Is being a elementary school teacher a good job?

Question

I am a sophmore in school and was thinking about being either a 1st or 2nd grade teacher. Which means I need to switch my major over to education. A few questions:

How long do you recommend for me to stay in school?

How is the pay?

Do you like being a teacher?

How are the benefits (and what are some)?

Any other information you have would be wonderful! I go back to school in a month and my entire family and fiancee think that I'm fit for a teacher, I'm just trying to get some background information!

Thanks,

Ashley

Answer 1

I sub for elementary schools and in our district, we make $19/hr. Teaching is a great profession, but being a teacher goes beyond just teaching. You will be assessing students, grading papers, dealing with parents, planning with other teacher that you may or may not get along with, spend hours after class preparing materials for the next day, etc. That's why I love subbing. All I do is teach and then leave the building at 3:30PM without any papers to take home to grade :).

Answer 2

Get your masters, and try to do it before you get a job being a teacher, if you can.  That will reduce your stress levels quite a bit.

The pay sucks for most states, CT is pretty good.

I love being a teacher, and the benefits are amazing when you see a kid succeed.

The benefits of teaching: job security, good health bennefits, summers/holidays off.

The REAL benefits of teaching:  seeing kids learn knowing you had a part in that, being a role model, having a career that actually matters in the world.

Answer 3

For your first question, how long you should stay in school depends on what requirements you need to find a high quality job. I'm from Ohio, and here some colleges offer bachelors/masters degree through 5 year programs, but if you graduate with a just a bachelors you have 5 years to begin your masters and 8 to finish it. Some schools like to hire with a masters, some do not. In Ohio, a school district will pay more for a masters. How long it takes for you to complete your bachelors depends on your colleges requirements. If you're interested in changing your major, I would make an appointment to speak with the head of your college's education department, or email them to find out who you might speak with.

Most colleges put their education majors out into the field their first year to not only allow them to begin to gain experience but also to find out if it's the right choice for them. But it's not easy. I almost changed my major my junior year after a difficult placement in an inner city school, but then I had a great placement the following quarter and an even better one the next spring. So it may take you some time to decide if it's right for you. Perhaps you could get a job at a local child care center. It would give you time to work with kids in that kind of setting and see if it's right for you. It would also give you experience for a resume.

Pay varies not only from state to state but city to city and district to district. If and when you go looking for a job, you should sit down and make a budget for yourself and do some research. Look at the cost of living in your area and pay in other comparable districts. That will let you know if you'll be making enough in a particular job. But most people agree that teaching is the most underpaid profession, but most don't go into it for the money. Most people do it because they love learning and they love sharing knowledge with other people. I'm currently a special education teacher and have a 3 year old class and love it.

Teaching is emotionally stressful in a way that most jobs are not. Your patience is tested on a daily level. But it's also rewarding in a way that I could never fully describe to you. Sharing the world with a child is indescribable.

Benefits vary from job to job. I have great benefits, but it totally depends on a school district. For a single person in my district, we pay nothing out of pocket and copays are good. But you also what to look at tuition re-imbursement if you decide to go back to school. Look at vacation time that's offered, like how many sick days you get, personal days, maternity leave, bereavement leave, etc. Some districts offer a sick leave bank for long term illnesses. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to benefits, so it's good to do research on different schools in your area.

Hope that helped!

Answer 4

teaching is a good job if you really care about children

if you don't then you will hate it

assuming that you do:

very tough job the first year, then it gets easier with experience; pay is bad at first but improves each year & after 10 years you're doing OK especially with advanced degree

benefits are (usually) good insurance and very good retirement pension; summer off; flexibility with hours and ability to be off when your own children are off of school

Answer 5

a good grade school teacher is not only knowledgeable of the lessons.. you also have to be compassionate, understanding, and most of the time you will need patience because you will become their second mother out there and their role model if they liked you.

how long? it's up to you... as long as you are happy with it.

the pay? - well it's a steady job and salary is not bad

like teaching? - yes i do.. in fact i am a part time college professor..

i hope you have background in babysitting (lol)..

good luck!

Answer 6

Is it a good job? It depends - on if you're looking for big bucks (then I'd say no), if you care about children and can endure paperwork (then you might be right for it). If you enjoy working Monday-Friday and having built in vacation, it's good. (But don't just choose it because of that.) But you will have work to take home some evenings.

If others are encouraging you, it might be a good fit for you.

1. You will need a bachelor's degree (4 years). Definitely get your master's but you can teach a few years first. Since you have a fiancee and I don't know when you're planning to marry, don't attempt getting a masters, teaching, and having children. You can do 2 of those, but not three.

2. Pay varies by state and school district. Many school districts post their salary schedule on their web site. School district generally pay based on the number of years of experience you have and your level of education. (one reason to go for your masters).  Some give bonuses for specific certifications (math, science, not elementary grades) or for going to schools with many children from poverty or for meeting specific criteria (National Board Certification, being a Master Teacher in a TAP program).

3. I am now an administrator & some times I miss teaching. It really is rewarding. Do talk with others - teachers you had that you really connected with  and friends or other students in education.

4. One big benefit is summers, Winter Break, and Spring Break off - but don't count on 3 months. Teaching is a 10 month job and outside of the regular school year, you will need to get professional development and maybe even attend other workshops for no credit.

What kind of exxperiences have you had with young children? babysitting, informal tutoring, teaching in a less structured environment (Sunday School, scout, etc). Try some of those activities if you haven't done them. Your college experience should include some practicums in schools long before your student teaching.

Answer 7

Go and observe some school teachers while they work and it will give you a better idea of what it's like.

Talk with the teachers and ask them how they like their jobs.

I've been teaching for 9 years.

I teach PE, so it's different than being a classroom teacher.

My job is fun for a couple of hours, but then I want to go home. I wish it was only part-time. It can be pretty draining on you having to pay attention to the kids all day everyday, but it's still the best job I've ever had.

Good luck!

I make $40,000 yearly.

Answer 8

I think everyone the other replies were very good and accurate.  However, ESL, Special ED., Science (middle school) are easier jobs to find.  They are in high demand.  Otherwise, join all the substitute teachers (making $10/hr.) who cannot find a teaching job.