The Teachers Thread

[Brent]

Welp, I meant to post that in the RDT.

[CJSchneider]

No students in the teachers' lounge.

[Forenci]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

I didn't take it as bragging since it was pertinent to the discussion.
After looking at that site, and the way that system is set up, as I see it, the MAT is the course work you would acquire if you had acquired a Bachelors of Arts in Edu.

I admit, I may be a bit on the defensive on this subject as well. I have met far too many people who fast track them selves to a Masters in Edu. (Administration), then think they are better than me (a teacher with 11 years experience, certified in 4 subjects (PE, computer literacy, math and english), serves as a committee chair of a state mandated SWPB committee, on the SBLC and school improvement committee, and the athletic coordinator). By the way that is just this year alone.

Oh, also on a side note, due to enrollment numbers, they took my sports journalism class away and give me 5 classes of PE (it actually allows them to accommodate more students during the same amount of time) So now I teach two classes of robotics and 5 classes of PE. The cool part is that I can now where tennis-shoes to school.

Haha, I understand. A lot of people do the MAT program because it just makes more sense then minoring in secondary education (the secondary ed minor is 30 credits) so the MAT program, normally a two year program, can be condensed with certain prerequisites. I'm a little different, since I didn't go here as an undergrad and am also getting my masters in English.

I understand what you're saying though.

I'm curious, what's the process to get certified to teach in multiple subjects? Like I mentioned before, for my undergrad degree I've got a minor in history and I was hoping I might be able to teach that as well but I'm not sure how or if I am able to get certified to teach that.

[CJSchneider]

In Louisiana, you have to go back and take the Praxis II and the PLT for that content area to earn "Highly Qualified" status.

[nobodyinparticular]

I'm thinking about going back to school for a masters to teach. Any tips for a 25 year old to get into the game quickly?

[Raiderz4Life]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

I'm thinking about going back to school for a masters to teach. Any tips for a 25 year old to get into the game quickly?

Find the right ppl to shag.

[CJSchneider]

Originally Posted by nobodyinparticular

I'm thinking about going back to school for a masters to teach. Any tips for a 25 year old to get into the game quickly?

What Raiderz said, and;

I guess that depends on what you hope to teach and what your degree is in. The simplest advice I could give is get yourself to a school similar to the one you teach want to teach at and volunteer and start becoming fluent on issues teachers face and determine your stance and reaction to them.

[scottyboy]

this is awesome

[http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3r53gz/

[Forenci]

Seven up was awesome. I loved that game.

[princefielder28]

I'm currently student teaching in a 7th grade math classroom and it's going really well. I'm also a head football coach at the 7th grade level and it's a paid position, which is nice. I'll spend nine weeks student teaching at the middle school and then I'll spend nine weeks student teaching in a 1st grade classroom.

[CJSchneider]

Originally Posted by princefielder28

I'm currently student teaching in a 7th grade math classroom and it's going really well. I'm also a head football coach at the 7th grade level and it's a paid position, which is nice. I'll spend nine weeks student teaching at the middle school and then I'll spend nine weeks student teaching in a 1st grade classroom.

Must be nice. I coached a 7th grade team when I student taught and they didn't pay me. What made it worse was that half the other male teachers were pisses at me because I took potential money away from them.

[CJSchneider]

Yes, today is Saturday.
Yes, I am currently setting in my classroom.
Yes, you will work weekends and during the summer.
No, you won't necessarily get paid any extra, monetarily, for it.

[Raiderz4Life]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

Yes, today is Saturday.
Yes, I am currently setting in my classroom.
Yes, you will work weekends and during the summer.
No, you won't necessarily get paid any extra, monetarily, for it.

Its when they graduate and say, "Thank you Mr. Feeney...eerr..Schneider, for everything. I also won't miss you trying to look under my skirt.", that makes it all worth it. Right CJ?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

Yes, today is Saturday.
Yes, I am currently setting in my classroom.
Yes, you will work weekends and during the summer.
No, you won't necessarily get paid any extra, monetarily, for it.

but you will have less stress by getting **** done

[CJSchneider]

Originally Posted by Brent

but you will have less stress by getting **** done

I got a ton of crap done.

