It is tough with the GOP eliminating jobs in an area that needs them most to save money instead of eliminating tax breaks for big corporations. The upside for teachers- more demand in private schools, so you may see more job openings in that area. I'm sending my son to one for Kindergarten, and may keep going after that. Money will be tight, but he's the #1 thing in our lives. I think most people could afford $5k a year if they cut superfluous oral-retentive things like smoking, alcohol, soda and junk food out of their lives.
That made me laugh...:grin: On a serious note...any hot teachers you work with? props to you for doing this...rewarding on a personal level...
i don't mean this just as a vague reply to your post or because your a teacher in general. But considering you motives and that its ESL,l you are a great human being and the good to society you end up doing is far reaching. Helping kids breach strong barriers / cultural and language differences gives them the ability to conform with the rest of society and gives them the foundation to be successful and have a crack at the same opppertunities other kids have.
actually there are a few, but of course they're all taken. gotta go for the student-teachers who intern in the school! they're gonna be teachers in a year anyway, and they're usually single. last year when i was student-teaching in a middle school, there were so many hot student teachers there. we all got hired by different schools, and the one where i work now doesn't train student teachers... sucks.
smoothie, Thanks for sharing - it is great to read someone talk about their love for their job, especially when it comes to teaching/education. I am actually in the process, hopefully, of getting a high school math teaching job myself. As some people around here know, I was laid off from my job in late January and before today, I have had 5 interviews and still no job as of yet. The last interview was in teaching at my old high school. My problem is that I don't have a teaching license/certificate but I do have a B.S. degree in math with graduate hours in math as well in addition to an MBA. It is because of my education that I have been able to teach on-line courses for a local community college for the past 3 years as an adjunct. It is decent pay for a part-time job but one that you cannot support a family on. At any rate, I have already had 2 interviews (the first being at my old high school) and today I had my 2nd teaching interview (6th overall since being unemployed). I have another interview scheduled for this coming Monday. To me, there is an extreme shortage of special education, math, and ESL/foreign language teachers. I am lucky that I have my degree in math. I am fairly confident I'll get a job teaching math and teach on a transitional license (sometimes known as a waiver or alternative license). I'll have 3 years to complete 18 hours in education and take the PRAXIS exam, else I'll lose my teaching job. If only my wife can get a job and interviews as easily as I have but she is an elementary education teacher and unlike math teachers where there is a shortage, there is a surplus of elementary education teachers - at least in Tennessee.
Glad to read that the experience has been so rewarding for you, Smoothie. I have taught for 8 years at a school in Auckland, NZ with many ESL students at a low socio-economic background and it has been a great experience. The majority of the school are of Polynesian descent with many Samoans, Tongans and people of Cook Island descent. I feel like I have learned as much about them and their culture as I have taught them about history and media studies and my culture. I look at learning as a two way street where everyone can learn and everyone can teach each other. It's been rewarding for me.
You're nothing like the real Manny Ramiriez. What's the story on that? Why'd you pick that user name? It's funny that growing up hardly anyone aspired to being a teacher but now its considered a great job. Just one aspect of coming of age in a weak economy I suppose.
The problem is these ladies might be too busy to give you the time of day. BUT: if you make friends with them (assuming they are not directly working under you of course), ask them if they are doing OK, are willing to listen to their stress and problems... they might just really appreciate you. :grin: Manny Ramirez - hope you get something lined up soon! I always heard of math as a high need area, though the economy is getting tighter. (and, again, people looking for community college jobs instead if they have an advanced degree... then that makes _my_ area more competitive with all the added people) And there really is a surplus of elementary teachers. A lot of my friends have had trouble finding elementary jobs, particularly if they could not relocate. Some have had to go back to school for other things or go to school to learn a secondary teaching field.
i'm not so sure about that. education has been hit as hard as every other field of work. there are plenty of layoffs and as Many stated, very few openings. as for growing up wanting to be a teacher, i think most kids can't wait to get out of school so why would they ever WANT to go back the rest of their working life? lol i was one of those. i moved to LA after college to write for TV and film. when the writers strike hit i realized the importance of a stable career. benefits and a good retirement are important too... plus you can't beat the vacation time and the feeling you get when you make a difference. overall, i think adults see teaching as a very good career. i would be surprised if any kids grow up thinking about getting a job for the benefits and retirement plan lol. Isabel - true, teachers are very busy, but we get out of work at the same time and have the same vacations. 2 teachers can find time for each other
And then you'll never have to worry about one of you having to work over the holidays. Family vacations are safe from work conflicts. And you can listen to each other's war stories. I do think teaching has the best total amount of time off and usually comes with OK benefits. Some of us didn't want to be done with school after we finished; rather, we couldn't imagine life without it. It's nice to at least be paid to go.
Haha - when I first joined here, I didn't know what name to choose. Being a fan of the Red Sox, I decided to choose a name associated with the Red Sox. Little did I know that there was already someone here named "Nomar" (don't ask about him). Anyway, it was my way of showing my fandom for the Red Sox while also stating my fandom for the Rockets (by posting here). Now that he doesn't play for them anymore, I have thought about changing my user name. Yet, everyone here knows me as "Manny" that there is no point in becoming "Groogrux II". Actually, I did change it a long time ago to "Comic Book Guy" and found myself having to explain in every post that I was "Manny Ramirez" and thus asked Clutch to change it back.
Isabel, Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. I am guessing by the end of next week, I should know something more definite. By that time, I will have already had 4 interviews with the possibility of having a 5th one later (they are getting a late start because they have a new principal and can't do any personnel stuff until after July 1). As I said before, I just wish that my wife can get an elementary teaching job but they are not in as demand as high school math teachers are.
