Second career ideas? Would teaching be a mistake?

[Anonymous]

My spouse went into teaching at 40. After the last ten years they still enjoy it. Probably because 1) they made money in sales prior to changing careers so there is no bitterness about lifestyle, savings, etc. and 2) they just aren’t as worn down as a teacher who has been at it for 20+ years. They had a science degree undergrad and teach science now. Your degree could translate teaching history or political science. Look into the alternative pathways to accreditation it’s fairly easy. And all public schools publish their salary grids so you’ll know what you’ll make when you enter the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask a follow up question for th HS teachers? My kids often say they spent a class period working independently or in small groups. I had assumed teachers used that time for grading. Is that incorrect?

I am thinking about this for a late career switch. My brother did it in his 50s and is now retiring at 67; he really loved it. My own kids are mostly grown and I spend much of the day working with AHs currently so I feel lol my tolerance is probably high. Plus I am super familiar with the pointless bureaucracy that is our public school system.I have spent a lot of time volunteering with kids and teens in scouts and I really love spending time with them. They are such a hoot. I miss it now that my kids are aging out of all those activities. I also have kids with SN and spent a lot of the last two decades reading books and studies about different learning styles.

I think the early mornings and the loss of flexibility schedule would be really hard though.

In my math classroom, it would be incorrect--I can't speak to all others.

If kids are working independently, I'm circulating, poking the sleeping ones, checking in with my normal strugglers, answering questions, verifying answers as kids work, or explaining the next task to my quick finishers. I'm sitting with the kid(s) who were absent last class to review that lesson, checking in with the ones who are failing to see where they are on their "academic come back" plan, writing a referral and contacting security for the phone Larlo has in his lap, and eventually pulling the kids I see completely off task to come sit in the back with me to do the assignment together on white boards, because their papers are turning into airplanes and snowballs and distracting other students. (Yes, even in high school. Yes, even in honors or AP.)

I get 0 grading done during a regular class, except on test days. Then I try to have tests on a clipboard as students turn them in that I can start to work through as I circulate the room to prevent cheating/find phones/make sure eyeballs stay on their own paper.

All grading is done after school lets out for the day.

[Anonymous]

I'm in a non-DMV district but my kids tell me that there's lots of kids sneaking vapes at school. My kid said one of them had an active weed vape in his backpack. There is a problem with kids breaking the toilets by flushing the cartridges.

Also my son said that two of his friends were throwing a football to each other in Honors English when the teacher's back was turned. That teacher is a former corporate lawyer the kids don't like very much. She whines at them about how she gave up her career to help students. Naive to think they care about that. I tell my son to behave but the teacher also reported him to the assistant principal for writing a mafia type story in response to a dare regarding an in-class assignment. She didn't like the content but she made an assignment where the student was supposed to include all the elements specified by another student. So things got out of hand. Nobody was satisfied with the discussions had about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask a follow up question for th HS teachers? My kids often say they spent a class period working independently or in small groups. I had assumed teachers used that time for grading. Is that incorrect?

I am thinking about this for a late career switch. My brother did it in his 50s and is now retiring at 67; he really loved it. My own kids are mostly grown and I spend much of the day working with AHs currently so I feel lol my tolerance is probably high. Plus I am super familiar with the pointless bureaucracy that is our public school system.I have spent a lot of time volunteering with kids and teens in scouts and I really love spending time with them. They are such a hoot. I miss it now that my kids are aging out of all those activities. I also have kids with SN and spent a lot of the last two decades reading books and studies about different learning styles.

I think the early mornings and the loss of flexibility schedule would be really hard though.

In my math classroom, it would be incorrect--I can't speak to all others.

If kids are working independently, I'm circulating, poking the sleeping ones, checking in with my normal strugglers, answering questions, verifying answers as kids work, or explaining the next task to my quick finishers. I'm sitting with the kid(s) who were absent last class to review that lesson, checking in with the ones who are failing to see where they are on their "academic come back" plan, writing a referral and contacting security for the phone Larlo has in his lap, and eventually pulling the kids I see completely off task to come sit in the back with me to do the assignment together on white boards, because their papers are turning into airplanes and snowballs and distracting other students. (Yes, even in high school. Yes, even in honors or AP.)

I get 0 grading done during a regular class, except on test days. Then I try to have tests on a clipboard as students turn them in that I can start to work through as I circulate the room to prevent cheating/find phones/make sure eyeballs stay on their own paper.

All grading is done after school lets out for the day.

I teach high school English.

I find independent work time more stressful than when I’m leading instruction. I’m constantly on my feet, going desk to desk to independently conference with students. I’m also putting out little fires all over the classroom: students distracting others, using prohibited items, etc.

I simply don’t sit during class. I track my steps daily. By 2pm, I’m already over 10,000. So there’s some good news: I get regular exercise and don’t feel pressured to pay for a gym!

[Anonymous]

As a teacher I would say no. Physically exhausting, emotionally draining, so much BS. I used to love it but it changed. If I wasn’t close to retirement I would quit. I would never encourage anyone to teach in today’s climate. You can find other jobs that are both rewarding and have better work life balance and where you are respected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask a follow up question for th HS teachers? My kids often say they spent a class period working independently or in small groups. I had assumed teachers used that time for grading. Is that incorrect?

