a lot of jobs) and it's not for everyone (like all jobs)...

8/21/2012 9:45:01 PM

my brother and his wife were both high school math teachers. they both taught IB coursework and non-IB calculus at a rough school (mostly housing projects and kids who couldn't afford private school). both were viewed as being amongst the best teachers at the school.

my brother quit after 4 years to go work for the department of the navy. his wife quit two years later and makes as much tutoring math 10 hours a week as she did putting in 50+ hours teaching

my wife is a teacher and deals with it because it is a more bearable life than being an archeologist, which is what her undergrad and graduate work was in. she'll be leaving the profession within the next 12 months.

i've heard the good and bad stories from them for years and i don't think i would ever encourage anyone to go into teaching unless the entire education system is overhauled from top to bottom. helicopter parents and no child left behind ruined the profession

but my brother did like coaching enough that he still does it

[Edited on August 21, 2012 at 10:59 PM. Reason : .]

8/21/2012 10:59:00 PM

I love teaching more than anything but public school can be absolute hell unless you enjoy being a robot or building robots. Plus the union bullshit sounds good at first but unless you suck, its just causes you to be underpaid. Stay away from public school.

8/22/2012 1:11:28 AM

My wife was an English teacher for high school for several years. There were a lot of late nights reading and grading papers. The summers were spent getting some credit thing that teachers need to get each year. She didn't mind the kids as much as she did the stuff that got in the way of teaching. Filling out a ton of paperwork, meetings on teacher work days, state mandated lessons, and other things.

She said that she could never be free just to teach to her kids without worrying about someone IEP(?), is the state's list of rules being met that day and will this material cover the EoC or the senior project?

She did have a few semesters of 35-38 kids per class which she disliked. Also the class level went from could only read at a 3rd grade level to could read at grade level and that would make lesson planning tough. She did have her phone stolen one, was almost hit by a student, and had a few other things messed with or stolen from her class.

One year, less than two minutes before the bell rang, a student asked to go to the bathroom. She said wait for the bell. So instead he just peed his pants. A minute later the bell rang. This was one of her "special" kids that spent more time in detention than in her class.


edit: She quit a couple of years ago and started working for a local company and is much happier

[Edited on August 22, 2012 at 7:20 AM. Reason : ]

8/22/2012 7:19:36 AM

Well the good news is there's actually teaching jobs in math so you have that going for you!

I taught high school for four years. While I really enjoyed the students (for the most part. There's always some assholes in the bunch), I really couldn't stand administration. There's not a whole lot that can be done when you have a problem child in your classroom. Everyone's always concerned with test scores and school rankings and other arbitrary numbers that it leaves you with little flexibility in the classroom. And then you have the asshole parents that are usually attached to the asshole kids. Oh yeah and the pay sucks. For me the annoyances outweighed the good and I decided not to continue on with teaching. But I have a lot of respect for those that can get past the bad and enjoy the work.

If I were to start teaching again, which I sometimes have the crazy notion of doing, I would aim for a private school or charter school I think. From what I've heard from friends that are still teachers those are both better than dealing with public school bullshit.

8/22/2012 8:44:42 AM

My fiance is just about done with it (she's been at it for around 7/8 years I think). She's a little different in that she teaches hearing impaired kids...but her complaints are pretty similar to what everyone else is saying. The kids aren't THAT bad...but the administration (and coworkers as well) are HORRIBLE. I can't believe the stories she comes home with on a daily basis. I don't really know what she's going to do, but she can't take much more of this for the ridiculously low pay. Hopefully I can start crushing it with my business so she quit her job and start popping out babies in a few years (or just clean the fuck out of the house and make 5-star dinners).

[Edited on August 22, 2012 at 8:53 AM. Reason : .]

8/22/2012 8:52:43 AM

Quote :

" The kids aren't THAT bad...but the administration (and coworkers as well) are HORRIBLE."

Oh yeah, forgot about coworkers Some people that are teachers I wonder how the hell they made it through the certification process.

8/22/2012 8:58:24 AM

oh the administration. Wife came home upset one day. Asked what happened and it was a week when she sent a couple of kids to the office. Principal came by and saw her near the end of the week and in not so many words told her not to send any more kids, it was her fault because of classroom management, and if her bulletin board was was a little more up to date her kids would need to misbehave.


