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• Special Education Teacher

School and Career Surprises: Tips From People on the Job

Career: "Teachers do not receive the same type of community support that was prevalent years ago. Now it seems as if we are accountable to parent's whims and wishes. The students do not want to do the required work to obtain a satisfactory grade, so the parents are always asking for special favors to improve their child's grade."

Career: "What has surprised me most about my profession is how much I have grown to love the kids that I teach. Middle school is a tough time for most kids. They are all changing and discovering their real personalities. It is great to be able to guide them in the right direction."

Career: "I was surprised that being a teacher requires so much time outside of work to prepare. It takes me an additional 4-5 hours a night sometimes once I've gone home to finish preparing lessons for the next day. I was also surprised that my lesson planning technique has changed a lot since college. They teach you to be extremely precise and detailed in school, but in real life that's not practical for day to day use. I found it surprising that an abbreviated version of plans are more than enough to help prepare me each day."

Career: "When I started teaching, I was surprised at how much time I spent managing student behavior, rather than teaching content. I feel as though a good portion of my day is spent teaching basic social skills instead of about the ancient Egyptians or how to write poetry. This was an aspect of the job that I felt I was not prepared for."

Career: "I was surprised to realize I'd need to know so much more than just my lesson plans. I teach math, and I am constantly surprised at the questions they ask me about that require information about other subjects (geography, science, etc...) It has really kept me on my toes!"

Career: "I am surprised at how little support I get from parents of students. When I was young, if I did wrong or poorly, my parents blamed me. Now the teacher or school gets blamed."

Career: "I was surprised to find out that being a teacher requires a tremendous amount of patience. The one thing college does not teach you about this career is how difficult it can be to deal with certain students."

Career: "I am surprised how kids are disrespectful these days. When I was in school that would never fly. This generation needs to be taken back to the basics and learn them first."

Best & Worst Things About This Career

"The best part of this job is that I know I am making a positive difference in young people's lives. I get to encourage and support a range of students in academics and non-academic areas. I feel privileged to be a sounding board for kids who have no one else to turn to. The worst part of the job is getting used to all the paperwork and follow up required to keep a class on task and on target. The paperwork is not insurmountable, but it requires a certain level of organization."

"The best part of my job are the connections I make with the students. Like the look in their eyes when a students learns something for the first time or shows an expression on their face that shows they are excited about history just as much as I am. I love when students work and interact with other students they may normally not even acknowledge in the hallway. The worst part of my job are the duties in the school, grading and parents who are looking to attack you at any opportunity."

"The most rewarding part of teaching is the kids. Watching students grow throughout the school year is amazing. Making connections with them beyond the classroom provides a sense of safety and security for these young adolescents. The look on their faces when something finally "clicks" is enough to feed any teacher's ego. Another part of the job that is wonderful are the friendships you make over the years, to know every day that when you enter the school building, you enter the house of your "other" family. A supportive, caring environment is a very important factor in choosing a job. The worst part of the job is time management. You can have the best-laid plans but when the bell rings you are done for the day. If there was a better way to balance and manage time in our profession, it certainly would create a less stressful atmosphere."

"The satisfaction I get from teaching is immeasurable. I love the interaction with my children and it delights me that they can't wait to see me every day. I especially love to see a student who thought he or she was not capable of achieving, accomplishing work he thought beyond himself. I love to see students forming relationships with others they thought were not like them; sometimes this happens when they work together on group projects, and they realize that someone they thought they knew has a gift or talent that they themselves lack. In middle school, a teacher often sees that unlikely relationships can flourish when the students begin to appreciate the differences between themselves and others, rather than let the differences separate them."

"The best part of my job is working with such interesting students; each day is an adventure. The students challenge me every day to find new ways to explain concepts lucidly. They are able to find joy in things that I would never expect, such as learning to play fun songs or new notes. I enjoy traveling to different schools every day, but the worst part of my job is that I always have to teach in a "found" space such as a gymnasium, library, closet or hallway."

"The best part of this job is working with kids. Students in seventh grade are anywhere from 12 to 13 years old. I love getting to know their personalities and getting them excited about science. This is only their second year of a formal science class. I want them to like coming to class but at the same time I expect students to perform and focus in class. I enjoy the challenge of it all. The only down side is the amount of time it takes to correct school work. I have to be careful that it does not consume me."

"The best part of my job is that I am surrounded by young people. This gives me hope for the future as I get to know each one individually. Another part of the job that appeals to me is seeing students outside of school. They give me big hugs, and I often receive invitations to graduations, birthdays, and other events. The worst part of my job is going into classrooms with "bad" teachers who don't give the kids engaging work. I feel like the kids' time and future is being wasted."

"The best part of the job is seeing students develop into young adults before my eyes...and seeing their faces when they finally understand something. The worst part is dealing with people who don't teach and aren't in a classroom who try to tell us what we can and can't do... and not having access to our own printers and photocopiers."

"The best part of the job is collaborating with students. Watching them grow as young men and women and helping them to learn about the field of instruction that I teach is inspiring to me. The worst parts are having to deal with the myriads of state requirements and the paperwork, and then having to undertake the professional development course work (that provides little or no benefit to me or my program) and also having to deal with unmotivated students who take time away from those who want to learn."

"The best part of my job is interacting with students. They are very fun and enjoyable in this age group (most of mine are eleven). They are still very excited about school in general and like to have fun with their teachers. They like to joke around or tell you about their lives. When they learn something and it makes sense of them, I get a great feeling of accomplishment. The worst part of my job is accounting to their parents. Parents in my district are very involved in their children's lives and often question my decisions. Although I try to make the best and fairest decisions I can, I am often criticized by parents. It is very frustrating to be attacked like this on a regular basis. Teachers around here are probably held in even lower esteem than the weather man."

