What are the signs you should be a teacher?

Question

I am a rising junior at my college majoring in German.I have been thinking quite some time that maybe I want to be a teacher.

Growing up, I used to tutor kids for free after school (from elementary school up through high school), helping them out, help teaching my friends

For years, the people I've tutored have said, "You should be a teacher- you are good at this." I would always say no, they don't get paid enough- but maybe I would be a professor. I've always wanted to get a masters or maybe a Ph.D .. the thing that excited me the most about getting a PHD was actually the TAing (teaching the class), more so than the research.

I was always the best student in school & when I would understand a subject, I would ask the teacher questions to help my friends, who were confused, to better understand. They didn't know what to ask.

I love sharing knowledge, explaining things, helping others, book work, making study sheets

What are the signs you should be a teacher? what do you think?

Answer 1

You sound like a teacher.  As far as money goes, look into it.  Teachers' unions want you to think they don't make a lot of money so they'll get a raise.  It really depends on where you teach versus the cost of living.  It also depends what you compare it to.  I honestly don't care too much about the money because the American lifestyle dictates that we spend it all and wish we had more no matter how much we make.  BTW, I make 50k with 5 years experience.

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher because I grew used to being in an environment where people learned about the world.  Remember the movie Office Space?  What do people in cubicles talk about?  Do they talk about current events?  Or scientific debates?  I want to be in a school environment where it is socially acceptable to talk about intellectual pursuits.  I also like the downtime.  I'm used to having 2 weeks off at Christmas, spring break, and 2 months during the summer.

Do you choose teaching college or high school?  College professors are generally focused on research and publishing.  Teaching can be a chore to some of them.  In the bigger colleges they get their TAs to do it.  

High school and elementary school teachers put their heart and soul into teaching and lose a lot of sleep at night.  It is a stressful and very fulfilling job.  I love it.  I even like to teach summer school because I'm addicted to the stress.

Also, I knew I was a teacher when I went door to door trying to get people to donate money to an environmental group.  I was lousy because I didn't care if they gave me money; I just wanted them to let me teach them about the environment.

Answer 2

If you love school and get "antsy" to get back BEFORE your breaks are over - that's a good indicator

If you are well-organized and for some strange reason LOVE "teacher stuff" (pens, markers, folders, etc.)

If you really like kids (whatever age - I prefer teenagers; others prefer little kids)

If you LOVE your subject matter

If you think you can make a difference in someone's life

If you genuinely want to share your love and knowledge of your subject matter

If you don't care how much money you make

Answer 3

I'm and elementary school teacher.  I teach because I genuinely like kids.  I like having a job that has a definite schedule (it's the same hours Monday through Friday all the time) but the work you do day to day varies so you don't get bored with the work easily.  I like the fact that I get the summers off (come summertime you really do need to get away for awhile...it's not like other jobs).  I've also found that my attitude towards the subjects I hated growing up have changed.  It's fun to me to try and make things fun for the kids.  This year I wanted to get the kids excited about nature so outside of our room we planted ten bushes, a palm tree, and we grew a potato plant (we actually got twenty potatoes from it).  It's a really fun job but you definitely don't want to go into it if you're looking for money.  If you want to teach college that can be fun too because you can have a different type of fun with adults than you can have with kids and alot of stresses are taken off of you because adults are capable of taking 100% responsibility for their own education.  Just check out who makes more money in your area, school teachers or college professors.  Good luck!

Answer 4

It's funny you asked this because I had a change of heart during my junior year in college and decided to become a teacher.. I'm about to start my grad-school program in Science Education next month.. I guess it's better to decide to be a teacher last minute (in my case) because I will have my Master's degree and get paid more, unlike other students who entered college and majored in Education and have stopped at their Bachelor's degree.

I knew I wanted to do something in life where I could help people.. but I was also seeking a profession where I could have family-time too... So my previous goal of going to med-school was out of the picture. If you think you're somebody who wants to have a family one day, then teaching is the right profession for you! I have always been a bright, independent student, so I knew that I would want a job where I could teach others, yet still be working independently (no boss directing me around)...

I think the signs that you should become a teacher include being a natural leader and teacher, having a high level of independency, and being a family-oriented person..

Ultimately, perhaps a decade from now, I plan to pursue my PhD and teach at the college level.