This principal is now a regional superintendent.

8/22/2012 9:33:20 AM

all of these problems are exclusively public school problems. At least from my experience.

The worst kids could actually be good if they allowed teachers to teach in a way that garnered their interest instead of treating them like robots. This is why kids hate school and rebel.

8/22/2012 11:08:18 AM

I teach high school English; and like Smath, Meg, and many of the others, I feel it has its positives and negatives.

I love my students. I love my classroom. I love many of my coworkers. It really isn't so bad. You get the occasional kid that's annoying and the occasional kid who feels his semester goal is to drive you crazy, but neither of those are worth quitting over. Parents can be extremely frustrating. The number of databases and policies to keep up with it can be overwhelming. Still, the majority of your frustrations will likely be with administration and school climate, i.e. things beyond your control.

Do you have specific concerns?

8/22/2012 11:20:03 AM

I taught in NC for four years and am now at an international school in Uganda.

I don't make much (b/c I wanted to be in Uganda for other reasons besides money), but I hear the way to go is to get in the international school circuit. You can make bank (even at some schools here in Uganda). That is, of course, if you don't mind leaving the US. #goodbyetowolfpacksports

but teaching in public schools in NC was awesome too (though, like everyone already said, full of frustrations)


[Edited on August 22, 2012 at 2:58 PM. Reason : ]

8/22/2012 2:53:28 PM

Thanks for all of the replies.

It seems like the consensus is that it would be a great, rewarding job if you could teach in isolation from the state and coworkers. Have any of you found effective ways to combat the 'opression' of having to teach to the standards and the incompetence of coworkers? How much leeway do you really have in your curriculum?

How hard is it to transfer to a new state after you've been a teacher for a few years?

How many teaching positions are really out there?

8/22/2012 6:19:00 PM

Summer Vacation?

I would love a Job with Summers off.

8/22/2012 6:30:11 PM

Fuck summer vacation!

No paycheck for 2 months!

8/22/2012 6:30:52 PM

^^yeah we are off for 2 months... although many of us have to get a summer job because they are unpaid months.

[Edited on August 22, 2012 at 11:45 PM. Reason : ]

8/22/2012 11:39:59 PM

Do they not give you the option to have your pay "stretched out" over 12 months here? I know a couple of teachers back in my home state and they have the option of having their salary paid over 9 months (length of the school year there) or over 12

8/23/2012 1:03:01 AM

no but you can set it up through the bank to deduct x amount for the summer.

8/23/2012 1:05:26 AM

Quote :

"It seems like the consensus is that it would be a great, rewarding job if you could teach in isolation from the state and coworkers. Have any of you found effective ways to combat the 'opression' of having to teach to the standards and the incompetence of coworkers? How much leeway do you really have in your curriculum? How hard is it to transfer to a new state after you've been a teacher for a few years? How many teaching positions are really out there?"

Teach at a private school if you don't want your curriculum and pay to be dictated by a politician at the state capital. Some private schools do the same bullshit but if you pick your place you can get complete freedom over your curriculum and how you teach in your classroom. In these types of environments, coworkers are generally pretty awesome as well.

Public schools hire people because they have a piece of paper and pay them a generalized union salary.

Private schools hand pick the teachers they want and pay them a salary according to their personal skillset. Huge difference.

8/23/2012 1:13:57 AM

Summer Vacation...pshhh. The only ones I know that truly get a summer vacation are the ones that are married to wealthy men. My fiance has a friend that read like 100 books this summer while sitting on her couch. Even then, it's still only two months.

The rest have side jobs...usually waiting tables and babysitting. My fiance also planned and ran a camp for half the summer. I actually saw her less during the summer because she picks up additional shifts at the restaurant (4/5 compared to just 1 during the school year) and had that stupid camp (I kid, I kid...it was a good camp).

8/23/2012 6:54:24 AM

Or split the difference and try to work at a charter school.

Or a day school.

Or some religious school.

Anything but a public school.

Assuming you want the least annoyance + the most money.

