Teachers: HELP!!!

[Cricket1]

I'm currently studying for my PRAXIS exam. In NH, if you have a Bachelor's degree, you can take the exam and become certified through a variety of alternative paths. My B.S. is in Business.

My question is this: do you think I should be an aide for a year so I can gain classroom experience? I'm hoping to become certified in elementary ed and have no experience in the classroom. I'm sure I would have difficulty being hired without direct experience and even if I wasn't, I would be scared out of my mind going in blind!

If you currently teach--what was your experience? Did you have a degree (and therefore student teaching) in education? Anyone go about it differently?

[kettel6]

I'm still a student. Does your state allow you to sub without a degree?

[Darlene]

Dd just graduated College last Spring and has her BS degree in secondary ed with a concentration in social studies. In NY you have to go through student teaching. She took all her tests, is certified, & she currently is substituting at all grade levels. She continues to learn on the job & it's helping her decide where she'd like to go with graduate work. It's also helping her network and hopefully land a full time teaching job.
Student teaching helped her in dealing with all kinds of problems that may arise as well as various teaching methods.
If you have any questions, I could ask her for you.
Good luck!

[bargainmom]

My 2¢ -- try being an aide to see if you like it. That's what I'm currently doing. Gives you a feel for working with kids. You don't have to deal with the politics of a school, and you don't get paid as much, but it let's you experience the classroom and see how teachers teach.

[ilovechocolate]

As a teacher of 30+ years, I can tell you that having a variety of classroom experiences BEFORE you get your own class still does not prepare you for "the real thing." I had internships and student teaching experiences every single quarter of my junior and senior years of college, and it was still a huge adjustment when I got my own classroom. It took me several years to start feeling like I sort of knew what I was doing, and every teacher I've talked to believes the same thing.

[ImEmile]

I would suggest being an aide/substitute teacher for a year if you can afford it. Even though being a student teacher doesn't prepare you as much as the universities seem to think it should, it's better than nothing. Being an aide is good if your teacher will allow you to teach a few lessons with her there to observe and give you feedback...get some from the principal(s) too. I'm sure they'd have no problem helping you do that. Then you can use them as references too.

I taught Spanish and French to grades 6-12 in the States. None of that prepared me for 2nd and 3rd grade in Kuwait. But I'm loving it and it requires a lot of thinking on your feet.

To help you prepare for your first day in the classroom...read "The First Days of School" by Harry Wong (I have a copy autographed by the author after I heard him speak to our district) and Assertive Discipline by Lee and Marlene Canter. Make sure before you teach them any subject areas you teach them routines and expected behaviors and how you will handle any infractions. Otherwise it'll be an uphill battle all the way.

[AmyBoz]

As a teacher, I agree with the above post that nothing prepares you for your own classroom, but I also feel very strongly that having actual classroom experience is important. Subbing is a great way to get some of that experience, as is being an aide. The advantage of being an aide is that you get to be in the same classroom, day in and day out, and you get to see what a classroom routine is like. As a sub, you go wherever you are told to go, and there is no real routine, as every teacher is different. So, I say, definitely do one of the two, but perhaps being an aide would be the best bet. Although, now that I'm thinking about it, as a sub, you are more the authority figure than if you are the aide, and you need experience being the bottom line in the classroom as well. Well, I'm no help. Just do one of those things...I think it will be a worthwhile experience.

[Cricket1]

Thanks for the info, ladies. I think I'm definitely going to go the aide route--so I can see the routine and perhaps gain a few references.

[ImEmile]

In the schools I've taught in here in Kuwait, aides often have to sub. I don't know how it works in the States since I never had an aide stateside, but possibly you could be in a position to sub while you're working as an aide. I guess it could depend upon your district and if the teacher you're assigned to was agreeable to it.

[forHISglory]

Hi I started teaching in 1971, and just retired this year. Student teaching did NOT prepare me very well. (It's a good idea, but my situation just was not a good one). If you can afford to be an aide for a year, you should get excellent hands-on training in that classroom. Take advantage of being in the school by talking to and observing as many other teachers as possible. Subbing is a whole different critter. Every teacher runs his/her classroom differently. Some are tight; others are loose. Some are well organized; some are not. You'll see how kids react to these different types of teaching styles. In my school, we had a sub period built into our schedule, so we had the possibility of subbing for someone every day. I think it made me a stronger teacher. I also saw teachers who came in with NO student teaching or other teaching experience, and the students just about ate them alive. So the more experience you can garner, the better. I also agree with the post that suggested Wong and Assertive Discipline. These are very sound systems. I tended to run a tightly disciplined, highly organized classroom and it gave the students much needed structure. That structure actually gave students freedom because they knew exactly what to expect and what was expected of them. I really strongly suggest that you get experience and be mentored by experienced teachers that you respect. I wish the best for you. I LOVED teaching!

[forHISglory]

Sorry.... I forgot to add some info that you asked for. I'm in MO, and have a BSE and MA degree. My fields were English and speech, 7-12. I also teach University courses because of the MA.