How many of us are teachers?
Posted by KissMeKate on Feb 27, 2008 · Member since Aug 2007 · 7322 posts
I've been noticing that a lot of you are teachers. I am going to be a teacher starting next school year for TFA in secondary mathematics.
I'm curious how many of you are teachers. What subjects and ages of kids do you teach? What do you like about being a teacher, and what do you find challenging?
I currently teach kindergartners with autism, but I have taught varying types of special education classes from birth on up to middle school. I have taught in inner-city Houston and in semi-rural Minnesota. I really love teaching, and especially this year I am having a pretty fantastic year. I have found differing joys and challenges in each environment.
When I taught in Houston, I loved the kids to pieces. I worked my tail off trying to be the absolute best I could be, but it was a haaaaard fall to fall for an idealistic person to realize that I could not fix everything for them. And I don't mean their disabilities. I mean the structural problems of the schools and district, the kids' home situations, and what I saw as very careless and heartless decisions made at the administrative level that were adversely affecting these kids' chance at anything better. The third year broke my back. By that time, I had sat in on so many IEP meetings where I did NOT agree with my administrators, and although I had tried for weeks to intercede, parents were basically told, "this is what we are doing with your child." Which is not only heartless, but also illegal.
Here things are much better in general. I have found people to be much more willing to work together to solve problems and creativity and flexibility is DEFINITELY more valued. When I saw the preschool autism class during my interview here, I actually cried, just from imagining what my Texas kids could be like if they had had that kind of intervention. It is a crying rotten shame that you can be born in the same country and the difference in what kind of education you get is so huge. But that's a soapbox of mine that I'll not go into further.
I guess my advice is: it's a wild but worthwile ride. Enjoy it and don't lose your fire. Be a mover and a shaker and love the kids for who they are.
That being said: have a life outside of school as well. It is tempting to live there, especially your first year. But you WILL BURN OUT!
Kelsi, I can't believe your K-2 students know Black Sabbath. That is awesome. Mine are from two completely different ends of the spectrum...about half listen to either country or gospel music, the other half only know rappers that I haven't heard of. Oh, I almost forgot, the girls all like Hannah Montana. Haha. No Black Sabbath...actually if I played Ozzie in class, someone would probably bring in a preacher to save me. >:D
ew. my girls LOVE hannah montana too. most of my kids like country, so i play a lot of johnny cash. michael says that the kid probably only knows about black sabbath because of guitar hero... its probably true. haha
hannah montana. sigh. ::)
Kelsi, I can't believe your K-2 students know Black Sabbath. That is awesome. Mine are from two completely different ends of the spectrum...about half listen to either country or gospel music, the other half only know rappers that I haven't heard of. Oh, I almost forgot, the girls all like Hannah Montana. Haha. No Black Sabbath...actually if I played Ozzie in class, someone would probably bring in a preacher to save me. >:D
You know you're old when a teenage student comes to you all big-eyed and says, "Did you know Paul MacCartney was in a different band before Wings?" Like it's such a revelation.
And they think Elvis Presley was a basketball player...I wish I were kidding.
:) Hello! :howdy: I am currently finishing up the alternative certification route to teach Special Education General Curriculum. I live in a small town in GA about 40 minutes south of Atlanta. For the past year I have subbed at one specific school and for one specific Adapted Curriculum classroom. I am so excited about teaching and getting to know the kids I come in contact with on a daily basis. You ladies sound so dedicated to your craft.
ew. my girls LOVE hannah montana too. most of my kids like country, so i play a lot of johnny cash. michael says that the kid probably only knows about black sabbath because of guitar hero... its probably true. haha
That's cool...the Johnny Cash is good for them ;)b Sometimes when I feel like showing the kids that I'm not as boring as they think I am (Ha.), I will play "Outkast" for them. I can only play "Hey Ya" and "Happy Valentines Day" because those are the only ones I have that don't have discernable "bad words."
Oh, and they LOVE guitar hero. I don't get it though. How come they can play freakin guitar hero, but can't remember how to find middle C on the keyboard...or how to play BAG on the recorder?
They are cool though. Haha. I'm gonna make vegan cupcakes for my festival choir...and they are excited about them! They also remind me when I forget to do our "yoga" before rehearsal. And I'm quitting this job why??? Hmm.. anyway.
Lotus, your students remind me of the days when I taught in a language school (for my sins). Kids could sing English rock songs without a trace of accent, and understand and translate the words perfectly. Pick up a lesson book, or try free conversation, and the answer was, "I doe nunderstan." :P
Lotus, your students remind me of the days when I taught in a language school (for my sins). Kids could sing English rock songs without a trace of accent, and understand and translate the words perfectly. Pick up a lesson book, or try free conversation, and the answer was, "I doe nunderstan." :P
i learned at a music conference that music makes extra connections in the brain that other subjects can not. music helps connect all kinds of ideas which helps them to be remembered easily. as to why this happens, i have no clue.
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