5 Responses to 'Changing Your Career To Teaching – Learn Various Options Available'
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Becoming a new teacher brings a hoard of questions…? I am in my mid thirties and am making a career change to teach secondary english in a middle school (hopefully). I have a few particular questions that I’d like to pose to the veterans out there:
1. I see lesson plan organizer books and grade books in Barnes and Noble; are these good options (and user friendly ways) to staying organized? What about computer gradebooks?
2. What’s the realistic rub on lesson plans? Should I have an entire semester of lesson plans down on a calendar before the start of student teaching?
3. Will a school provide me with a copy of the curriculum and the textbooks in the summer so that I can start lesson planning early?
4. When should you, and when should you not employ rubrics? Are they pretty much just for major assignments?
5. I have been on many websites and listened to numerous advice columns, many providing valuable help but very few touch on dealing with just basic day to day perfunctory duties (i.e. copier 101, overhead 101, etc.) Is there like a basics to classroom technology seminar that’s available?
6. What’s considered at your disposal when it comes to enfocing discipline? Go out in the hall? Go see your counselor? You’ve just earned yourself detention?
7. I received a BA in ’96 and then went on to a secondary ed certification program. I did my field work and was one semester away (the student teaching semester) when I left the program. The main reason was because I got cold feet, but I also felt I was too young, not experienced enough, not developed enough. Now that I am older I feel more confident in who I am, in my knowledge base, my life lessons learned through various occupations, etc. Will this help me or will my age be a hindrance when it comes to seeking out employment?
1) Check with the school. Each principal different requirements.
2) Lesson plans should be done each week. You’ll need to adjust depending on what the students have or haven’t mastered.
3) Ask for the TEs and such, but some will not give them to you. Again. You will be planning according to what the students NEED, not what the books says you should be doing.
4) Rubrics are for almost anything. They give the students a clear explanation of why they earned the grade they did.
5) Each school has different technologies available. There is no basic class.
6) You should never send a student out of the room. You are responsible for the student at all times.
7) Depends on the principal. References :
1. I see lesson plan organizer books and grade books in Barnes and Noble; are these good options (and user friendly ways) to staying organized? Any organize block book and grade book should do. Usually schools would provide this. What about computer gradebooks? The school where you would teach might have a specific program to use. That way when you give quarter grades it does it automatically.
2. What’s the realistic rub on lesson plans? Should I have an entire semester of lesson plans down on a calendar before the start of student teaching? Some teachers do that. I never could understand how they could to it and not make allowances for things that come up–maybe you had a great discussion on a short story and decide to continue it the next day. I had an idea when I wanted to give tests, but usually made plans on a weekly basis. Some schools may ask new teachers to submit weekly lesson plans.
3. Will a school provide me with a copy of the curriculum and the textbooks in the summer so that I can start lesson planning early? They should and other teachers teaching the same course should help, but some of them may not.
4. When should you, and when should you not employ rubrics? Are they pretty much just for major assignments? We have a department grading rubric per per quarter. Tests 50%, quizzes 20%, homework 20%, class participation 10%(this is a fudge factor, allowing graders to be raised or lowered)
5. I have been on many websites and listened to numerous advice columns, many providing valuable help but very few touch on dealing with just basic day to day perfunctory duties (i.e. copier 101, overhead 101, etc.) Is there like a basics to classroom technology seminar that’s available? Again every school is different and there is usually an orientation for new teachers at the beginning. I would tell all new teachers that an important rule to follow is : BE NICE TO ALL THE SECRETARIES. They really run the school. I remembered all them at Christmas, Secretaries Day, etc. and it paid off. Once I couldn’t get back from vacation in California. The secretaries handled my absence internally and never reported it; another teacher in the same situation got docked a day’s pay. CANDY and FLOWERS!
6. What’s considered at your disposal when it comes to enfocing discipline? Go out in the hall? Go see your counselor? You’ve just earned yourself detention? All the above. You don’t want to be sending kids to the office all the time, only for serious offenses. I would put kids names on the bulletin board for detention, sometimes call their parents too if they really screwed up.
7. I received a BA in ’96 and then went on to a secondary ed certification program. I did my field work and was one semester away (the student teaching semester) when I left the program. The main reason was because I got cold feet, but I also felt I was too young, not experienced enough, not developed enough. Now that I am older I feel more confident in who I am, in my knowledge base, my life lessons learned through various occupations, etc. Will this help me or will my age be a hindrance when it comes to seeking out employment? A good system understands that a good faculty includes staff of all ages and backgrounds. References :
1. Wait until you get a job. Most school districts have their own policies, many are switching to electronic gradebooks & lesson plans. Either way they provide the software or the book.
2. You should have a rough plan laid out. Like what material you plan to cover each week or for the year. You’ll need lesson plans in detail to satisfy the bureaucracy but most of the time you’ll be changing them on a daily basis (fire drill, assembly etc.) Have a set for any sub to use that are easy to understand and follow. Have seating charts and lists of honest students who will help.
