Teaching 101

Teaching can be a rewarding career. You can change the world (or at least the world of your students). While it is certainly not without challenges, you can succeed and do well. However, as we all know, you cannot just walk into a classroom and begin teaching. It takes education, experience, and an understanding of the employment conditions to create a successful teacher.

You absolutely can do it, but you need to hit some things first.This is one of those decisions that needs to be thoroughly investigated before you make the decision. Don't do it if you are hoping to get rich because that is just not going to happen. Do it because the career works for you; that the idea of going to school and educating children sounds like something you would like to wake up and go do every day.

As you read the information below, as you look at the pictures, as you watch the videos, make sure that you consider what it would be like for you to be that teacher.

While the amount of education needed to become a teacher varies from state to state, it is possible to group them into

You will need to have a bachelor's degree. In which particular field depends often on what you will be teaching. If you are hoping to teach at the elementary school level, this could be a major in Liberal Studies, Elementary Education, or something related.

At the secondary level, usually you need a major in whatever you plan to teach. If you are wanting to be a math teacher, then you need a degree in math. A biology teacher requires a degree in biology.

All that being said, there are other ways to prove that you have the knowledge to teach a certain level or subject. While these ways all require that you still possess a bachelor's degree, they do open the door to possibilities.

For example, if you had an undergraduate degree in linguistics, but wanted to teach elementary school, in some states you can take a test that proves you have the knowledge in your head that you would have received in getting a degree in Liberal Studies. You will need to check with your state's teacher licensing office to determine what alternative ways are available to you.

In addition, you will need to earch a teaching credential. In some states, this can be earned at the same time as your bachelor's degree. It is probably more common, though, that you would need to earn that after graduating from college. The courses typically comprise one year of classroom-based learning and a student teaching component.

Generally, speaking the amount of experience that you need to become a teacher involves, at a minimum, the completion of student teaching.While the number of required weeks varies, look to spend at least a semester completing this requirement. Before you ask, student teachers are not paid, so you will need to work out some arrangement. While it is not impossible to work and do student teaching, it should be discouraged. One part of student teaching is giving a principal the opportunity to see you in action and, maybe, to offer you a job. You need to be at the top of your game and not tired from working late the night before.

However and importantly, having experience working with children is always considered a plus. There are many places to get that kind of experience. Some possibilities include teaching pre-school, working at a summer camp or after-school program, and volunteering at your child's school.

While employment conditions will vary from state-to-state, district-to-district and even school-to-school, there are a few general guidelines that you will see across the board.

The work day is usually in the range of 7:30 until 3:30. Note that this is the official work day. Few teachers can finish everything that they need in that amount of time because the vast majority of it is consumed with the actual instruction of students.

Teachers are salaried employees. What this means in basic terms is that there is no such thing as over-time pay in most instances. You will discover early on that there is time that you will just need to "give" the school in order to be successful in your job. That being said, smart teachers figure out where to draw the line.

Teachers have either a chunk of the summer off as vacation or are on a year-round schedule. The amount of time off is equal in either scenario. It is just structured differently. For most teachers, the school year is about 36 weeks.

Working conditions vary significantly depending on whether you are in a union district or union state. As a general rule, teachers who are unionized make more money and often have better benefits. This does not mean, of course, that it is true in all circumstances. And, importantly, this is not something that you can control unless you are willing to move to a state that allows unions.