8/23/2012 7:12:29 AM

private schools usually don't pay as well as public schools in this area.

and i don't know what you are talking about with this "teacher union" crap... this is not new jersey. we do not have a "union"... we have a professional organization but they are pretty much powerless.

8/23/2012 7:20:05 AM

This is my 11th year being a Math Teacher. 1 year was at the middle school and the rest have been at a public high school. I teach at a magnet/IB High school and two of my classes are IB Math HL 1 and 2. My other classes vary with each year. This year I have Advanced Functions and Modeling.

NC and a lot of other states are adopting Common Core Standards which takes a lot of what we have done in the past and shakes it up. Several topics were moved around from one class to another. Also in NC a lot of the non-tested courses are now going to be tested so that the teacher can have some "data" to show if they are an effective teacher or not. Over the past few years I have been deemed to be an effective or highly effective teacher.

Teaching has its ups and downs and there are plenty of times where I try to figure out why do I keep doing it. I have spent plenty days staying afterschool tutoring my students and other teachers' students, meetings with parents, sponsoring clubs or staying up late at night to make effective lessons.

The books are way out of date and there isn't money to buy new ones so most teachers create their own material.

Kids and parents can be tough to deal with at times but it is part of the job.

Depending on the county there may or may not be jobs for lateral entry teachers. I know in my county there is hardly ever a high school math position open.

Our pay has been frozen the past several years so I am getting paid what a teacher with 6 years of experience would be getting paid. I did get my national board certification which gives me about $300 extra each month. I get paid on a 12 month plan and I do not work a summer job as that is the time I need to recharge my batteries.

[Edited on August 23, 2012 at 7:27 AM. Reason : $$$]

8/23/2012 7:24:35 AM

Quote :

"and i don't know what you are talking about with this "teacher union" crap... this is not new jersey. we do not have a "union"... we have a professional organization but they are pretty much powerless."

Ding Ding Ding

NCAE keeps asking me to join them but I won't. That is $40+ dollars a month to join an organization that will fight for me even if I am not a member(only benefit that a member has is more legal protection).

8/23/2012 7:30:43 AM

Quote :

"private schools usually don't pay as well as public schools in this area."

Move to Charlotte.

8/23/2012 7:47:06 AM

Quote :

" I get paid on a 12 month plan and I do not work a summer job as that is the time I need to recharge my batteries."

I don't think most teachers work a summer job because they are only on a 10-month pay system. I think they do it to save up money. At least that's what my fiance does. This was actually going to be her last summer waiting tables, but she was in two weddings last year and we went to another 7 or 8...and now she's saving up for our wedding.

You really have to live a meager/simple life on a teacher's salary. She lived in a one bedroom (more expensive) apartment last year and her salary didn't cover her bills and she had to dip into savings.

8/23/2012 7:57:38 AM

Quote :

"Move to Charlotte."

no thanks.

8/23/2012 8:28:11 AM

Quote :

"y0willy0: Or split the difference and try to work at a charter school. Or a day school. Or some religious school. Anything but a public school. Assuming you want the least annoyance + the most money."

Even if this were true, which it isn't, these jobs are not numerous. The vast majority of teaching jobs are at public schools...so it would be foolish to enter the profession with the intention of only working at a private or charter school.

Also, of my teaching friends I've talked to, the one who had major issues was at a school with a poor administration and some co-workers with difficult personalities. That said, others have at times talked about wanting to find different (better paying) jobs. When the economy improves, I think some will leave or shuffle around to teaching positions that fit them better. I get an equal number of complaints about work from my non-teaching friends. It's actually kind of fun to collect all their gripes and compare jobs. For example, from what I can tell, every profession out there is requiring people to write SMART goals right now, and it's unanimously regarded as a stupid waste of time.

[Edited on August 23, 2012 at 9:21 AM. Reason : I wonder if Target will make me write SMART goals--LOL.]

8/23/2012 9:17:11 AM

Quote :

"I wonder if Target will make me write SMART goals--LOL."

I don't know, but I sure hope so. At least your experience in writing them will give you a leg up on the competition since you're surely heading for a job there being such a dumb fucking bitch.