3. Yes.
4. When you feel the need, they aren’t always needed.
5. Not really. Different schools use different technology. About 50% use Macs, another 50% use Windows. Some use white boards, overheads, video projectors etc. The school secretary will show you how to use the copier etc. Make friends with her the first day & the janitor the 2nd. Doughnuts help.
6. Each school has their own policy. If you send a kid into the hallway, he/she may not come back. And you are responsible for the behavior out there, it can be a dangerous situation. Go with detentions and start out tough and ease up as the months go by. Only send someone to the office if it is a dangerous situation (drunk, on drugs etc.)
7. It will help you. Introduce yourself to the kids the first day, make sure they realize your expectations.
1. Lesson plan books – up to you. I like the spiral bound weekly ones, some of my co-workers like the ones they create on the computer.
2. Lesson plans – what you can handle. Sometimes I plan a week ahead, sometimes it’s so crazy busy I find myself planning day by day. But it’s nice to have a kind of monthly ‘skeleton’ plan of what you want to cover in all subjects (in your case, classes).
3. It depends on when you are hired. If you are hired before the school year starts, then definitely ask your principal for all of the curriculum, teacher’s manuals, etc. Some teachers go and work in their classrooms over the summer to get ready for the school year so they are not so busy come the first month of school.
4. I have only applied rubrics for projects and writing assignments. Stuff we do in class we grade together. It will be different for you tho becuase I teach the little guys and you’ll be in a secondary school. But to eliminate working all night, I only apply grades to the big stuff: math tests, writing assignments, projects, story tests, etc. Homework gets a plus, check, or minus. Things we do together in class gets a quick plus and it’s sent home. My district provides a writing rubric we use to grade writing.
5.I don’t know about a technology seminar. At my school we just kind of learned by trial and error. We also have a few teachers on campus who know a lot about technology that we can call upon to come in and help us set stuff up and show us how to use it.
6. This is a hard one. See what your school policy is and go from there. You will figure out what works for you. I’m still learning. Ask others for ideas too.
7.I don’t think age will be a hinderance. The biggest hindrance when it comes to age would only be if the district had to pay you more because you had more experience or many many units and a masters where they had to start your pay in a higher column.
But if you are in California like I am, they are pink-slipping teachers because our state is (for the third year in a row) cutting from the education budget, so it may be hard to get hired until these budget cuts stop. References :
Becoming a new teacher brings a hoard of questions…?
I am in my mid thirties and am making a career change to teach secondary english in a middle school (hopefully). I have a few particular questions that I’d like to pose to the veterans out there:
1. I see lesson plan organizer books and grade books in Barnes and Noble; are these good options (and user friendly ways) to staying organized? What about computer gradebooks?
2. What’s the realistic rub on lesson plans? Should I have an entire semester of lesson plans down on a calendar before the start of student teaching?
3. Will a school provide me with a copy of the curriculum and the textbooks in the summer so that I can start lesson planning early?
4. When should you, and when should you not employ rubrics? Are they pretty much just for major assignments?
5. I have been on many websites and listened to numerous advice columns, many providing valuable help but very few touch on dealing with just basic day to day perfunctory duties (i.e. copier 101, overhead 101, etc.) Is there like a basics to classroom technology seminar that’s available?
6. What’s considered at your disposal when it comes to enfocing discipline? Go out in the hall? Go see your counselor? You’ve just earned yourself detention?
7. I received a BA in ’96 and then went on to a secondary ed certification program. I did my field work and was one semester away (the student teaching semester) when I left the program. The main reason was because I got cold feet, but I also felt I was too young, not experienced enough, not developed enough. Now that I am older I feel more confident in who I am, in my knowledge base, my life lessons learned through various occupations, etc. Will this help me or will my age be a hindrance when it comes to seeking out employment?
Thanks!
UrbanMonk
13 Mar 10 at 5:14 pm
1) Check with the school. Each principal different requirements.
2) Lesson plans should be done each week. You’ll need to adjust depending on what the students have or haven’t mastered.
3) Ask for the TEs and such, but some will not give them to you. Again. You will be planning according to what the students NEED, not what the books says you should be doing.
4) Rubrics are for almost anything. They give the students a clear explanation of why they earned the grade they did.
5) Each school has different technologies available. There is no basic class.
6) You should never send a student out of the room. You are responsible for the student at all times.
7) Depends on the principal.
References :
Babs
13 Mar 10 at 10:16 pm
1. I see lesson plan organizer books and grade books in Barnes and Noble; are these good options (and user friendly ways) to staying organized? Any organize block book and grade book should do. Usually schools would provide this. What about computer gradebooks? The school where you would teach might have a specific program to use. That way when you give quarter grades it does it automatically.
2. What’s the realistic rub on lesson plans? Should I have an entire semester of lesson plans down on a calendar before the start of student teaching? Some teachers do that. I never could understand how they could to it and not make allowances for things that come up–maybe you had a great discussion on a short story and decide to continue it the next day. I had an idea when I wanted to give tests, but usually made plans on a weekly basis. Some schools may ask new teachers to submit weekly lesson plans.
