The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: kmb501 on January 31, 2015, 12:18:18 PM
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Hi Mustachians,
Most of my family subscribes to the ideal of frugality and savings and have retired at a pretty decent age. I on the other hand have yet to blossom. In fact, I manage to spend almost all of my income every month. Before you chide me for my lack of frugality, let me explain. I'm a recent college graduate with a master's in Education, but I have yet to find a job. I've been substitute teaching to make ends meet and keep my apartment. What should I do if I want to save money? I was thinking about moving back in with my relatives, but they do not live close to where I work, and I don't know what my chances would be looking for work in another state. I would like a job that does more than keep the bills paid, but that's all this one does.
Here's a brief list of my expenses:
Rent = $500 per month
Internet = $40 per month
Phone = $50 per month
Car Insurance = $90 per month
Food = $100 per month
Gas and transportation = $150 per month
Grand Total = $930
I make about $900-$1200 dollars at my sub job, and I put in 4-6 hours per week as a volunteer teacher at the community center.
I don't really know how to solve this problem. I would like to cut my expenses as much as possible, but really the only thing I can do is look for another job. Unfortunately, that might be a bit more complicated than I first thought. I'm not very good with kids, even though I have all of the teacher training; I was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, so my lack of social connection may be more difficult to overcome than I first assumed.
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Hello! I teach too. :-) Can you give us some more information? Which state do you live in? What kind of credential do you have, and what kind of position are you looking for?
My first thought was that those 4-6 hours spend volunteering can probably be used more lucratively IF you're willing to branch out a bit. In my district, for example, long-term subs make about 30% more per day than day-to-day subs. Have you reached out to the secretaries (or whoever helps line up subs at schools in your area) to let them know you're available for long-term subbing?
If you aren't finding positions in your field, have you thought about Special Ed or adult education? I've been teaching for 16 years, and I've seen the following pattern play out over and over: A young teacher gets a job for a year, and then gets laid off due to budget cuts. Said teacher subs while taking some classes to get certified in SpEd, reapplies for a position in SpEd, and suddenly, they're 100% secure and can take their pick of positions available. Math and Science teachers, especially at the secondary level are a hot commodity around here too.
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I also work as a schoolteacher, so I know how hard it can be to save money on that kind of salary. When I was starting out before I got my current job, I switched from renting an apartment to renting a room I found over Craigslist. This saved me nearly $1000/mo in the area where I live. A friend of mine who was also subbing started her own business selling homemade soaps on Etsy and that brought in hundreds of dollars in extra income for her each month. If you have (or can develop) a crafting skill like that, you could earn more to put away in savings.
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If you are willing to move, Clark County School District (think Las Vegas and rural southern NV) currently has around 600 open positions. The district expects to have 2500 open positions they will need to fill for year. The starting salary with a masters is a bit over $42,000 and the cost of living is reasonable. Plus there is no state income tax. I'm finishing up my twenty-first year and still enjoying my job.
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Somewhat echoing the post above - a fairly large portion of the country is beginning to go through what could turn out to be a long term teacher shortage. If there are no full time jobs in your area you should look elsewhere. A lot of places will do a majority of application/interviews/sample lesson reviews online, which takes the risk out of applying in a new city.
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+1 more to willingness to relocate being the key.
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Dyslexia tutors make around $50 per session. You could purchase the first 3 levels of Barton Reading (a very reputable program for dyslexia, intended for 1:1 tutoring), begin offering tutoring services (that would gross about $400 per month per student), and eventually become a certified tutor, and build up a very good practice.
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I don't have any advice regarding teaching jobs, but I am surprised that no one has pointed out that you are spending about 7% of your take home on a cellphone.
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Republic Wireless can cut cost to $10 per month or so for cell phone. Search Mr. MM's posts for the one(s) on phone service as a shortcut to researching your options.
I also second the special ed recommendation. My sister specialized in that and is always in demand.
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First, have you taken advantage of any job placement services offered by your college?
Spring is coming soon, and colleges will be hosting teacher fairs.
Are you sending applications (along with copies of your lesson plans and recommendations) to individual schools that interest you?
Every time you go out to a sub job, are you making contact with the principal to let him know you're looking for a job?
Are you networking with teacher-friends who might know of jobs coming available?
It's going to be summer in about 10 minutes, so lots of kid-places will be looking for workers, and teachers are prime candidates for those jobs: YMCA and other summer camps, tutoring places, and other kid programs.
As for your relatives not living near where you work, let's be truthful: You don't have a job. You're going in as a sub. They need subs where your relatives live too.
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I was thinking about moving back in with my relatives, but they do not live close to where I work, and I don't know what my chances would be looking for work in another state. I would like a job that does more than keep the bills paid, but that's all this one does.
You, too, seem not to live close to where you work, or why do you spend 20-30% of your income on a car. Move somewhere where you can walk, bike or take a scooter and sell the car.
If you don't know what your chances are in another state, go and find out. Ask teacher, schools, organizations, apply for jobs, etc. Most people want to help, but you have to ask them.
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I don't know the regulations in your area, but can you teach/sub at a different level? Here it is much easier to get work at the junior higschools, than at the high schools. Also, as others mentioned, it is possible to get assignments both day and night, weekends and holidays, if you consider teaching adults or tutoring someone.
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Thank you for all of the replies. I think it's clear that I need to try a different area. I don't know how to relocate, and I'm sort of new to supporting myself, though. I got into a bad habit of living off of student loans and letting how the kids treated me affect how much I worked as a sub when I was still in college. I'm regretting that I didn't take the frugal person's route, but I still see it as very difficult to get a job that pays well. I see people around me who have jobs that pay well, but no one has offered me one. I've gotten a lot of training, and I have a great resume. No one seems to be interested, though. I survived college and kept really good grades, but this experience is different. I'm afraid that I might go on like this for years if I don't start doing something different.
I'm also a bit leery of people. I really find myself just trying to stay out of their way. My last couple of interviews did not turn out great. I wasn't able to control the classes.
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I'm guessing my first step would be to make a list of my job options and go through and apply for those one-by-one. Sorry if I seem a bit needy, but could someone suggest the options that come to mind? I know I need to get some books on specialized teaching, like for SpEd and Dyslexia. I could also apply to be an online teacher, and I could interview via Skype for jobs in other states.
There are a few things I need to do:
Get some teaching competence. To be honest, I don't feel like I know a lot about the kind of teaching my district requires. The only teaching I've done was directly out of a teacher's edition of a textbook. I didn't make up my own stuff. I incorporated it into the lessons here and there, but I admit that I would have been totally lost if I would have had to make up my own material. My lessons don't flow when I make my own things up. I skip several steps because I think they are common sense, and then I'm bewildered when the students act like they have no idea what to do.
Capitalize on my strengths. I'm best working with students one-on-one in a very structured environment. I like getting into routines and doing the same kind of work over and over. I also love learning and explaining things to people.
Get better at interviewing I really haven't done great on interviews with potential employers. I wasn't really prepared. I looked over interview questions, but I was so nervous that I didn't remember a lot of my answers. Interviews make me so nervous that sometimes I just wish they would be over.
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What grades and subjects are you certified to teach?
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When it comes to teaching, you need to know people to get a job in a school that isn't horrible. That's what subbing is for -- getting to know the administration at different schools. I hope you are building up your professional network while working as a substitute. That's the name of the game.
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I also work as a schoolteacher, so I know how hard it can be to save money on that kind of salary. When I was starting out before I got my current job, I switched from renting an apartment to renting a room I found over Craigslist. This saved me nearly $1000/mo in the area where I live. A friend of mine who was also subbing started her own business selling homemade soaps on Etsy and that brought in hundreds of dollars in extra income for her each month. If you have (or can develop) a crafting skill like that, you could earn more to put away in savings.
I admire those who can start their own businesses. I don't really know how to get started, and I feel a little discouraged. Yes, I have a master's degree and could be a great tutor, but I don't know where the jobs are.
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I was thinking about moving back in with my relatives, but they do not live close to where I work, and I don't know what my chances would be looking for work in another state. I would like a job that does more than keep the bills paid, but that's all this one does.
You, too, seem not to live close to where you work, or why do you spend 20-30% of your income on a car. Move somewhere where you can walk, bike or take a scooter and sell the car.
If you don't know what your chances are in another state, go and find out. Ask teacher, schools, organizations, apply for jobs, etc. Most people want to help, but you have to ask them.
Well, it's not that I don't live close enough to take a bus or a bike, but public transportation is unreliable, and biking on busy streets is somewhat dangerous. The bus only runs about once per hour, and that means I would have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get to some of my teaching assignments. That would be doable, but I also volunteer at night and get home at about 9:30-10:30. The buses stop running at 7:00. Bike lanes here are very narrow and on the side of the road; it's very dangerous, not to mention there is a good chance of my bike getting stolen at some of the schools where I work. It's much more convenient to drive. Also, some of my assignments aren't on the bus route, and schools sometimes call me in too little time to bike or catch a bus to work but plenty of time to drive. I need my car for situations like that. Plus, my volunteer assignment is at night and requires me to have my own running vehicle.
I did manage to cut my car insurance bill, though, by switching providers. I may keep shopping around until I get even lower rates. My bill is now about $70 per month. I could have opted to get it even lower, but I decided that I needed roadside assistance.