I am thinking about this for a late career switch. My brother did it in his 50s and is now retiring at 67; he really loved it. My own kids are mostly grown and I spend much of the day working with AHs currently so I feel lol my tolerance is probably high. Plus I am super familiar with the pointless bureaucracy that is our public school system.I have spent a lot of time volunteering with kids and teens in scouts and I really love spending time with them. They are such a hoot. I miss it now that my kids are aging out of all those activities. I also have kids with SN and spent a lot of the last two decades reading books and studies about different learning styles.

I think the early mornings and the loss of flexibility schedule would be really hard though.

Managing independent and small group work is a task that requires full attention. It isn’t time that gets spent on grading or other paperwork, except for maybe a situation where something needs to be done urgently. Examples of that might be taking the first few minutes of independent work to look at a one question quiz I gave mid period so I can know which kids need my help during the rest of the period, or writing an email about a behavior that happened during the passing period that the counselor needs to know about urgently. But that’s a couple minutes before I am back to circulating, coaching, and providing feedback.

[Anonymous]

If money is truly not an issue - I really enjoy being a teaching assistant. I meet with small groups - really get to know my kids but have not of the planning, grading or talking to parents. And the schedule is great when you are truly done at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

This is the most depressing job and I am thankful I went into law.

[Anonymous]

I don't know any teacher (and I know a lot) who enjoys teaching children (K through college). Maybe teach in a training capacity to adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If money truly doesn’t matter, look into working as a kindergarten assistant or special education assistant. It’s very hard work but truly 8 to 4. Some districts pay better than others. I make a little over 50,000 a year in Arlington.

This can be great. Usually if you work four hours a day, you get benefits; you will still be exhausted but you’re done at the end of the day. Oh, and just about zero meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask a follow up question for th HS teachers? My kids often say they spent a class period working independently or in small groups. I had assumed teachers used that time for grading. Is that incorrect?

I am thinking about this for a late career switch. My brother did it in his 50s and is now retiring at 67; he really loved it. My own kids are mostly grown and I spend much of the day working with AHs currently so I feel lol my tolerance is probably high. Plus I am super familiar with the pointless bureaucracy that is our public school system.I have spent a lot of time volunteering with kids and teens in scouts and I really love spending time with them. They are such a hoot. I miss it now that my kids are aging out of all those activities. I also have kids with SN and spent a lot of the last two decades reading books and studies about different learning styles.

I think the early mornings and the loss of flexibility schedule would be really hard though.

Managing independent and small group work is a task that requires full attention. It isn’t time that gets spent on grading or other paperwork, except for maybe a situation where something needs to be done urgently. Examples of that might be taking the first few minutes of independent work to look at a one question quiz I gave mid period so I can know which kids need my help during the rest of the period, or writing an email about a behavior that happened during the passing period that the counselor needs to know about urgently. But that’s a couple minutes before I am back to circulating, coaching, and providing feedback.

This all makes sense—thanks for the thoughtful answers! As a parent I’ve always wished teachers have more time for grading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If money is truly not an issue - I really enjoy being a teaching assistant. I meet with small groups - really get to know my kids but have not of the planning, grading or talking to parents. And the schedule is great when you are truly done at the end of the day.

Me too. But if I was OP's age with a young family, I'd think about getting certified as a reading specialist. You can make a lot of money tutoring dyslexic kids and kids who need reading support, either during the school day as an independent contractor or part time school employee, or tutor on your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If money is truly not an issue - I really enjoy being a teaching assistant. I meet with small groups - really get to know my kids but have not of the planning, grading or talking to parents. And the schedule is great when you are truly done at the end of the day.

Totally agree about this. I love being an assistant but I'm not doing it for the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask a follow up question for th HS teachers? My kids often say they spent a class period working independently or in small groups. I had assumed teachers used that time for grading. Is that incorrect?

I am thinking about this for a late career switch. My brother did it in his 50s and is now retiring at 67; he really loved it. My own kids are mostly grown and I spend much of the day working with AHs currently so I feel lol my tolerance is probably high. Plus I am super familiar with the pointless bureaucracy that is our public school system.I have spent a lot of time volunteering with kids and teens in scouts and I really love spending time with them. They are such a hoot. I miss it now that my kids are aging out of all those activities. I also have kids with SN and spent a lot of the last two decades reading books and studies about different learning styles.

I think the early mornings and the loss of flexibility schedule would be really hard though.

You can sometimes get grading done in class but I find it is hard as kids are constantly interrupting you for help or you need to step in to redirect kids. It may depend on what you teach. I teach a hard STEM subject and students need constant help. Even at lunch I have kids trickling in for extra help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is truly not an issue - I really enjoy being a teaching assistant. I meet with small groups - really get to know my kids but have not of the planning, grading or talking to parents. And the schedule is great when you are truly done at the end of the day.

Me too. But if I was OP's age with a young family, I'd think about getting certified as a reading specialist. You can make a lot of money tutoring dyslexic kids and kids who need reading support, either during the school day as an independent contractor or part time school employee, or tutor on your own.

It can be hard to get those rules in public schools without teaching experience, though I do agree, they are decent jobs