TheApple

 Hello,

Yes I am here once again to bother you with an interview . PLEASE be kind enough to answer the questions so I can pass my education class and continue on my path to becoming a teacher. lol Thanks!

Grade level currently teaching-

number of years at this level-

total number of years teaching-

school district-

1) Why did you choose to be a teacher?

2) Why have you chosen to remain in the teaching profession?

3) What do you consider to be the best part of teaching?

4) What do you consider to be the worst part of teaching?

5) In order to prepare graduates for the real world of teaching, what do you think colleges should include in their education curriculums?

6) What do you believe is the most important thing you can do for your students?

7) What advice do you have for me as I begin my teaching career? 

Also for health reasons and family obligations I had to take some time away from my professional teaching career.  I currently am a substitute teacher and teach all grade levels and all subjects.  On the weekends, I teach preschoolers and have done so for the past six years.  When I was not a volunteer at my now grown children's schools, I taught Algebra I and Biology I Resource to 9-12 graders (mostly 9th & 10th graders) for four years.  I also taught 2nd grade for one year, and 4th grade for one year in various parts of the country.

I have been teaching professionally for 8 years, but have been volunteering in some capacity of teaching as either a tutor or trainer or teacher's aide for 37 years.

I currently teach in NEISD in San Antonio, TX.

1) Teaching chose me.  I do not remember when I knew that I was a teacher, but I do remember that when I was 11 years old, I started tutoring classmates (FOR PAY).  In 7th & 8th grade I was a science lab teachers' aide for one class period daily.  In high school, I assisted my government and French teachers with tutoring and grading before and after school.  In my neighborhood, parents sent their children to me for help with their school assignments.  Every job I had I was pulled aside to train new employees.  I was the scouting den mother, the classroom mother, the librarian's helper, etc.  I am passionate about experiential learning and teaching others to be curious about their surroundings.

2) I choose to remain a teacher because it is who I am.  When I am not in a capacity to lead others in the growth processes of life, I feel like my life has been taken from me.  I believe that I understand what it is like to lose a limb when I was forced to take a secretarial job alone in an office, filing papers, and having little interaction with others: I became seriously depressed and grieved over being removed from an atmosphere in that exchange of information that is teaching - I died a little emotionally when I was unable to teach others daily.

3) The best part of teaching, for me, are those moments when you see a student in growth of broader knowledge.  There are times when you can literally see or hear, "the light going on in their heads."  When you are present for that moment, or when a student acknowledges that you as a teacher led them to that understanding, it is one of the most rewarding events I can recall.  One of the other great moments is when a coming across a former student, and they remember you by name and either thank you for some advice or lesson from the past.

4) The worst part of teaching is trying to deal with a large classroom of disrespectful, rude students.  We have come to a place in society where few parents are taking personal responsibility for the training and discipline of their own children.  Teachers have to be more than teachers of the assigned subjects of "book learning," but now also have to teach the meaning and execution of respect, hygene, manners, and moral or ethical thought and action, but all the while avoiding bringing up the subject of The Almighty out of fear of retribution.  Children who do not have a fear of God in them, also live with an inability to treat others with respect, and do not treat their own or others' belongings with care.  This is a very sad situation.  I think this country is in a state of disaster culturally, as we say we tolerate everyone's beliefs, yet we don't allow those who beleive in teaching our children to respect others to share that belief.

5) I feel that colleges have not been very good at teaching organizational skills as in developing lesson plans and classroom management.  I know most schools touch on the topics within courses, but the information is usually very general.  I think it is a dull topic to go into depth over, but it is necessary to practice in a cummulative, applied manner in an intense period of time.  I remember having classes in behavior management and reading lots of ideas, but unless you actually put into practice with children and feedback from an instructor, it is not always something that comes naturally.  I love "Super Nanny" and think that a course that is more putting ideas into action with the aid of a professor until you get it right is more the idea that we should put into play - before going into an internship/student teaching experience.  Many schools are so crowded that student teachers don't get much feedback live and are more often than not left on their own to teach from someone else's lesson plans, and not always being in charge when difficult situations arise.  I carry "The First Days of School," with me as a reminder of what I always need reinforced.