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Hello! I teach too. :-) Can you give us some more information? Which state do you live in? What kind of credential do you have, and what kind of position are you looking for?
My first thought was that those 4-6 hours spend volunteering can probably be used more lucratively IF you're willing to branch out a bit. In my district, for example, long-term subs make about 30% more per day than day-to-day subs. Have you reached out to the secretaries (or whoever helps line up subs at schools in your area) to let them know you're available for long-term subbing?
If you aren't finding positions in your field, have you thought about Special Ed or adult education? I've been teaching for 16 years, and I've seen the following pattern play out over and over: A young teacher gets a job for a year, and then gets laid off due to budget cuts. Said teacher subs while taking some classes to get certified in SpEd, reapplies for a position in SpEd, and suddenly, they're 100% secure and can take their pick of positions available. Math and Science teachers, especially at the secondary level are a hot commodity around here too.
My certification is English / Language Arts for grades 6-12 and English as a Second Language for grades K-12. I wish I could go back to school for something more in-demand, but I'm just about maxed out on student loans. If I absolutely had to, maybe I could find the money, but my current job leaves me with almost nothing in savings, so I can't register for even one class without borrowing money. If I go back to school, I need a plan of attack. I can't just do what I did before and have only a part-time job to show for it. I was told that teaching any subject was in demand, but apparently not enough to find work in the field. I'm tired of the lies people tell about the job market.
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I don't have any advice regarding teaching jobs, but I am surprised that no one has pointed out that you are spending about 7% of your take home on a cellphone.
Yes, the cell phone is really high. We got a cheap plan through Republic Wireless--works great for our daughter.
I am surprised that you are unable to find a full-time job in teaching? What do you have an endorsement in?
Wait a minute, I just saw another post. You have an ELL/ESL endorsement and have been unable to find a position. (I was going to suggest to get an endorsement in that area.)
With all of the children that have come up from Mexico/Central America, ELL/ESL should be in high demand. In one part of the country do you live, and are you willing to relocate to another state? Have you thought about teaching overseas, also?
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You are ESL certified?!? I'm not sure where you live but where I live and work (Denver) that can be the equivalent a golden ticket.
My quick advice to you - take the next month and do the following things:
1. Determine if you see yourself leaving where you currently are. Be 100% honest with yourself and accept the decision you come to. IF you decide trying a new place out might be for you, make a list with your top 3 locations and use it for the following step.
2. Spend one week looking up jobs like it IS your job. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. We post EVERY available job online and most other places do as well. For certain areas, this could result in literally hundreds of jobs. In my network alone, you would be eligible for 18 jobs, and we are tiny compared to some of the large public districts.
3. Draft a solid cover letter focusing on your skills and more importantly WHY you want to teach.
4. Practice your interviewing skills. It sounds like you live close to home, so recruit your family to help. You should get to the point where muscle memory takes over for the standard questions.
5. Apply, apply, apply (soon too, recruiting is happening earlier and earlier)
6. Most importantly, remember - you are a new teacher. No one is going to expect you to be great your first day in the door, so don't let that expectation hold you back. Most great teachers didn't just walk in the door that way.
Good luck!
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I don't have any advice regarding teaching jobs, but I am surprised that no one has pointed out that you are spending about 7% of your take home on a cellphone.
Yes, the cell phone is really high. We got a cheap plan through Republic Wireless--works great for our daughter.
I am surprised that you are unable to find a full-time job in teaching? What do you have an endorsement in?
Wait a minute, I just saw another post. You have an ELL/ESL endorsement and have been unable to find a position. (I was going to suggest to get an endorsement in that area.)
With all of the children that have come up from Mexico/Central America, ELL/ESL should be in high demand. In one part of the country do you live, and are you willing to relocate to another state? Have you thought about teaching overseas, also?
I'm from the coastal region of Alabama. There are plenty of ESL students here, but the schools claim they just don't have the budget to hire many teachers. It's very hard to get a position teaching ESL here; the kids are usually placed in SpEd programs, given to special tutors, or shared by a handful of ESL teachers that serve several schools. I was thinking about relocating to where I may have a better chance of getting hired, but I don't really know how to get started. I know from prior experience that I do not interview very well, and they usually end up choosing someone else.
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You are ESL certified?!? I'm not sure where you live but where I live and work (Denver) that can be the equivalent a golden ticket.
My quick advice to you - take the next month and do the following things:
1. Determine if you see yourself leaving where you currently are. Be 100% honest with yourself and accept the decision you come to. IF you decide trying a new place out might be for you, make a list with your top 3 locations and use it for the following step.
2. Spend one week looking up jobs like it IS your job. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. We post EVERY available job online and most other places do as well. For certain areas, this could result in literally hundreds of jobs. In my network alone, you would be eligible for 18 jobs, and we are tiny compared to some of the large public districts.
3. Draft a solid cover letter focusing on your skills and more importantly WHY you want to teach.
4. Practice your interviewing skills. It sounds like you live close to home, so recruit your family to help. You should get to the point where muscle memory takes over for the standard questions.
5. Apply, apply, apply (soon too, recruiting is happening earlier and earlier)
6. Most importantly, remember - you are a new teacher. No one is going to expect you to be great your first day in the door, so don't let that expectation hold you back. Most great teachers didn't just walk in the door that way.
Good luck!
Yes, I would be okay with leaving this place if I could find a good job, but I can't even save enough money to get an apartment somewhere else right now. I need to increase my earnings here so that I can save enough money to leave.
I was thinking about going overseas, since they pay for housing, but that would require extensive research to find a good deal. Plus, I would still need to have a bit of money saved just in case things don't go as planned. I need to be able to get out if I find out the pay is bad or my visa doesn't cover what the company said it would.
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Republic Wireless can cut cost to $10 per month or so for cell phone. Search Mr. MM's posts for the one(s) on phone service as a shortcut to researching your options.
I also second the special ed recommendation. My sister specialized in that and is always in demand.
Wow, I need to look into that.
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States that I'm assuming have a lot of jobs for ESL teachers: California (San Diego), Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Florida. Start by googling "esl jobs" tons of stuff to look at.
Some parts of the country are so desperate for esl teachers that they won't care too much about your interviewing skills. But interview skills are important. I recommend checking out the website of ramit sethi.
Also now you know that most people don't know what they are talking about, so you have to do your own research.
Edited to add: living with your parents for a couple months might be a good idea. So you can save 1k. When I was 24 I had 100k in student loans and 1k in the bank when I decided to move to Canada. It was a pretty dumb decision as I had no place to live and no job, but I learned a lot about myself. I took an accounting class at the local community college and decided I liked that so when I ran out of money I moved back (oh and my car died on the way back) in with my mom for a month, got a waitress job and saved 500 dollars so I could rent a rally cheap apartment.
But you don't have to be as dumb as me. You have a lot of options if you are willing to relocate. Yes you have to a lot of research to find a quality teaching abroad job. But you are extremely fortunate to live in the era of the internet. Research is a lot easier now. And yes, you will have to start doing a lot of research anyway. This is how you will learn to take care of your own life.
I can't believe I'm recommending this, but get a credit card. You can use it if you suddenly need to book a ticket home from South Korea or wherever. 3k to 5k should be an ample limit.
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I don't have any advice regarding teaching jobs, but I am surprised that no one has pointed out that you are spending about 7% of your take home on a cellphone.
Yes, the cell phone is really high. We got a cheap plan through Republic Wireless--works great for our daughter.
I am surprised that you are unable to find a full-time job in teaching? What do you have an endorsement in?
Wait a minute, I just saw another post. You have an ELL/ESL endorsement and have been unable to find a position. (I was going to suggest to get an endorsement in that area.)
With all of the children that have come up from Mexico/Central America, ELL/ESL should be in high demand. In one part of the country do you live, and are you willing to relocate to another state? Have you thought about teaching overseas, also?
I'm from the coastal region of Alabama. There are plenty of ESL students here, but the schools claim they just don't have the budget to hire many teachers. It's very hard to get a position teaching ESL here; the kids are usually placed in SpEd programs, given to special tutors, or shared by a handful of ESL teachers that serve several schools. I was thinking about relocating to where I may have a better chance of getting hired, but I don't really know how to get started. I know from prior experience that I do not interview very well, and they usually end up choosing someone else.
You should seriously look into relocating. Here in just my one district in Texas (50k-ish kids), we have many openings for ESL teachers. If you get sped certified to go with ESL certification, you would never have an employment problem around here. If you were sped certified I could get you a job yesterday (okay, maybe not since you are not certified in the state, but you get my point).
If you know that interviewing is a weakness of yours, work on it. Find some questions online and have a friend or relative practice for you. Record yourself so you can watch it later and see what you are doing wrong.
Teacher job fair will be coming up soon so you need to be looking into districts and colleges that host teacher job fairs. Seriously, go to every local universities and districts web pages and look around for their job fair information.
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If you can, you should move away from the South to the Northeast or West Coast if you are teaching. Southern states universally pay teachers very poorly and most are "right-to-work-for-less" states, so teachers don't have representation to protect wages and benefits. Teaching never pays very well, but at least you would have a living wage and good health insurance (and possibly even a pension) if you could move.