"The best part of my job is the students. I enjoy seeing them mature and make progress. I generally work with students for a few years, so I really get to know them very well. This year I began working in the elementary school and it is great fun to watch the 'little ones' in the halls and at lunch. They are so talkative and innocent. I enjoy being with many of the dedicated professionals I work with. They all love the students and each one is important to them. At lunch they'll talk about them and share funny stories, never seeming to tire of them. I have had many great parents to work with also. They truly appreciate the time and effort you put into working with their children. The most rewarding yearly event is the Special Olympics. Some of the most shy and unmotivated athletes become outgoing and energetic and they are all winners, which is the best part. The worst part of the job is the politics and sometimes the back stabbing of people who are supposed to be supportive and understand the effort that we all put in. It seems to come down to the fact that the economy is bad and the budget is tight. Good people are let go and under-appreciated. I also see a lot of wasteful spending and no economizing. They hire maintenance staff when they should have a training program for students with limited career opportunities. They have ex-teachers running things and the buildings are poorly maintained also."

"The best part of my job is the daily interaction with kids and building relationships with them. It is very rewarding to see former students who have grown up and become successful. The worst part is not being able to help every one. Some kids have too much other stuff -- family issues, mostly -- that keeps them from concentrating on their school work the way they ought to."

Tips for Succeeding in This Career

"My first piece of advice for anyone thinking about joining the teacher community is to make sure you take any and all classes that deal with "class control" and "class management." This is an often overlooked area and it is critical to new teachers to have a game plan for class management. Another piece of advice I would offer is to talk to teachers in the grades and school systems that you think you are interested in teaching. My last piece of advice is to enter this field with a firm commitment to stay at least 3 years. Any less than that may give you a false sense of frustration or a sense of being overwhelmed. You need a few years to get yourself settle in the school system and get comfortable with you curriculum."

"1. I would suggest spending time substitute teaching. The pay is low and the job is tough but you will learn classroom management skills prior to getting a job and having your own classroom. 2. Use the opportunity as a substitute teacher to determine what grade level you would like to teach. I went into teaching hoping to teach HS until I was a substitute and realized I loved middle school. 3. Be prepared to work more hours than you will ever be paid for and weekends may be included. There will be days you are "caught up" on all your work and days you are overloaded with correcting. You will survive. 3."

"It may seem a bit old-fashioned but it is very important to look professional in the school building. Dress appropriately and maintain a healthy grooming regiment. Get into a classroom to observe or help out as often as possible. Major in a subject area and minor in education. And finally, take additional course work in areas such as Special Education, English Language Learning, and Technology."

"1. You must have an affinity for young people. 2. You'll need to be flexible; you'll meet with, converse with, disagree with, and learn from your students, their parents, your fellow staff, and your administration every day. 3. Don't assume you know everything. Teachers are in a learning environment and often when working things out in the classroom, you'll learn plenty, if your mind is open and you don't have to be right."

"As a college student, practice your primary instrument as often as possible. Take as many courses as you can, especially courses that feature music technology. Also as a student, take any opportunity to observe other teachers in your field. When you find your way into the workforce, take private lessons on the instruments that you are less comfortable with and converse with your peers about different teaching strategies, lesson ideas, and classroom management ideas as often as you possibly can."

"Teaching is a very rewarding career, however, you must be aware of several things. First of all, your job does not end when the bell rings. You are expected to attend departmental and building meetings, correct papers, create lesson plans and prepare your materials. This takes a lot more time than most would realize. Second, teacher's pay is not very high, therefore you have to examine your lifestyle and what you really want. However, it is a rewarding and enjoyable job."

"I recommend working with young people in after-school settings, camps, or any other venue. It will give you ideas about discipline and engaging activities. Also, visit as many classrooms as you can. Do not limit yourself to the grade level you intend to teach. I've taught all ages, from pre-K to college and have learned from each level. Plus, don't limit yourself by saying you'll only work with one social class. For example, I've taught high-income students and impoverished and have enjoyed both."

"You can only learn to teach by teaching at a school...not in a college classroom. Make sure that you learn how to use rubrics and how to grade. They're important. While you're new to teaching be humble about what you know and absorb what veteran teachers have to tell you. Remember that you should be nice to every person who works in your building. The custodian and the office staff are just as important as you are. They keep the building clean and running and if they don't do a good job, you won't be able to either. In any job you should treat all employees with respect. All are valuable or they would not be there."

"Decide what you want to do in life and set a course toward your goal. Have a plan. Don't wait for things to happen. MAKE them happen! If you think you would like to become a teacher, first volunteer your time to see if working with children is something you will want to do for the rest of your career. If having summers off is your primary motivation, then you're making the wrong choice."

"Get as much experience as you can in the field. Between observations, volunteering, substituting and your student teaching, it will only make your chances of getting a job that much better. Use all the resources you can in college to help you. Use the career center, your professors (most used to be teachers), your advisor, etc. They can help find you a place that will fit you. Get yourself organized. Teaching is 80% about organization. If you are not organized, you will feel like you are drowning, so find a simple system to take in all the information you get each day and process it so you know what you have to do for the rest of the week."

"I felt that I learned a lot more by going to a college that had a lab school. We had the opportunity to learn something and then see it in action and then practice it ourselves. When I went to get my masters degree, we never saw a student. I also find going to seminars and trainings in specific areas that I will be teaching to be useful. It is not the most profitable career, but it is rewarding and has a lot of variety."

"1. Do not go into teaching because you want the summers off. The ten months you do work are insanely busy. 2. Get as much experience as you can being in charge of kids. 3. If your first year teaching is hard, stick it out anyway. Year two is usually when most people really get the hang of things."