Advice and info seeking-
 

Ok- I am going to plunk myself down with a career advisor at school sometime soon but I know there are some people here (GD springs to mind) who might be able to give me some advice and guidance-

I think I want to be a teacher-

Really.

This desire started years ago- and got buried by life- now it is back and more powerful than ever.

I have always wondered what I wanted to do when I grow- and more and more every day this is what screams at me. Young kids specifically- like kindergarten.

I would like to pick brains on this- I am going back to school- and I would love any info, guidance...whatever anyone can give me. My future sister in law is going to be a teacher so you can bet I am going to be asking her too.....

Thanks in advance-

I know very little about the process of getting credentialed, especially since it varies so much county to county let alone state to state. So I can't offer you much advice there.

Are you shooting for public or private?

Public I would think-

I'm also going to talk to Rose's current teacher- find out more, she just got out of school.

Well, all I can really do is wish you good luck. In all honety, you are likely to run into a lot of frustration. The federal guidelines are making it harder and harder to be much more than a test-score producing robot. More and more good teachers who actually want their students to learn are doing whatever they can to get out of the system because it's become so stifling. Hopefully you'll be able to fight through the crap and use what little time you have that's not devoted to standardized testing to do the best you can and stay motivated.

Maybe that is why I am tempted by kindergarten- less standardized pressures?

But thanks- :D

Heh, oops. Somehow didn't catch that part of the OP.

You can start, as I have, by taking the C-best test, otherwise, known as the emergency credential. Your councellor will fill you in with all the rest.

I have years of school left- *sigh* can you tell me what that is?

Tref, she's not in California. The CBEST is a basic aptitude test that, in California, is the first step to getting credentialed and, in some districts, allows you to start teaching almost immediately (although some districts have done way with the "emergency credential"). There may be a similar test in Colorado, but like I said, requirements vary widely from state-to-state, so you're going to have to ask someone local for those kinds of details.

Up until last year I was a Credential Analyst for the State of California. At that time everyone in the nation was struggling to find funding to implement Bush's unfunded mandate "No Child Left Behind" which radically altered the credentialing process across the nation. Basically becoming a teacher requires two basic components: demonstrating competence in a subject (or subjects, for elementary teaching) AND demonstrating proof of training in the teaching of said subject or subjects. NCLB basically erased the use of college coursework to demonstrate competence in a subject, so most states require passage of a subject matter exam (such as the CSET). Then you'll have to study to TEACH that subject. Some states will allow you to take teacher education courses concurrently with your baccalaureate degree. California requires that you take them afterward (the fifth-year rule). Because of differences like these (in California many other tests are required...) it is very difficult to take your credential to a different state--just so you know! Even teaching kindergarten will require passage of the CSET or a similar state-accepted and NCLB-compliant multiple subjects exam. Good luck!

In Washington, we have what's known as the WASL test, and it's killing our schools. Right now, it's only administered in a few grades, but eventually it will be in every grade. The grades it is being used in now are notorious for spending virtually the entire school year to teach the subjects and concept of this test, which is math as a language and essay driven. Actually, most teachers say it really tests you on your ability to follow directions more than anything. At any rate, things are a mess here and only getting worse. Kindergarten teachers are not exempt from the stress, as they are responsible for preparing their kids for the first grade testing. I'm not sure how things are in Colorado, but the NCLB Act is having similar repercussions throughout the country. Many states are choosing to forego funding or filing suit against the Feds, so perhaps this may be a moot point by the time you graduate.

Having said that, I always thought that were I to teach, it would have to be Kindergarten or college. In kindergarten, the kids are largely excited to be there, and in college they have to assume more personal responsibility, so less babysitting on your part.

Yes, and it's funny that I was able to teach at a University with NO TRAINING whatsoever -- just my MA! Although, I'll admit that was a pretty scary experience at first...

The C-Best will allow you to substitute teach, whilst you go to school (in theory.)

http://www.cbest.for nephythys.com/

I don't know what (if any) your employment plans are while working on your teaching credentials but I have one idea that might be worth looking into. At least in this area, test paranoia among the parents is causing a dramatic upswing in the number of students seeking private tutoring. A number of new centers have opened up and the older centers are growing. You could look into a position with a place like Sylvan Learning Centers

Maybe I should move to Cali-

Link

You're going to have to stop calling it Cali if you do that.


Although Nirvanaman gets away with it.

Oh dear! Regarding that article, and as someone who worked professionally getting California teachers credentialled, I just have to tell you: it's hooey! The so-called "teacher shortages" have NEVER existed. I've personally addressed this matter with district recruiters who have told me these "alarms" are released periodically to increase the QUALITY of the prospective-hire pool. Not necessarily a bad thing of course, but markedly different from a de facto shortage. When I left the field, teachers were leaving the profession having never taught a single paid day. :( Of course in some exceptionally rural areas you could still get in pretty easily -- in fact rural areas are the only ones still issuing emergency credentials, but this is the last year for that in California.

yes, you must pronounce it Colleeforneeah to honor the governator (Or poke fun at him, take your pick).

Grad students can be TA's, which at least in English, means they're teaching with only a BA. Some community colleges hire people with only BA's.

Nephythys, be sure that teaching is what you really want to do. It doesn't pay much and it's a thankless job. You have to really, really, really love what you're doing. And with NCLB and other standardized tests, I'm suprised that anyone has the patience to teach K-12. Better teachers are badly needed, though.