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It strikes me that there may be more than locale at play here. You state your classes were out of control, you just want interviews to be over, and not doing well at preparing your own lesson plans. I suggest first focusing on your competencies. Remember that being paper-qualified is not all that's required. You have to sell yourself to the potential employer. Are there career counseling services - interviewing workshops - you can access through your master's program?
To boost income, and since you seem to like it, consider dropping the unpaid volunteer work and start your own tutoring business for late afternoons/evenings. Don't worry about where the tutoring jobs are, make your own. You'll have to figure out how to best market - we had several tutors work with our daughter in elementary school, all of whom were teachers.
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
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To be honest, I don't feel like I know a lot about the kind of teaching my district requires. The only teaching I've done was directly out of a teacher's edition of a textbook. I didn't make up my own stuff. I incorporated it into the lessons here and there, but I admit that I would have been totally lost if I would have had to make up my own material. My lessons don't flow when I make my own things up. I skip several steps because I think they are common sense, and then I'm bewildered when the students act like they have no idea what to do.
I'm best working with students one-on-one in a very structured environment. I like getting into routines and doing the same kind of work over and over. I also love learning and explaining things to people.
I have to agree with ClaycordJCA that it doesn't sound like locale is your only issue here. IMHO, it sounds like the *classroom environment/dynamic* itself is your issue. There are 2 ways to deal with that: (1) find an awesome veteran teacher to mentor you (after you've moved and gotten a job) or (2) go out and become a private tutor (may also require you to move to find the best market).
I subbed for a long time and had similar qualms about teaching in a classroom, so I chose option 2. I LOVE it. You can have a pretty predictable schedule with lots of outside structure, especially if you get into test prep tutoring (SAT and ACT). You use the materials that the teacher gives or the test-makers publish, and you get to work one-on-one with a variety of different students. You might need a little outside material, but nothing a quick Google search can't find you. If you're good at it, you can charge upwards of $60 per hour on your own (in a metro area). You'll need to work for yourself or a small business who agrees to give you a nice percentage if you want to see most of that, though. Big companies tend to charge $90+ and pay you maybe $20, $30 if you're truly amazing (and still consider you an independent contractor -- i.e. responsible for your own taxes, etc.).
If you really, truly want to be in a classroom, have you thought about moving to Atlanta? There are always lots of positions because it's a large metro area, and ESL/ELL teachers are certainly valued and in-demand. Plus, it's really not very far from where you live, so it shouldn't cost too much $ to move. You can probably manage to visit for the huge job fairs that the different districts hold every spring/summer. That might make it feel much easier (and less intimidating to get started) to get a job in a new area than filling out a million online applications all over the country. Georgia offers a teacher's retirement fund which is similar to a pension, and depending on the district, you can get pretty good pay for the COL. They will also let you transfer your AL teaching license to GA with a few reasonable requirements/restrictions. Even if you decide not to stay, it might make a good transitional area for you.
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
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Let me echo what others have said: there are tons of ESL jobs in Texas. I loved working as an ESL teacher (currently I'm a school counselor studying to be a principal). Are you a Spanish speaker? I speak only intermediate Spanish, but it's improved my prospects a lot!
Also, you sound very unsure of yourself. When most administrators interview, they are (above all) looking for someone who can step in and take charge of a classroom. Do you think you may be accidentally communicating your uncertainty about the teaching field in your interviews?
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With an ESL certification, you should have offers.
Something is holding you back -- dig deep and ask yourself what it is. You said you were having trouble controlling your classrooms; is classroom management an issue? It is probably the #1 thing teachers have to do. Even keeping good records come second to that. Do some reading (for free! no need to enroll in another class) and see what the experts have to say about it. Then go into your next sub job, grit your teeth, and DO IT.
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I'm guessing my first step would be to make a list of my job options and go through and apply for those one-by-one. Sorry if I seem a bit needy, but could someone suggest the options that come to mind? I know I need to get some books on specialized teaching, like for SpEd and Dyslexia. I could also apply to be an online teacher, and I could interview via Skype for jobs in other states.
There are a few things I need to do:
Get some teaching competence. To be honest, I don't feel like I know a lot about the kind of teaching my district requires. The only teaching I've done was directly out of a teacher's edition of a textbook. I didn't make up my own stuff. I incorporated it into the lessons here and there, but I admit that I would have been totally lost if I would have had to make up my own material. My lessons don't flow when I make my own things up. I skip several steps because I think they are common sense, and then I'm bewildered when the students act like they have no idea what to do.
Capitalize on my strengths. I'm best working with students one-on-one in a very structured environment. I like getting into routines and doing the same kind of work over and over. I also love learning and explaining things to people.
Get better at interviewing I really haven't done great on interviews with potential employers. I wasn't really prepared. I looked over interview questions, but I was so nervous that I didn't remember a lot of my answers. Interviews make me so nervous that sometimes I just wish they would be over.
OK, so I'm going to be brutally honest, but this little list concerns me. I have taught 7th and 8th grade English for 16 years and have supervised quite a few student teachers during that time. Being effective in the classroom often comes down to personality: a willingness to "wing it," to take calculated risks, to interact with large groups of kids, to manage occasional chaos, to challenge kids, to figure out what isn't making sense and to meet the kids at that point, etc. Being a good student doesn't mean you will be a good teacher. Loving your subject also doesn't translate into teaching it well.
It sounds to me like you might enjoy tutoring or teaching in/with an online school. If you are doubting your ability to create a presence in the classroom, then a classroom of forty kids might not be a good fit. Teaching adult school, becoming a travelling teacher for sick kids, or becoming a resource specialist (RSP, a component of Special Ed) might be a better fit.
Also, just to show you what's out there, my district has multiple openings pretty much all the time: http://www.teachinla.com/
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(Did not read any replies-sorry if repeated info) With a master's, you should be able to get a side gig teaching at a community college or even become an adjunct at a larger college. My sister quit her full time job as a teacher when she started a family, and now only teaches online at a community college. She makes pretty good money for the time she spends doing it. You could also start a Youtube account and monetize it. Content could be covering your favorite subjects, or just really high-quality (information wise, not in terms of video quality immediately, though that does help) on a wide base of useful knowledge. People like learning, you just need to make it fun and low cost. Youtube is an extremely cheap (free) medium for the user. So maybe that helps, I don't know.
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You say you don't interview well, and that you don't function well in a classroom. These are skills to be learned, not innate talents. Find people who do these things well and ask them to teach you. You are too young to place limits on yourself.
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My wife and I are both teachers, so saving on a teacher's salary can be done (our savings rate of 75%ish indicates that even if we only had one income we could save ~50% of it - though obviously that's on real salaries, not sub salaries).
If you are willing to move, Clark County School District (think Las Vegas and rural southern NV) currently has around 600 open positions. The district expects to have 2500 open positions they will need to fill for year. The starting salary with a masters is a bit over $42,000 and the cost of living is reasonable. Plus there is no state income tax. I'm finishing up my twenty-first year and still enjoying my job.
+1 to this specific recommendation. We teach in CCSD, and they need a ton of teachers, and your take home is decent with no state income tax and no contributing to social security either, and COL is low (cheap housing especially), and you're almost guaranteed to get a job based on need right now). You could take home over 3k/mo. easily.
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Thank you all for the replies. I think I may have some personality issues due to having Autism Spectrum Disorder. Maybe that kind of keeps me from connecting with the kids and coming off as competent as I can be. It seems very easy for me to upset the students at times. I try to keep misbehavior to a minimum, though, by implementing strict rules, procedures, and routines when I sub. Consequences definitely help minimize the misbehavior, but the kids often act like they do not enjoy my presence.
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Aha. ASD might indeed be incompatible with classroom teaching. The gifts I see in my ASD friends - focus, intensity, pattern recognition - work well in engineering, computer science, and financial and statistical analysis but not as well in fields that require a lot of interaction with other people. You can learn how to interact better with others, but it will never be easy. I am curious to know why you chose this field?
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Aha. ASD might indeed be incompatible with classroom teaching. The gifts I see in my ASD friends - focus, intensity, pattern recognition - work well in engineering, computer science, and financial and statistical analysis but not as well in fields that require a lot of interaction with other people. You can learn how to interact better with others, but it will never be easy. I am curious to know why you chose this field?
I naively thought that competence was something that could be taught, so I focused on what I wanted to learn instead of my areas of competency. I found out about having ASD after I graduated from college and never considered it might be a factor until then. I just thought I was shy and believed I could work my way out of it. Well, maybe I can, but it takes a lot more work than I initially thought; working your way out of Asperger's is a full-time job in and of itself. I'm not great at math, though, and I got frustrated with the higher level math, so I avoided all of the careers that required it. Unfortunately, that left me with the liberal arts.
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From what I understand kids struggle around people who are autistic because they seem "off" to them. Are you female? People give woman a much harder time about personality then they do for men. Disregard if you are male. Even so you have to decide if learning to be a classroom teacher is worth it to you. I do think that classroom competency can be taught. But there are lots of other jobs in education as well. Like administration, tutoring, just google education jobs.
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From what I understand kids struggle around people who are autistic because they seem "off" to them. Are you female? People give woman a much harder time about personality then they do for men. Disregard if you are male. Even so you have to decide if learning to be a classroom teacher is worth it to you. I do think that classroom competency can be taught. But there are lots of other jobs in education as well. Like administration, tutoring, just google education jobs.
I'm female, and people seem to think I'm a jerk until they really get to know me.