8/23/2012 9:45:11 AM

Private schools down here barely pay more than public (Charleston)...and none of them are in my fiance's area of expertise (hearing impaired). She has to work public. Even a lot of those schools are getting rid of her program. We're desperately trying to figure out something else for her to do.

8/23/2012 9:52:56 AM

How can schools get rid of a hearing impaired program?

They have to have something like this in place don't they?

8/23/2012 10:04:39 AM

Back in the day they had a School for the Deaf. Maybe they expect parents to just shuffle their kids into a school like that? I'm curious as well how they can get away with cutting a program like that and still be in compliance with the federal rules for educating disabled children.

[Edited on August 23, 2012 at 10:06 AM. Reason : s]

8/23/2012 10:06:28 AM

Almost all hearing impaired kids have hearing aids these days. My fiance doesn't even use sign language in class anymore (she did early in her career when she taught at a high school...now she teachers 4-7 year olds). She gets different kids at different times of the day. The rest of the day those kids go to regular classes (with their hearing aids of course). They bus these kids all over the place...so they're pretty much trying to put them all in one or two schools. There were so few hearing impaired kids at her last school that over half of her class were kids with other major impairments (kids that couldn't walk that she had to carry everywhere, kids that had feeding tubes, etc.). It is just a miserably run program in her school system.

8/23/2012 10:13:50 AM

Don't generalize private schools because theres a full range of them. some of them cost 5000 per year and are ran out of a small office space and some cost 50,000 a year and are ran like college campuses. Obviously, not all of them pay a lot and some of them pay a ton. Also, they don't have to pay everyone the same which is silly anyway. A math teacher is going to make more than a pe teacher. A doctor teaching biology is going to make more than an english major teaching english and a former NFL player might make more than all of them by simply coaching football.

8/23/2012 11:17:45 AM

I'm sorry, y0willy0. I didn't mean to sound bitchy. I've been having some trouble sleeping and posting way too much.

8/23/2012 11:39:56 AM

It's okay, this is what set me off:

Quote :

"Even if this were true, which it isn't,"

I should have further clarified I was mainly referring to the money, as you're going to get annoying little shits at any school.

The E Man has just described what I should have gone on to say.

8/23/2012 11:42:18 AM

Well, if anyone is looking, there is supposed to be a new private middle school/high school in Apex opening up next year (tentatively). That should have quite a few openings I would imagine

[Edited on August 23, 2012 at 3:33 PM. Reason : tentatively]

8/23/2012 3:21:57 PM

Summers, nights, weekends off.

School is open 7-3 pm. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Think about this too, even though you only get paid 9 months out of the year. That ~30k a year starting out is comparable to what cops make working year round for longer shifts and shittier hours.

8/24/2012 12:22:56 AM

guess who gets respect from the community, instead of consistent threats to cut pay and blame for the failings of others

8/24/2012 12:28:15 AM

Quote :

"Summers, nights, weekends off. School is open 7-3 pm. Sounds like a good deal to me."

If only the average teacher only worked 7am-3pm M-F. Then it would be a pretty sweet deal lol.

8/24/2012 10:19:06 AM

3pm lulz. My fiance can probably count on one hand how many times a year she leaves at 3pm.

8/24/2012 10:39:36 AM

My wife (high school English teacher) works 8-4 pretty much. It's very possible to do the majority of your prep work and grading during your planning and down time in classes. She has to bring home major papers and projects to grade but that's not an everyday occurrence.

She loves the actual teaching and hates all the changes to curriculum and administrative work that comes along with the job that everybody has already mentioned. But she fully realizes that having summers off and (if you don't majorly fuck up) 100% job security are two pretty awesome perks that make up for the lower pay.

And while teachers in NC have to pay a bit for their health insurance now, it's a hell of a lot better situation than people that work for small companies with high deductible plans (me) have to deal with.

8/24/2012 11:19:08 AM

there shouldn't be downtime in class. I'm not saying its impossible but the ideal class has no downtime.

Its half ass teachers that have it easy. Sure you could just play videos , have kids work out of books and have an easy job but actually facilitating high level thinking takes a lot of planning and the most effective teachers utilize every minute of classtime.

8/24/2012 12:29:50 PM

Post 49 says scantrons FTMFW

Less work for the teacher.

8/24/2012 1:18:57 PM