Louisiana revamped its PGP format and has begun the switch over to Common Core. This, in addition to the new ed. laws in this state is making teaching a chore instead of a joy. Now add to that, the fact that all my classes changed after the 6th weeks of school. It in essence put me six weeks behind.

[Forenci]

Haha, well that's too bad CJ. Getting jerked around by the system is never fun I'm sure.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

Louisiana revamped its PGP format and has begun the switch over to Common Core.

Texas' STAAR is basically the same thing. In essence, it's AP questioning.

[Caddy]

Originally Posted by Forenci

Haha, well that's too bad CJ. Getting jerked around by the system is never fun I'm sure.

I feel like working extra hours and not getting paid is pretty common in basically any serious career...

[CJSchneider]

Originally Posted by Caddy

I feel like working extra hours and not getting paid is pretty common in basically any serious career...

Then I should be treated, respected, and initially compensated to reflect that fact.

[Caddy]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

Then I should be treated, respected, and initially compensated to reflect that fact.

I respect you CJ! I respect teachers more than plenty of other occupations which do a lot of work for little/no extra pay.

[The_Dude]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

Yes, today is Saturday.
Yes, I am currently setting in my classroom.
Yes, you will work weekends and during the summer.
No, you won't necessarily get paid any extra, monetarily, for it.

This is why i never feel bad when i do chose to leave right after the kids do. I may not always be there for my full contract day, but the way i look at it, my district will always "owe" me for the late nights, early mornings, weekends, etc that i put in outside of the contract hours. This isn't even including work done in the summer.

I am jealous that you are in on a saturday. i used to be able to do that.....

[scottyboy]

well, I just applied to the urban fellowship program at Rutgers, so there's that

[Forenci]

Originally Posted by Caddy

I feel like working extra hours and not getting paid is pretty common in basically any serious career...

I wasn't really referring to that. Merely to the being jerked around by the system (i.e. having to deal with these new teaching restrictions).

[Forenci]

I think this would be more geared toward Brent, or any other English teachers, but how do you typically read your books for class? I'm pretty old school, I suppose. I typically get a paperback and annotate a bunch of things I would want to discuss in class.

However, I need to read a lot more of the classics and HS required reading books and am debating getting a tablet (Kindle HD, Nexus 7, iPad mini, etc.) to store a lot of the books on there. A lot of the classics are free there, but I'm a little nervous about the note taking element on it.

How do you usually read your books?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Forenci

I think this would be more geared toward Brent, or any other English teachers, but how do you typically read your books for class? I'm pretty old school, I suppose. I typically get a paperback and annotate a bunch of things I would want to discuss in class.

However, I need to read a lot more of the classics and HS required reading books and am debating getting a tablet (Kindle HD, Nexus 7, iPad mini, etc.) to store a lot of the books on there. A lot of the classics are free there, but I'm a little nervous about the note taking element on it.

How do you usually read your books?

Personal preference: paperback for annotations. That said, if you are teaching on-level, you won't be discussing much beyond the literal meaning of the text. Hell, you'll be lucky if half the kids read the assigned text. This is the inherent problem in having kids read "classics" like Animal Farm or whatever. Yes, they should be reading something that is important as far as the literary canon is concerned, but what is it that just about every English teacher wants? For kids to ******* read. Who cares if it's The Hunger Games or Harry Potter? I wouldn't build a curriculum around those but, there are so many excellent books, especially non-fiction, out there that it's counter-productive to be assigning kids the same goddamn books over and over. Of course, that's why they are assigned over and over because of the logical fallacy of "that's what's always been taught" or some other damn nonsense. There are a few things that the state expects a student to read over the course of the school year, but they don't dictate what I assign all year.