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Re: your anxiety when interviewing - ask your doctor about prescribing a low-dose beta blocker for stage fright. This is used often for people with performance anxiety, it is a type of blood pressure pill that keeps your heart from racing and your palms from sweating, you take it an hour before your interview and it can work really great.
Remember that subbing is way harder than having your own class - kids are always on their worst behavior for subs.
Is there some way you could end up working with Asperger's kids, or a highly gifted class?
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I don't mean to make light of your situation.
Fake it till you make it!
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I don't mean to make light of your situation... but I am a woman, people tend to think I am on the autistic spectrum when they first meet me, but I actually am a jerk.
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Fake it till you make it!
+1 on faking it! People sometimes think I'm on the spectrum, too. I joke about it now, but don't care about getting a diagnosis. Classroom management is tough. Yes it's harder if you're a sub, but there's a level of empathy necessary - and, dare I say it, love for the students - to be effective.
I have just come from giving a one-off arts workshop and was reminded that it's important to put yourself in the students' shoes when designing a course. The teacher asked questions which filled in the gaps, thank goodness.
At any rate, personally I prefer giving short-term workshops and/or tutoring individually/small enthusiastic groups, vs. teaching a class over a long period of time. My current position enables this, and I'm very happy with it. You do have something to teach the world, we all do, regardless of our career path. The question is: what context suits your personality best? You're at the stage of life when you're trying things out. Keep trying, don't get discouraged! The online course suggestion is a good one, too.
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I don't mean to make light of your situation... but I am a woman, people tend to think I am on the autistic spectrum when they first meet me, but I actually am a jerk.
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Fake it till you make it!
+1 on faking it! People sometimes think I'm on the spectrum, too. I joke about it now, but don't care about getting a diagnosis. Classroom management is tough. Yes it's harder if you're a sub, but there's a level of empathy necessary - and, dare I say it, love for the students - to be effective.
I have just come from giving a one-off arts workshop and was reminded that it's important to put yourself in the students' shoes when designing a course. The teacher asked questions which filled in the gaps, thank goodness.
At any rate, personally I prefer giving short-term workshops and/or tutoring individually/small enthusiastic groups, vs. teaching a class over a long period of time. My current position enables this, and I'm very happy with it. You do have something to teach the world, we all do, regardless of our career path. The question is: what context suits your personality best? You're at the stage of life when you're trying things out. Keep trying, don't get discouraged! The online course suggestion is a good one, too.
I think one of my main problems is that I'm used to getting things handed to me. It's a new experience to actually have to go out and do the job hunting myself. I've had to evaluate my own strengths and weaknesses, keep records of what went right and what didn't go so well, hunt for career alternatives and extra training, etc., without having anyone guide me. Letting other people make decisions for me is where I messed up the first time. At this point, I'm just ready to find something that will earn a decent wage and start working.
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I am subbing for the first time, and although not ASD I am definitely an introvert. Its been insanely hard. I will say that being an aid or a specialist (like reading specialist- pulls 3-4 low level readers out to work in a small group) appears to be a much better fit for me than teaching a whole classroom. At this point, maybe you can consider narrowing your focus to, say, CCSD (or other districts recommended here that have big needs) jobs that are either aid positions or small group instruction positions. Then you could gain some confidence, working with the same kids consistently, in smaller groups.
Another thought, see what services might be available to help you as person with autism. The kind of struggles you are having are the reasons that 85% of people with autism are unemployed. I have a strong suspicion that there are career counseling opportunities you could utilize either through a workforce development agency, or a disabilities agency.
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I am subbing for the first time, and although not ASD I am definitely an introvert. Its been insanely hard. I will say that being an aid or a specialist (like reading specialist- pulls 3-4 low level readers out to work in a small group) appears to be a much better fit for me than teaching a whole classroom. At this point, maybe you can consider narrowing your focus to, say, CCSD (or other districts recommended here that have big needs) jobs that are either aid positions or small group instruction positions. Then you could gain some confidence, working with the same kids consistently, in smaller groups.
Another thought, see what services might be available to help you as person with autism. The kind of struggles you are having are the reasons that 85% of people with autism are unemployed. I have a strong suspicion that there are career counseling opportunities you could utilize either through a workforce development agency, or a disabilities agency.
That is a good idea, but I'm finding just the act of looking for a good job overwhelming. I wish I could hire someone good to help me.
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I am subbing for the first time, and although not ASD I am definitely an introvert. Its been insanely hard. I will say that being an aid or a specialist (like reading specialist- pulls 3-4 low level readers out to work in a small group) appears to be a much better fit for me than teaching a whole classroom. At this point, maybe you can consider narrowing your focus to, say, CCSD (or other districts recommended here that have big needs) jobs that are either aid positions or small group instruction positions. Then you could gain some confidence, working with the same kids consistently, in smaller groups.
Another thought, see what services might be available to help you as person with autism. The kind of struggles you are having are the reasons that 85% of people with autism are unemployed. I have a strong suspicion that there are career counseling opportunities you could utilize either through a workforce development agency, or a disabilities agency.
That is a good idea, but I'm finding just the act of looking for a good job overwhelming. I wish I could hire someone good to help me.
Hiring someone is absolutely not reasonable (hello, you have no money!) but you should definitely ask friends, family members, people from church, etc, for help. Think of who you know that is super organized and ask if they might have some free time to help you over a beer (or whatever). Once you get yourself organized and over the hump it will be much easier, but you NEED to get started now as the hiring season is fast approaching.
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Just some thoughts for you based on the things I see in my mildly Aspergers son -these may or may not apply to you:
1) Ask a good friend or family member for input about your clothes and grooming. You want to make sure you come across as professional. Many with aspergers might not recognize if their clothes are inappropriate to the situation, although it can be learned.
2) As I mentioned before, a low dose beta blocker can help control anxiety symptoms during interviews.
3) I second the advice above to find someone to help you organize your job search.
4) Try yoga or meditation to help with anxiety. Take vitamin D and try a gluten free diet.
You can do this. Try finding an online aspergers support group too.
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I am subbing for the first time, and although not ASD I am definitely an introvert. Its been insanely hard. I will say that being an aid or a specialist (like reading specialist- pulls 3-4 low level readers out to work in a small group) appears to be a much better fit for me than teaching a whole classroom. At this point, maybe you can consider narrowing your focus to, say, CCSD (or other districts recommended here that have big needs) jobs that are either aid positions or small group instruction positions. Then you could gain some confidence, working with the same kids consistently, in smaller groups.
Another thought, see what services might be available to help you as person with autism. The kind of struggles you are having are the reasons that 85% of people with autism are unemployed. I have a strong suspicion that there are career counseling opportunities you could utilize either through a workforce development agency, or a disabilities agency.
That is a good idea, but I'm finding just the act of looking for a good job overwhelming. I wish I could hire someone good to help me.
Hiring someone is absolutely not reasonable (hello, you have no money!) but you should definitely ask friends, family members, people from church, etc, for help. Think of who you know that is super organized and ask if they might have some free time to help you over a beer (or whatever). Once you get yourself organized and over the hump it will be much easier, but you NEED to get started now as the hiring season is fast approaching.
I really don't know many people who can help me. The first people who come to mind are my professors, and I've already contacted them.
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
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Sorry to hear about your struggles.
I'm probably going to sound like a bit of a jerk, but felt it necessary to weigh in.
Teaching is a very social profession. You need to understand curriculum and you really need to understand and work well with people. The colleagues I've had with ASD have struggled a great deal because they were unable to connect with students. One didn't even try and the other went overboard trying to be what she wasn't and wound up burning out. She was "faking it" but it was exhausting to her.
They are both really good people who meant well, but they would say things they shouldn't that hurt students feelings and then they had to deal with outraged parents and they frequently put off their colleagues. They were moved around from school to school which wasn't fair but was how the school board deals with many parental complaints. Both experienced a great deal of stress.
There is a line from one of Edward Hallowell's books that goes something like this, "Children with AD/HD (or any exceptionality really) need the right parents and teachers. Adults with AD/HD need the right spouses and jobs." I'd say this line fits those with ASD too. Teaching does not seem like a good fit for someone with ASD. My son has ADHD and Tourettes and that rules out a lot of careers for him too. He just needs to find the right fit.
I've often thought that it's unfortunate that those with ASD are not well suited for teaching because there would be a great deal for students to learn about ASD from people who have it. Unfortunately, in practice, there are frequent stresses for teachers with ASD. I've been teaching for 19 years and have been a union rep for 13 and what I've outlined seems to be the reality.
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If you really want to do it, and you feel like you can make a difference, do it! Teaching is hard for everyone.
I have OCD and taught middle school for 7 years, and I think even among those in the counseling profession, there's this idea that people with OCD just need to go work in a little gray office and be an accountant or something. I call bullshit.
Sometimes the things that don't make us comfortable are the best things we could possibly do. I had a great relationship with my students, and the only reason I left teaching was to pursue school counseling.
I don't know you. I don't know how your disorder affects you, but the advice that people who have [insert disorder] are universally not fit for a certain profession rings untrue to me.