3. Will a school provide me with a copy of the curriculum and the textbooks in the summer so that I can start lesson planning early? They should and other teachers teaching the same course should help, but some of them may not.
4. When should you, and when should you not employ rubrics? Are they pretty much just for major assignments? We have a department grading rubric per per quarter. Tests 50%, quizzes 20%, homework 20%, class participation 10%(this is a fudge factor, allowing graders to be raised or lowered)
5. I have been on many websites and listened to numerous advice columns, many providing valuable help but very few touch on dealing with just basic day to day perfunctory duties (i.e. copier 101, overhead 101, etc.) Is there like a basics to classroom technology seminar that’s available? Again every school is different and there is usually an orientation for new teachers at the beginning. I would tell all new teachers that an important rule to follow is : BE NICE TO ALL THE SECRETARIES. They really run the school. I remembered all them at Christmas, Secretaries Day, etc. and it paid off. Once I couldn’t get back from vacation in California. The secretaries handled my absence internally and never reported it; another teacher in the same situation got docked a day’s pay. CANDY and FLOWERS!
6. What’s considered at your disposal when it comes to enfocing discipline? Go out in the hall? Go see your counselor? You’ve just earned yourself detention? All the above. You don’t want to be sending kids to the office all the time, only for serious offenses. I would put kids names on the bulletin board for detention, sometimes call their parents too if they really screwed up.
7. I received a BA in ’96 and then went on to a secondary ed certification program. I did my field work and was one semester away (the student teaching semester) when I left the program. The main reason was because I got cold feet, but I also felt I was too young, not experienced enough, not developed enough. Now that I am older I feel more confident in who I am, in my knowledge base, my life lessons learned through various occupations, etc. Will this help me or will my age be a hindrance when it comes to seeking out employment? A good system understands that a good faculty includes staff of all ages and backgrounds.
References :
William B
13 Mar 10 at 10:18 pm
1. Wait until you get a job. Most school districts have their own policies, many are switching to electronic gradebooks & lesson plans. Either way they provide the software or the book.
2. You should have a rough plan laid out. Like what material you plan to cover each week or for the year. You’ll need lesson plans in detail to satisfy the bureaucracy but most of the time you’ll be changing them on a daily basis (fire drill, assembly etc.) Have a set for any sub to use that are easy to understand and follow. Have seating charts and lists of honest students who will help.
3. Yes.
4. When you feel the need, they aren’t always needed.
5. Not really. Different schools use different technology. About 50% use Macs, another 50% use Windows. Some use white boards, overheads, video projectors etc. The school secretary will show you how to use the copier etc. Make friends with her the first day & the janitor the 2nd. Doughnuts help.
6. Each school has their own policy. If you send a kid into the hallway, he/she may not come back. And you are responsible for the behavior out there, it can be a dangerous situation. Go with detentions and start out tough and ease up as the months go by. Only send someone to the office if it is a dangerous situation (drunk, on drugs etc.)
7. It will help you. Introduce yourself to the kids the first day, make sure they realize your expectations.
(retired school teacher)
References :
Kahless
13 Mar 10 at 10:20 pm
I teach elementary school.
1. Lesson plan books – up to you. I like the spiral bound weekly ones, some of my co-workers like the ones they create on the computer.
2. Lesson plans – what you can handle. Sometimes I plan a week ahead, sometimes it’s so crazy busy I find myself planning day by day. But it’s nice to have a kind of monthly ‘skeleton’ plan of what you want to cover in all subjects (in your case, classes).
3. It depends on when you are hired. If you are hired before the school year starts, then definitely ask your principal for all of the curriculum, teacher’s manuals, etc. Some teachers go and work in their classrooms over the summer to get ready for the school year so they are not so busy come the first month of school.
4. I have only applied rubrics for projects and writing assignments. Stuff we do in class we grade together. It will be different for you tho becuase I teach the little guys and you’ll be in a secondary school. But to eliminate working all night, I only apply grades to the big stuff: math tests, writing assignments, projects, story tests, etc. Homework gets a plus, check, or minus. Things we do together in class gets a quick plus and it’s sent home. My district provides a writing rubric we use to grade writing.
5.I don’t know about a technology seminar. At my school we just kind of learned by trial and error. We also have a few teachers on campus who know a lot about technology that we can call upon to come in and help us set stuff up and show us how to use it.
6. This is a hard one. See what your school policy is and go from there. You will figure out what works for you. I’m still learning. Ask others for ideas too.
7.I don’t think age will be a hinderance. The biggest hindrance when it comes to age would only be if the district had to pay you more because you had more experience or many many units and a masters where they had to start your pay in a higher column.
But if you are in California like I am, they are pink-slipping teachers because our state is (for the third year in a row) cutting from the education budget, so it may be hard to get hired until these budget cuts stop.
References :
westsida
13 Mar 10 at 10:22 pm