6) The most important thing I can do for my students is to pass on an ability to ask questions in a desire to understand more in whatever situation they might find themselves in.  I want students to be able to problem solve on their own so they might make their own inferences in each decision they make, based upon past learning.  I also think an important part of teaching is teaching students to be self-disciplined.  Learning to keep hands to themselves, to clean up after themselves, to be on time, to only speak when given the floor, are all part of that self-discipline and self-control.  I think the lack of self-discipline and lack of overall respect is in direct correlation to the increase in teen preganancy and juvenile delinquency.

7) As you begin your teaching career, don't be afraid to ask questions.  Ask your peers how they handle things on a regular basis.  Communication is key, and in today's culture with so many forms of instant communication available, we do less communicating directly with those who really matter to us.  As a teacher, you want to communicate your expectations clearly to your students.  I also made a point of calling every parent at least once a month, and started every phone call with an atta-boy for each student.  Some calls were only atta-boys, and a few also included something that needed correction.  As the year progresses, the parents are not afraid to ask questions, and will better cooperate in helping discipline their children so that you don't have to handle too many tough situations.  Be prepared to always learn, as the world is always changing around us, yet people will always be the same.  So keep current on technology, and don't stop reading educational journals to stay in touch with changes in theory and legislation.  When given orders or a situation that makes you confused or uncertain, always ask the question, "For a positive outcome, does this require me to be compliant, compassionate, or courageous?"  Your answer to that will help guide you into the right reaction.

cheeriobaby says ...

 I'm currently teaching sixth grade social studies; language arts; science; and reading in the morning, and have a high school web design class; elementary computer lab; and sixth grade "enrichment."

First year w/a high school class; 13th years total (I think) with sixth grade, but taught third grade from 2001-2005 and fifth grade before teaching sixth.

Have taught for 22 years in three school districts; presently in a small rural district in NW Washington State.

I can't remember NOT wanting to be a teacher.  I love kids and love learning.

I've remained in teaching mostly because of the above, and partly because it's a steady income.  (-; 

Best part of teaching?  The kids.

Worst part of teaching?  NCLB and other unfunded mandates.

To prepare graduates for the real world of teaching?  Undergrads need to learn about time management, grading, parent conferencing, etc. 

The most important thing I can do for my students is teach them how to think for themselves; to be proactive learners.

Take time for yourself and your family and friends.  It's easy to make teaching your life and sometimes you just have to step back.

Grade level currently teaching-  I teach all levels, including pre-college classes at a technical college

 

number of years at this level- 21

total number of years teaching- 30

 

school district-Wisconsin Technical College District of Milwaukee

1) Why did you choose to be a teacher?  Not sure that I chose it--I think IT chose me!!

2) Why have you chosen to remain in the teaching profession?  Because I love the look in a student's face whens/he "gets it"  and the light goes on

3) What do you consider to be the best part of teaching?  Watch a student graduate who though it could never happen (many of my students are the first in their families to graduate high school, not to mention, to get an AA.

 

4) What do you consider to be the worst part of teaching?  The disrespect and vile language students use.  Also, the lack of responsibility some seem to have.

5) In order to prepare graduates for the real world of teaching, what do you think colleges should include in their education curriculums?  Real world applications for the skills they are learning and classes that are based in reality.  I don't think most young teachers really know what they are walking into if they teach in an urban school district.   And most of the classes don't prepare them for walking into a classroom where, sometimes, nefarious skullduggary occurrs. (I think union membership is important and also, having a support group for young teachers.)

6) What do you believe is the most important thing you can do for your students?  To teach them that they CAN SUCCEED!!  And, critical thinking skills :-)

7) What advice do you have for me as I begin my teaching career?   Be aware that not all students want to learn.  Develop a very thick skin.  Get to know your students and their families--that personal connection is SO important.  And learn that it is OK to say 'no' sometimes.  Celebrate your successes and don't dwell on those who didn't quite make it if you did your best--it happens.  Also, don't always buy into the "teaching theory of the month" club.  Go and watch those teachers who are successful and use their classroom management policies and stick with them ( being wishy-washy is something students get right off and they will play you to no end).  Learn that firmness is not a bad thing--I don't' mean being mean, I mean insisting that students can learn and that you will provide an atmosphere where that will happen.  (This last takes guts!)  And, ask for help if you need it.  The teacher who cannot learn should not teach.  And last, but not least:  Don't give up!!