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I read your post and the replies this morning with great interest. I have been in Education for over 25 years (teacher, administrator, and now I am a prof in a Teacher Ed program). I also have a niece with Asperger's and our best friends daughter has an ASD diagnosis as well. From what you have written, I am very impressed that you have been able to sub in multiple districts, volunteer, etc. without a great deal of support from family. I can't see my niece or my friend's daughter being able to be on their own without family support or some type of "life coach" because of their anxiety and other issues related to their ASD.
You have been given a great deal of excellent and honest advice here and I am sure it is overwhelming. Your ESL certification is definitely a huge plus. I work in upstate NY and there are ESL jobs open in many districts in New York state and many more posted already for next year. To be certified out of your issuing state will take time (and taking tests sometimes, etc.) - but if a district needs you, they will work with you on this. Before I write more - you have said that you would consider moving. You haven't mentioned much about your reliance on family at all. Do you feel that a move that far away could create more stress/anxiety - which could then impact your job performance? I have some other ideas for you too but more information on that would be important. There are terrific folks on these forums willing to help.
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If you're at all unsure that teaching is what you want to do with your life, I suggest you sign up with a temp agency and try out some different types of jobs and work environments, you may find something you love.
The tutoring ideas are excellent.
Could you get a roommate to reduce housing expenses?
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You have received many wonderful suggestions here. I wanted to add one more: Maybe you need to adjust your expectations of how children should connect with you.
I can list on one hand how many teachers I've had - my whole life - who were both great teachers and really likable. Likability is not a requirement for kids to learn from you. I was in French Immersion in Canada and I can't recall a single French-Canadian teacher who wanted us to like them - culturally, I don't think that a priority in their teaching.
As a human, sometimes it's hard to let go of this idea that everyone should like us - and that there's something wrong if they don't. That mentality can be very hard on our self-esteem. Getting everyone to like you is a monumental effort in the best of circumstances - and few people are truly talented at it.
You need to focus on being an effective teacher. Effective means controlling the class (and your own emotions - don't get angry), and communicating information. It is extremely difficult for a substitute teacher to be a truly effective teacher - children automatically dismiss your value to them. You're a temp, and they know it.
In order to truly evaluate your effectiveness of a teacher, you'll need to get a permanent position where you're engaging with the kids and coworkers all year long. So don't give up on teaching yet.
If, after working at a permanent position, you still find that your personality is getting in the way, then I would second the suggestion to go overseas. Cultural differences will help camouflage the oddness and you may find that another culture has a different kind of teacher-student relationship that may be more in line with your abilities (less warm and fuzzy).
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
I want to know more. Which company are you with, and what are the requirements to register?
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
I want to know more. Which company are you with, and what are the requirements to register?
I'm not with any company. After researching the teaching market here, I decided the best thing would be to come here and then find a job, so that's what I did. There are companies (ILA, Apollo, Language Link) that will help you move here, but they tend to pay less than market price and also make you start working full time within 3-4 days of getting here, which I think is awful. Those are all also language centers, not actual schools, and mostly younger kids.
I ended up at an international school a 5 minute bike ride from my apartment just by searching the job ads and jumping on one. You could try researching universities here (RMIT) or international schools (UNIS, St. Paul's, Singapore International School). With your credentials you'll make at least $25/hr or equivalent!
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
I want to know more. Which company are you with, and what are the requirements to register?
I'm not with any company. After researching the teaching market here, I decided the best thing would be to come here and then find a job, so that's what I did. There are companies (ILA, Apollo, Language Link) that will help you move here, but they tend to pay less than market price and also make you start working full time within 3-4 days of getting here, which I think is awful. Those are all also language centers, not actual schools, and mostly younger kids.
I ended up at an international school a 5 minute bike ride from my apartment just by searching the job ads and jumping on one. You could try researching universities here (RMIT) or international schools (UNIS, St. Paul's, Singapore International School). With your credentials you'll make at least $25/hr or equivalent!
Right now, though, saving money is a problem. How much would I need to move there? I think contacting a school first and knowing what I'm getting into would make a little more sense in my situation. What would I be looking at in way of cost to do it your way? I imagine I would need to pay a lot out of pocket.
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Aha. ASD might indeed be incompatible with classroom teaching.
I disagree. I'm a teacher, and I know of several who have ASD - although they do tend to teach senior classes (physics & maths) where behaviour is generally quite acceptable anyway.
Also, I'm such a bitch at school sometimes. Doesn't meant I've got ASD or are anti-social. Sometimes I just fucking hate the students and don't give a fuck about them, and they can go fuck themselves.
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I'm guessing my first step would be to make a list of my job options and go through and apply for those one-by-one. Sorry if I seem a bit needy, but could someone suggest the options that come to mind? I know I need to get some books on specialized teaching, like for SpEd and Dyslexia. I could also apply to be an online teacher, and I could interview via Skype for jobs in other states.
There are a few things I need to do:
Get some teaching competence. To be honest, I don't feel like I know a lot about the kind of teaching my district requires. The only teaching I've done was directly out of a teacher's edition of a textbook. I didn't make up my own stuff. I incorporated it into the lessons here and there, but I admit that I would have been totally lost if I would have had to make up my own material. My lessons don't flow when I make my own things up. I skip several steps because I think they are common sense, and then I'm bewildered when the students act like they have no idea what to do.
Capitalize on my strengths. I'm best working with students one-on-one in a very structured environment. I like getting into routines and doing the same kind of work over and over. I also love learning and explaining things to people.
Get better at interviewing I really haven't done great on interviews with potential employers. I wasn't really prepared. I looked over interview questions, but I was so nervous that I didn't remember a lot of my answers. Interviews make me so nervous that sometimes I just wish they would be over.
What I'm hearing is that you're not particularly "in tune" with your students. You're thinking at the college level instead of thinking about what your students need /anticipating where they're going to have trouble. I remember having trouble with this at first -- but you should've had some experience with this in student teaching. You MUST be able to do more than read the textbook and cover those lessons.
You sound like you know yourself well in saying that you work well with a small number of kids in a structured environment. I do think ESL or special ed would be a better fit for you than a traditional classroom, and those areas are RED HOT. If you can't get a job in one of those areas, something is wrong.
What I really think you're saying is that you stink at classroom management -- and everyone does at first, though student teaching should've helped you pick up some skills. As a classroom teacher, it is ESSENTIAL that you are able to multi-task and be in control of your classroom. You have to be able to admit a kid to class /read his excuse note, while walking towards the phone that's ringing, and while shooting a death stare to stop the kid who's tossing paper at his friend across the room . . . ALL WHILE not missing a beat of your lesson. When you're talking about K-12 teaching, any reasonably intelligent adult should know the material, but it's this multi-tasking that "gets" new teachers. Let me put it this way: Someone is going to be in charge of your classroom, and if YOU don't step up and take that position, one or more of your students WILL take charge -- and things won't be pretty.
80% of your success as a teacher is predicated on being able to manage your classroom, and a lot of that is about having the right personality /temprament. How do you "get there"? You practice. In a classroom, and since you're subbing, that's good. Every single day you need to work on getting a little bit better. OK, so I'm going to be brutally honest, but this little list concerns me. I have taught 7th and 8th grade English for 16 years and have supervised quite a few student teachers during that time. Being effective in the classroom often comes down to personality: a willingness to "wing it," to take calculated risks, to interact with large groups of kids, to manage occasional chaos, to challenge kids, to figure out what isn't making sense and to meet the kids at that point, etc. Being a good student doesn't mean you will be a good teacher. Loving your subject also doesn't translate into teaching it well.
It sounds to me like you might enjoy tutoring or teaching in/with an online school. If you are doubting your ability to create a presence in the classroom, then a classroom of forty kids might not be a good fit. Teaching adult school, becoming a travelling teacher for sick kids, or becoming a resource specialist (RSP, a component of Special Ed) might be a better fit.
Also, just to show you what's out there, my district has multiple openings pretty much all the time: http://www.teachinla.com/
I'm thinking the same thing. I've seen plenty of people over the years who had no trouble earning a degree and who went through student teaching . . . but they didn't thrive. Those also tend to be the people who don't get jobs. As I said above, you really have to have a certain personality type to be a classroom teacher, and if you don't have it, you may be able to fake it for a bit . . . but you're not going to be comfortable, and you're not going to be successful long-term.
HOWEVER, if you don't have the classroom teacher personality, you can still work in education. Online learning is becoming a huge field, and it's completely different from classroom teaching. That is probably the most possible inroad for the OP. Other options could include working with textbooks or a testing service. However, those options tend to go to the classroom superstars who are looking to do more.
(Did not read any replies-sorry if repeated info) With a master's, you should be able to get a side gig teaching at a community college or even become an adjunct at a larger college.
I do know a number of classroom teachers who ALSO teach at the community college, but -- again -- they tend to be the classroom superstars. I don't know any community college teachers who don't have experience elsewhere first.
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I am subbing for the first time, and although not ASD I am definitely an introvert. Its been insanely hard. I will say that being an aid or a specialist (like reading specialist- pulls 3-4 low level readers out to work in a small group) appears to be a much better fit for me than teaching a whole classroom. At this point, maybe you can consider narrowing your focus to, say, CCSD (or other districts recommended here that have big needs) jobs that are either aid positions or small group instruction positions. Then you could gain some confidence, working with the same kids consistently, in smaller groups.
Another thought, see what services might be available to help you as person with autism. The kind of struggles you are having are the reasons that 85% of people with autism are unemployed. I have a strong suspicion that there are career counseling opportunities you could utilize either through a workforce development agency, or a disabilities agency.
