Would you be thinking of teaching children, college age kids or adults? I find the adults doing further study really the most rewarding to teach as they know exactlly what they want and are interested in the lessons. Although it is rewarding also to guide young people through their studies to starting work and see how much they grow up in their 4-5 years at college. (I wouldn't have the patience for teaching children or teenagers )

Hi Bluewings!

I'm going to teach teenagers...I'm really up for that challenge. I think they will be wonderful to teach. I'm sure I'll get some that are not so fun but you get all kinds! I'm not sure I'm cut out for kids and I'm pretty sure I don't have the brain to take on Adults!

Carol

Carol, I think you'd be great at that!

Carol,

I'm not sure which takes more brain!! Depends on the subject, I suppose. I just teach web and graphic design, so it takes skill and some artistic ability more than brains. But I'm sure you will enjoy your age group because you are enthusiastic about it, and they are lucky to get a teacher who likes what she does! Some of my collegues were counting days for the fall week off three days after the start of the semester

Carol...

Teenagers?? WOW!! What an adventure!! What subject do you want to teach...and do you want to teach kids in thier early teens or late teens...that can make a big difference in your experience.

In my thoughts and prayers,

shy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips!!

It's so nice that ya'll have confidence in me!

My dream is to teach high school. I'd like to draw on my business background but I also want to teach math. It's the math that I have a lot of learning to do before I can consider myself qualified! It's been a long time since I took a math course and I'm quite excited about the thought of taking some again (yeah, I can already hear some of you...math? yuck....how can she be excited?)!

Well, I am excited and I have lots to accomplish before then so I'm going to get started. I have the college admissions information coming in...now I just have to pray for God's leading!

And, Shy, am I really a chocolate chip?! Thanks! For those of you who don't know my obsession with Chocolate...that's a MAJOR compliment to me!

Carol

I taught High School for 12 years. Thought I would hate it. Grew to really love it. It is really the last ditch effort for kids to get their acts together. It really isn't the kids that make teaching tough most of the time, it is the parents and the administration. I teach middle school now. Many people think I am insane. I probably am!! I love it!

As far as teaching math, it is the one subject that you really can see kids either getting it or NOT in a short amount of time. Most other subjects it is lecture until you test, but math requires DAILY work where you can see progress!! It is a GREAT feeling!!

You go girl. It isn't the best paid job, but the rewards are well worth the efforts!!

Rae Ellen,

Thank you for reviving this thread. I am also a teacher, teaching English as a second language in a private language school. I'm currently getting specialized in teaching VYLs' ('very young learners', generally meaning pre-school), but I also work with teenagers and young adults.

It's always nice to meet fellow teachers.

Rae,
You are so right about your life being a fish bowl. My partner and I purposely do NOT live in the towns where we teach. My partner's school is very homophobic. She really worries about her administration if they "found out". I am fortunate enough to have a more accepting school and administration. I am not out by any means, but most people, including my students do know I have a roommate. Since many of their families have all kinds of people living in their homes, they don't think too much of it.

Aaron,
So is English YOUR first language? I have always marveled at how well you write. Now, I know why. How long have you been teaching English Language Learners?

Groucho,

My first language is Croatian, as that's where I was born. I don't know how exactly, but I was able read and write English even before I had it as a school subject. I've always been pretty good at it. I tend to think of it as a gift of 'speaking in tongues.'

I started teaching about five years ago, but I've only been teaching full time for the past year or so, after I quit my job at my University's History Dept., where I used to work as a researcher. I graduated in classics.

I too am an educator. I have been teaching for 20 years. I came out to my assistant principal last year and to everyone else this year at the start of the year picnic we have. I don't think I surpised anyone. Since I teach 6th grade I don't say anything about it to the students. I have only lived in this town for 2 1/2 years so my guess is the "secret" will get out eventually. Fortunately I plan on retiring in the next 5-7 years. Most everyone is totally ok with it. I am very blessed in that sense. You just go on with life as if it is "normal" because it is. I'm looking forward to further conversations with the group on this.

Karen, I'm so glad you were able to come out! My partner was a high school teacher for many years, and never felt able to come out. Not that there would necessarily be problems with her job - the county has a non-discrimination policy. And she probably wouldn't have had trouble with her colleagues, either, since many of them surely have figured it out anyway. Her problem was that she worked very closely with the parents of her students in her school plays (she was the drama director). She was afraid that the parents would withdraw their support and not allow their children to participate in the plays if they had known. It was a constant fear of hers, yet I'm sure many of the parents knew, since I was all performances of all the plays, and at all the after-play parties. There is just this fear of coming out in the education field, and I'm glad you were able to overcome it. My partner is now retired, by the way, and is loving it.
Ingrid