That is a good idea, but I'm finding just the act of looking for a good job overwhelming. I wish I could hire someone good to help me.
Hiring someone is absolutely not reasonable (hello, you have no money!) but you should definitely ask friends, family members, people from church, etc, for help. Think of who you know that is super organized and ask if they might have some free time to help you over a beer (or whatever). Once you get yourself organized and over the hump it will be much easier, but you NEED to get started now as the hiring season is fast approaching.
I really don't know many people who can help me. The first people who come to mind are my professors, and I've already contacted them.
I don't think professors are going to be much help.
Have you talked to your college's placement services office?
How about the principal and cooperating teacher from your student teaching experience?
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You have received many wonderful suggestions here. I wanted to add one more: Maybe you need to adjust your expectations of how children should connect with you.
I can list on one hand how many teachers I've had - my whole life - who were both great teachers and really likable. Likability is not a requirement for kids to learn from you. I was in French Immersion in Canada and I can't recall a single French-Canadian teacher who wanted us to like them - culturally, I don't think that a priority in their teaching.
As a human, sometimes it's hard to let go of this idea that everyone should like us - and that there's something wrong if they don't. That mentality can be very hard on our self-esteem. Getting everyone to like you is a monumental effort in the best of circumstances - and few people are truly talented at it.
You need to focus on being an effective teacher. Effective means controlling the class (and your own emotions - don't get angry), and communicating information. It is extremely difficult for a substitute teacher to be a truly effective teacher - children automatically dismiss your value to them. You're a temp, and they know it.
In order to truly evaluate your effectiveness of a teacher, you'll need to get a permanent position where you're engaging with the kids and coworkers all year long. So don't give up on teaching yet.
If, after working at a permanent position, you still find that your personality is getting in the way, then I would second the suggestion to go overseas. Cultural differences will help camouflage the oddness and you may find that another culture has a different kind of teacher-student relationship that may be more in line with your abilities (less warm and fuzzy).
Good points, and I think they're particularly applicable to women. We WANT people to like us; it's part of our make-up on a subconscious level.
However, my JOB is not to make friends with 14-year olds. Rather, my JOB is to impart knowledge unto them and to design activities that'll help them internalize the material. To do that, compotence and fairness are more important than friendliness. I don't mean that I'm cruel to the kids. I always speak in a respectful way and offer them all the options I can, but MOST OF THE TIME my students would really rather not do the work I give them. They'd rather mess around on their phones, chat with their friends, read summaries instead of novels, or even take a nap. It's my job to convince them to put these passtimes aside and DO THEIR WORK.
To give an example: We've just started a new semester, so we're on day 14 or so of class. I have a girl in my senior class whom I suspect isn't going to make it. She has a one-year old child at home, and she has already missed 9 days of class. Her mother asked for a packet of make-up work, which I put together and left in the office -- she didn't pick it up. She doesn't think she should be required to do anything if she's not in class because "it's not her fault". When I talked to her about the make-up work and gave her a deadline for make-up, she told me to "get out of her face". She doesn't like to follow classroom rules (i.e., concerning food, phones). We have our first test next week, and experience tells me that she's probably going to fail it . . . then she'll just fade away, and I'll never know what became of her.
It's human nature to say, "Oh, but she's in such a bad situation! I should excuse this and that." But that would be giving her grades for work she hasn't done, and that would be unfair to the other students who did their work. I have to be FAIR instead of FRIENDLY.
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Dale Carnegie course could possibly help you with your classroom presence.
Does your state offer any 'vocational rehabilitation' services? I'm thinking Job Coach, mentoring help, etc. Do you have any established adults who can come alongside you and let you bounce ideas off of, get direction, etc.? How smart you are to have landed here at MMM! One thing if you are even remotely interested in religion, is try attending a church/synagogue/etc., going to their Sunday School classes, get acquainted with the small group and then force yourself to WEEKLY before the services start go up to people in the larger congregation, look them in the eye and introduce yourself, shake their hand, welcome them if they are new, etc. This is how I got my children to where they could converse comfortably with other people. This is how I learned it myself. An INFJ here! Some of this comes easier with age, but only you can force yourself outside of your own comfort zone.
I'll echo someone else...doesn't your alma mater have some kind of job placement program that you can access?
Have you spent any time on Craigslist looking at side gigs there? Not only for yourself but seeing how other people are getting work? How they are marketing themselves? What kinds of gigs they do?
How to get tutoring work? Make up some business cards. Talk to all the other teachers/principals/parents/school employees etc when you are subbing. Hand them a card. Tell them you'd love to work with their child, their problem students, etc. Advertise on Craigslist. Post flyers at laundries, groceries, community bldgs. Set up your own website, promote it. I'm not a certified teacher but ESL trained and I got lots of jobs teaching whole families in their living rooms and could've even done it in my own home if I'd of wanted folks in (I'm very private in that way).
You CAN do this!!!
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I got ahead by not owning a car and finding ways to live rent free (live-in nanny, housesitter, elder care, etc.). It takes a certain mindset (as well as strong legs and/or bus system), but it can really pay off, especially in your low earning years. Interestingly, I like being car free so much that, at age 46 with a decent job, I still don't own one. Also, I'm house sharing (very low rent) in order to get to FIRE faster.
Be strategic about where you volunteer. As in, volunteer where you want to work. That way they'll get to know you. As a friend once said about her current job, "I volunteered there for a year, made myself indispensable and they hired me." Even if you don't get work at that particular location, networks are what get people jobs.
Good luck!
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How to get tutoring work? Make up some business cards. Talk to all the other teachers/principals/parents/school employees etc when you are subbing. Hand them a card. Tell them you'd love to work with their child, their problem students, etc. Advertise on Craigslist. Post flyers at laundries, groceries, community bldgs. Set up your own website, promote it. I'm not a certified teacher but ESL trained and I got lots of jobs teaching whole families in their living rooms and could've even done it in my own home if I'd of wanted folks in (I'm very private in that way).
You CAN do this!!!
Get yourself on the tutoring list at the county office. Parents will be able to choose you, knowing that you're a certified teacher.
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Since you have a disability you can apply to Vocational REhabilitation to assist you with finding a job. One of the things they can do is hire a job placement specialist to help you find a job. You can also practice mock interviewing with the JPS. You will be assigned a counselor that will manage your case. It is a federal program that is administered by the states (80% fed $ & 20% state $). The purpose is to help people with disabilities get jobs. They work with professionals all the way to very low functioning people. You never have to pay for services unless you made a high income. I worked in this field for 24 years.
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Alabama:
http://www.rehab.alabama.gov/individuals-and-families/vocational-rehabilitation-service-general
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If you really want to do it, and you feel like you can make a difference, do it! Teaching is hard for everyone....
I don't know you. I don't know how your disorder affects you, but the advice that people who have [insert disorder] are universally not fit for a certain profession rings untrue to me.
I agree. Do what you'd love to do, and figure out how you can do it. I'm a serious introvert, who learned to work really well with people, because the things I wanted to do needed great people skills. Many of the best of my colleagues are the same. Think about what you need to learn, and ask people who are good at it how they do it.
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
I want to know more. Which company are you with, and what are the requirements to register?
I'm not with any company. After researching the teaching market here, I decided the best thing would be to come here and then find a job, so that's what I did. There are companies (ILA, Apollo, Language Link) that will help you move here, but they tend to pay less than market price and also make you start working full time within 3-4 days of getting here, which I think is awful. Those are all also language centers, not actual schools, and mostly younger kids.
I ended up at an international school a 5 minute bike ride from my apartment just by searching the job ads and jumping on one. You could try researching universities here (RMIT) or international schools (UNIS, St. Paul's, Singapore International School). With your credentials you'll make at least $25/hr or equivalent!
Right now, though, saving money is a problem. How much would I need to move there? I think contacting a school first and knowing what I'm getting into would make a little more sense in my situation. What would I be looking at in way of cost to do it your way? I imagine I would need to pay a lot out of pocket.
You would need a one-way plane ticket ($800, can find cheaper) plus two weeks of living expenses (figure $30/day living cheap). You could do it for a month of living expenses at home.
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ESL teaching can be quite lucrative in foreign countries compared to where you are now, and could be a way to pay off your loans quickly. You'll want some actual experience in the US before applying for jobs overseas. Asia and the Middle East are the most lucrative regions today. With your passport and degree and 2 years experience you could do very well. If you're interested in this option, while building your resume domestically you'll have plenty of time to research options abroad.
Hint: look for international schools and quality university jobs rather than private institutes or part-time university gigs. And this doesn't always require sending out resumes blindly; international schools recruit at fairs in the US during autumn and winter - the best place to land a job.
Actually this isn't true in Vietnam. Your passport, degree, masters, and ESL certification will get you an extremely cushy job here at an international school with zero experience. I teach high school English at an international school (by name...) with just a BA and TESOL certificate. I think you would also be fine in Korea, Thailand, and Japan - degrees and certificates mean a lot here (also: whiteness, sadly), experience not as much. I can't speak to universities, but English centers (which pay hourly) and some international schools for sure.
This is also a really great place to build on your teaching skills, kmb501 - the kids here are fairly respectful (I have no comparison to the US, but I find them fine), you will probably work at a bunch of places and have plenty of opportunities to practice interviewing, and the whole experience of living in a new country is very confidence-building. Plus, you're already weird as a foreigner, so the ASD wouldn't be so apparent. It's a total seller's market, in Hanoi at least - you'll do fine. There's also pretty low expectations for teachers, I've found.
Let me know if you're really interested - it's a big step, but totally doable. You can earn $2k a month here and live on $500 of it, and that's not being very frugal.
I recommended OP go for 2 yrs post-teaching certification experience at US schools because:
* That's what good int'l schools require before they will spring for an overseas hire
* OP sounds like they could use more experience before bringing cultural adjustments into the mix
ESL teaching as an overseas hire at a K-12 international school can be lucrative. At international schools in China's biggest cities (ie Shanghai and Beijing), overseas hire teachers with a Master's and 2 years experience can earn:
* US$4-6k+/month
* paid housing ($2k/month)
* round-trip airfare home every year
* other bonuses depending on where you work
This is just China, and salaries vary worldwide, but there is a huge difference in salary and benefits for an overseas hire vs. local hire teacher for international schools - like any business which requires expat staff. A local hire's salary/benefits can be half of an overseas hire who's gone through the hiring process remotely. It's market-driven; an overseas hire needs more incentive to come.
My daily expenses in a large city in China are ~$500/month, housing is taken care of by my employer, so I'm able to save most of my salary. To get an idea of what the Int'l School market offers for qualified teachers, go to sites like http://internationalschoolsreview.com and search the forums.
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^^^ Interesting! I really find that's the opposite here - overseas hires don't have anything to compare their potential salary against, so they accept something that works out lower on salary than what part-time hourly teachers make. I don't know if this is true for better international schools (which are rare), but it's definitely true for English centers.
With those numbers, I feel like I should've gone to China... although I hear it's a bit soul-sucking.
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Did you see this? (I'm not affiliated, just spotted it)
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/mustachian-marketplace/wanted-part-time-work-from-home-english-teachers/
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I recommended OP go for 2 yrs post-teaching certification experience at US schools because:
* That's what good int'l schools require before they will spring for an overseas hire
* OP sounds like they could use more experience before bringing cultural adjustments into the mix
ESL teaching as an overseas hire at a K-12 international school can be lucrative. At international schools in China's biggest cities (ie Shanghai and Beijing), overseas hire teachers with a Master's and 2 years experience can earn:
* US$4-6k+/month
* paid housing ($2k/month)
* round-trip airfare home every year
* other bonuses depending on where you work
This is just China, and salaries vary worldwide, but there is a huge difference in salary and benefits for an overseas hire vs. local hire teacher for international schools - like any business which requires expat staff. A local hire's salary/benefits can be half of an overseas hire who's gone through the hiring process remotely. It's market-driven; an overseas hire needs more incentive to come.
A good teacher friend of mine who I've known for years moved out of Vegas last summer and is teaching in Beijing right now. I emailed her upon reading your post about her salary. Here's what she said:
My base salary is 21,000 yuan, and it can be up to 24,000 yuan (almost $4000). You can earn back $300-500 a month by turning in “fappios,” the official government receipts, for food, taxi rides, flights and language school. Housing counts, but to get about 25% of your rent back in salary, you must pay 5-10% of the rent to your landlord so they will issue you the rent fappio (because it costs them to print it). The schedule is pretty easy, but you’re there 8-5, and the kids can be exhausting in their lack of awareness of others’ needs. Still, I have more freedom in my schedule than better-paying international schools offer. My particular campus is unique because we’re separate from the main campus of our host school, Beijing No. 4. We each half one half to one full day without classes to plan per week, most of us have only 1-2 types of classes to prepare (it’s 10th-12th grade). I also get to come in late two days a week, and my earliest class is 8 AM. We have an hour lunch, totally free, and breakfast is free, too.
I’ve learned a lot about different types of international and public schools here, so I’d like to talk to you about it if you have time. If you want the highest-performing students and highest-paying position, you should go with an international school like Dulwich, an international British campus that is worldwide. http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/
Details about working there: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=366; details about current openings = http://www.indulwich.com/careers/job-opportunities/ . They include an apartment on the campus in an affluent, Western part of the city, PLUS pay you back cash for flights, PLUS you still earn the same tax benefits with the fappo. However, they require a 3-year contract. I have a friend who works there if you were to want a contact.
Technically, I have a 4800 yuan housing allowance, but that counts towards my salary. It’s similar to other public Chinese schools’ AP/English-language campuses. but less than the international K-12 schools. On the other hand, I earn twice as much as people who work for English-language schools that offer SAT, after-school English, or business English to clients. Wall Street English is a world-wide version of those schools if you wanted to work with less of a contract and more nights instead of weekends.
Hope this helps! I ended up typing out most of the details, but there’s still more that I could share over the phone as opposed to writing. I’ve been happy with my position because I feel it offers more flexibility than the schools that cater to foreigners’ kids.
I forgot to say that I was only actually reimbursed for the visa fees, which equaled about $400 in the end. The rest is through the tax credit.
So she's making about 40k USD, but says that other schools pay more. Thought her details might be useful to those here.
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
To be honest, sometimes I feel helpless. I have the educational background, and hopefully experience, needed to be a pretty decent teacher, and I love teaching. I can't get past the behavior I deal with as a sub, though. I sometimes hear such blatant disrespect that I wonder, "what is it about me that makes the kids think they can treat me that way?" It kind of eats away at my self-esteem. I do sometimes wonder if I can do a good job working with people, and it's all my affect. I'm flat and boring, at least the kids say so. I've tried to ignore them, but when you often get negative feedback about your performance and no other feedback, even if the negative feedback is from a quite unreliable source, you may start to believe it. Of course I want to be the teacher who comes in and totally transforms the kids, but I obviously haven't reached that point or anything close. It's really disappointing.
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I'd still suggest taking the Myers Briggs and then looking at the book "Do What You Are" by Tieger & Barron-Tieger. There are loads of suggested career paths that an educational degree can take you down. Looks on the surface of your posts that a one-to-one ratio in tutoring might be the best fit for you, but that might be totally not true.
There are online MB tests that are free. You could take a few different ones and see if your results consistently align. Check the book out for free from your local library. It contains quite a bit of insight into career paths for each personality type.
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
To be honest, sometimes I feel helpless. I have the educational background, and hopefully experience, needed to be a pretty decent teacher, and I love teaching. I can't get past the behavior I deal with as a sub, though. I sometimes hear such blatant disrespect that I wonder, "what is it about me that makes the kids think they can treat me that way?" It kind of eats away at my self-esteem. I do sometimes wonder if I can do a good job working with people, and it's all my affect. I'm flat and boring, at least the kids say so. I've tried to ignore them, but when you often get negative feedback about your performance and no other feedback, even if the negative feedback is from a quite unreliable source, you may start to believe it. Of course I want to be the teacher who comes in and totally transforms the kids, but I obviously haven't reached that point or anything close. It's really disappointing.
hmm. You know what came to mind? "Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid".
I'm sorry you are having a hard time. Try to not take it personal, kids are kids ya know? I really, really recommend exploring alternative ways of teaching (tutoring, etc) that may be more suited to your quiet nature. I am not a teacher but I sympathize in a way because as I age my introvertness is increasing and I know how distant it can make you feel.
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
To be honest, sometimes I feel helpless. I have the educational background, and hopefully experience, needed to be a pretty decent teacher, and I love teaching. I can't get past the behavior I deal with as a sub, though. I sometimes hear such blatant disrespect that I wonder, "what is it about me that makes the kids think they can treat me that way?" It kind of eats away at my self-esteem. I do sometimes wonder if I can do a good job working with people, and it's all my affect. I'm flat and boring, at least the kids say so. I've tried to ignore them, but when you often get negative feedback about your performance and no other feedback, even if the negative feedback is from a quite unreliable source, you may start to believe it. Of course I want to be the teacher who comes in and totally transforms the kids, but I obviously haven't reached that point or anything close. It's really disappointing.
You know, this is the hardest thing about teaching. Kids can be brutal. FWIW, I have had a great reputation as a highly effective middle school teacher for sixteen years, and last week just SUCKED. I wasn't feeling well so I took a day off, the kids took advantage of the sub, and when I laid into them about, they couldn't have cared less. One even got up and walked out, muttering that this was all bullshit. It happens. I was so embarrassed that this wonderful, excellent sub -- she taught at our school for 20 years and is a beloved sub now -- had such a disastrous experience with "my" kids. But, everyone has days and classes like this; anyone who says they don't is either lying or delusional!
I would absolutely NOT judge your ability to teach by subbing. I mean, it might give you an inkling if you do it enough, but the way kids treat subs is not at all the same as the way they treat their own teacher.
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
To be honest, sometimes I feel helpless. I have the educational background, and hopefully experience, needed to be a pretty decent teacher, and I love teaching. I can't get past the behavior I deal with as a sub, though. I sometimes hear such blatant disrespect that I wonder, "what is it about me that makes the kids think they can treat me that way?" It kind of eats away at my self-esteem. I do sometimes wonder if I can do a good job working with people, and it's all my affect. I'm flat and boring, at least the kids say so. I've tried to ignore them, but when you often get negative feedback about your performance and no other feedback, even if the negative feedback is from a quite unreliable source, you may start to believe it. Of course I want to be the teacher who comes in and totally transforms the kids, but I obviously haven't reached that point or anything close. It's really disappointing.
You know, this is the hardest thing about teaching. Kids can be brutal. FWIW, I have had a great reputation as a highly effective middle school teacher for sixteen years, and last week just SUCKED. I wasn't feeling well so I took a day off, the kids took advantage of the sub, and when I laid into them about, they couldn't have cared less. One even got up and walked out, muttering that this was all bullshit. It happens. I was so embarrassed that this wonderful, excellent sub -- she taught at our school for 20 years and is a beloved sub now -- had such a disastrous experience with "my" kids. But, everyone has days and classes like this; anyone who says they don't is either lying or delusional!
I would absolutely NOT judge your ability to teach by subbing. I mean, it might give you an inkling if you do it enough, but the way kids treat subs is not at all the same as the way they treat their own teacher.
Maybe I'm a little too emotional about it, but those kids seem to have a certain power over me. They are the sincere appraisers of my performance, at least that's what I seem to believe. Their opinions of my performance in that classroom are often the only opinions on my performance I hear. When they say things like, "we can tell you ain't no good teacher," "I'm sorry; I just cannot take you seriously," or "you can't control this class, lady!" it cuts deep. I end the day feeling defeated, especially if it looks like those comments are true.
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Well, then are there additional 'Classroom Management' classes that you can take? Go hang out in the teachers lounge and ask the other teachers for their tips & tricks. IMHO, it's good to assess where your weakness are but then you DO something about them to bring them up to speed.
Question...of the advice given above by various posters how many have you looked into actively pursuing since you first started the thread?
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Well, then are there additional 'Classroom Management' classes that you can take? Go hang out in the teachers lounge and ask the other teachers for their tips & tricks. IMHO, it's good to assess where your weakness are but then you DO something about them to bring them up to speed.
Question...of the advice given above by various posters how many have you looked into actively pursuing since you first started the thread?
I've taken a little of the advice posted on this thread so far. I would really be best as a private tutor, but those jobs are honestly hard to find. I went to a few of the teach from home websites and tried to register only to find that they already had a waiting list. Work from home occupations are popular, and tutoring is already pretty much a saturated market down here.
I have tried to be more assertive with the kids, but I'm an out-of-shape 20 something who needs to improve my visual appeal. They often do not take me seriously, and I think it is mostly concerning the way I look and act. I realize subbing isn't the job for me, but I haven't been able to find anything that pays well enough to allow me to support myself that does fit my niche.
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Good on you for following up on it.
Here's a line when a child says something about you...smile & say"That very well may be, but we still have to do X." ...or an "I can see how you might think that, but what is the answer to the next problem?" Redirect them back to the task at hand. If you are too rigid they will rebel. Who's the adult here? You, yes?
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Can I be honest with you? You do seem to have other issues than just finances. Almost every second of your responses has "I don't know" somewhere in it. As a teacher you know the answer is that you need to learn or at least figure out what you don't know. You also don't seem to check facts. If the street is to dangerous to ride a bike, move somewhere else. If all streets are too dangerous, there is something wrong with your perception of danger. Get a cheap bike on craigslist. I can get a new bike every week for what you are paying on insurance and gas. A stolen bike is an inconvenience for a few days, not a financial issue. You can keep multiple bike in various safer places that are closer to your work. When we talk about a bike we talk about $40-100.
Im glad Im not the only one thinking thIs. Honestly, you sound like a very introverted person and that could be holding you back in a teaching environment. Im sorry if its harsh but you come off a bit helpless. The other posters have given GREAT advice that I see no problem with exploring but here seems to be a "but" for all the suggestions from your part.
Reevaluate if teaching is what you want to do, if it is, in what form/environment and then go for it. It'll take grit, somethibg you have to develop for yourself and doesnt sound like you've had the chance to.
good luck! :)
To be honest, sometimes I feel helpless. I have the educational background, and hopefully experience, needed to be a pretty decent teacher, and I love teaching. I can't get past the behavior I deal with as a sub, though. I sometimes hear such blatant disrespect that I wonder, "what is it about me that makes the kids think they can treat me that way?" It kind of eats away at my self-esteem. I do sometimes wonder if I can do a good job working with people, and it's all my affect. I'm flat and boring, at least the kids say so. I've tried to ignore them, but when you often get negative feedback about your performance and no other feedback, even if the negative feedback is from a quite unreliable source, you may start to believe it. Of course I want to be the teacher who comes in and totally transforms the kids, but I obviously haven't reached that point or anything close. It's really disappointing.
You know, this is the hardest thing about teaching. Kids can be brutal. FWIW, I have had a great reputation as a highly effective middle school teacher for sixteen years, and last week just SUCKED. I wasn't feeling well so I took a day off, the kids took advantage of the sub, and when I laid into them about, they couldn't have cared less. One even got up and walked out, muttering that this was all bullshit. It happens. I was so embarrassed that this wonderful, excellent sub -- she taught at our school for 20 years and is a beloved sub now -- had such a disastrous experience with "my" kids. But, everyone has days and classes like this; anyone who says they don't is either lying or delusional!
I would absolutely NOT judge your ability to teach by subbing. I mean, it might give you an inkling if you do it enough, but the way kids treat subs is not at all the same as the way they treat their own teacher.
Maybe I'm a little too emotional about it, but those kids seem to have a certain power over me. They are the sincere appraisers of my performance, at least that's what I seem to believe. Their opinions of my performance in that classroom are often the only opinions on my performance I hear. When they say things like, "we can tell you ain't no good teacher," "I'm sorry; I just cannot take you seriously," or "you can't control this class, lady!" it cuts deep. I end the day feeling defeated, especially if it looks like those comments are true.
This is just the stuff that kids do. Even things they'd enjoy -- if they chose to do it -- like complete a science experiment or read a book, they dislike because they're being made to do it. They often push just to see what they can get away with, and they do it more with a sub than with their own teacher.
They do not have power over you, but you're handing it over to them through your inexperience.
They are not qualified to appraise your performance - they're kids.
Once they start making negative comments and see that they are hurting you, they will continue.
The kids who behave this way don't think about you once they leave the classroom -- until they see you again -- but it's something they do to pass the time of day.
Honestly -- and you're not going to like this -- you need to go somewhere else. Subs have reputations, and it sounds like yours is fun-to-mess-with-young-girl. I hear the kids saying, "Hey, Mrs ___ is subbing in Chemistry today." and other kids will answer either, "Sweet! Free day!" Or "Oh no. She sent me to the office last time."
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I think you should look for small successes and each time you have one build on it. Each time you walk into a classroom, try to do a little better: if something hasn't worked for you in a class you take, think about how you can change what you did for next time. Write down what the problem was and brainstorm solutions, either to avoid it arising again or to deal with it better when it does arise. Talk to the experienced teachers you come across, ask for their advice and get their tips and tricks.
I have tried to be more assertive with the kids, but I'm an out-of-shape 20 something who needs to improve my visual appeal. They often do not take me seriously, and I think it is mostly concerning the way I look and act. I realize subbing isn't the job for me, but I haven't been able to find anything that pays well enough to allow me to support myself that does fit my niche.
I wonder whether the biggest and quickest change you could do to improve your visual appeal and get the kids to take you more seriously might be to work on your posture. Find your breastbone and lift it up: it will bring your chest up, your shoulders back and down and your chin up. All that will make your figure look better and at the same time it will make you look more confident, authoritative and assertive. It should also help you to feel better about yourself and more confident. If you remember to lift your breastbone and chin up everytime you stand up from a chair or go through a doorway, it will start to become natural. It's a small change, but one which you should be able to implement easily.
Sadly, we are all judged on how we look. The quickest way to change the way we look is to improve our posture. The best thing about it: changing our posture is absolutely free. If you have any doubts, take a look at the most successful and charismatic teachers you see: I bet they all have good posture, and I bet it is a part of what the kids are responding to without even knowing that they are doing so.
Good luck.
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Responding to your post in the How To Write a Case Study thread:
I have something that I wanted as a case study, but I didn't title it that, and I've since added a few other threads with more information about my situation. Could you look over my threads and make a recommendation? Do I need to try to condense all of these threads into one?
Your second idea, "[combine the relevant information from] all of [your] threads into one," seems best. Read the posts in the How To thread carefully (at least the ones suggesting How To) and follow the advice as applicable to your situation. You are likely to get more specific responses that way.
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I think I have most of the relevant information from my other threads in this post now.
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I was cruising around Craigslist last night and in my area there was advertised a job for 'Young Rembrandts' which appears to be an afterschool arts program for very young children. They are looking for teachers. Is there such a business going anywhere in your area? My thoughts are that younger children may very well be the answer to some of your classroom management problems - they don't tend to be nearly as snarky. If you are even remotely artsy I'd check it out.
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I think I have most of the relevant information from my other threads in this post now.
If you are getting the answers you need, then all is well. If you are seeking more, you might put all the relevant information into a single post and ask the specific questions to which you want answers.
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I think I have most of the relevant information from my other threads in this post now.
If you are getting the answers you need, then all is well. If you are seeking more, you might put all the relevant information into a single post and ask the specific questions to which you want answers.
Well, I edited my original post to include more information from my other posts, so those of you giving me advice might want to re-read it.