To moms who are teachers- does working (day to day hours) fit well with your kids schedule (at K+)?

[Anonymous]

I am considering teaching (I know- I need some classes certification etc.) but wondered from moms who are teachers:

how well does the day to day schedule work? I imagine summer works really well- but for day to day- when your child is from k+ - dropping off and picking up- can you still do all of this? or is it a struggle?

thanks so much...

[Anonymous]

You would need some after- and/or before- school care, especially if your kid is in another school. (There may be reasons why the school that employs you isn't the right place for your own kids.) First of all, teachers arrive well before students, and second, there's a lot of preparation that needs doing and frequent meetings both in the mornings and afternoons. Some still find they are able to find a comfortable balance. I didn't, and the experienced teachers I admired most continued to dedicate many hours outside of school. Incidentally, many of them were childless.

[Anonymous]

Its not an easy fit day to day. I am at school by 7:30 and on some days stay until 5 for required meetings etc. My child's school has after school care on a drop in basis so that is not an issue for us. Hubby drops her off at school in the AM. The huge plus is having similar vacation time and summers off.

[Anonymous]

OP, I may sound harsh, but here I go:

If you are simply looking at hours as being "family friendly," rethink your decision. I know that I'll be flamed for playing the victim, but I don't care, as my experiences speak for themselves.

Teacher's hours are terrible. Those who tell you that they can leave at 2 or 3 are - from my experiences - not the best teachers. Typically, many dedicated teachers put in many hours at home planning and/or grading. Sure - you can definitely recycle ideas from one year to the next, but unless you learn to adapt lessons to fit the needs of each new group (which may even vary from class to class even if students are at the same "level"), you're not going to be effective.

I've worn many hats in this profession - from classroom teacher, to staff developer, to team leader - and those who are phenomenal teachers don't look at it as a job; it's basically a calling. And to echo the PP's statement (" . . . the experienced teachers I admired most continued to dedicate many hours outside of school. Incidentally, many of them were childless."), it is indeed much easier for teachers to be successful if they don't have young ones at home. Try grading 30 papers with a 2 year old running around. You won't be able to concentrate.

Furthermore, you can't simply call in sick. Think about sub plans that you have to write. And if your sub doesn't show up (happens more often than you think), your colleagues end up covering for you, which often causes friction.

And if there's a code red (high alert), you're stuck with students all day long. You can't tell your supervisor that you have to leave b/c you're worried about your own children. You are, by law, the parent when you're working in a school.

Now, how much you work "overtime" depends on your area of specialty, too. So look around before you jump into either elementary or secondary education or any specialty area. (Keep in mind that electives are also the first to go b/c of NCLB. So those jobs are not safe.) I'd shadow some teachers, too, as this job is a lot harder than it looks on paper. One young teacher candidate, after shadowing me one day, decided to change her major.

So don't be hasty in making a decision.

[Anonymous]

The first three years of teaching are NOT family friendly at all IMO.

After you get some experience under your belt, teaching can work well with your children's schedules. However, it really helps to have a spouse on a different shift, and even maybe for you to be teaching high school with early hours, while kids are in elementary with later hours. So say you go in at 7 to high school and get off at 2:30; and spouse gets kids off to school bus to a late starting school at 8:15. Even so you would really need some regular backup care, esp. if your kids' school is closed but yours isn't, or for days when you need to work late. But presumably you'd have days you need to work late at many jobs.

[Anonymous]

But you dont need to do class plans and grading if you teach Pre-K or K, right? So are the hours better if u teach the little ones?
Also, do you need a masters to teach Pre-k or K in private schools? What certification do you need?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But you dont need to do class plans and grading if you teach Pre-K or K, right? So are the hours better if u teach the little ones?
Also, do you need a masters to teach Pre-k or K in private schools? What certification do you need?

I was the first respondent. My own students were always at least a little older, and pre-K has only been part of elementary school for a short time, so I'll mostly speak to K. Even I can tell you that you do need to do class plans, and these have to be thoughtfully paced and constructed to address learning standards, be differentiated according the the varied levels in the class, and keep little kids attentive. There's always going to be some kind of assessment that needs to happen on a day-to-day basis, and Kindergarten is famous for its many "entering the system" tests. Also, primary grade teachers have to spend a lot of time preparing materials, and these need to be at hand, ready to go when it's showtime, because little kids won't wait patiently. Sure, some teachers prepare less and wing it more. But there's a list of objectives that need to be accomplished, sometimes according to strict timelines, and strong teachers maximize students' time on task. You also shouldn't assume there will be much time to prepare during the school day. If you have an aid, there may be some, and also some help with the work, but when you have students in the classroom, you should be observing and interacting with them. (That goes for all ages, actually.) At that age, they're not likely to work very independently, anyway.

As I mentioned earlier, experience streamlines the basic process, but the best teachers use that extra time to innovate. I wasn't prepared to give so much once I had my own family, so I left the business rather than coast where I could get away with it.

Now I'll risk upsetting some teachers! There are a number of avenues to certification. You'll have to look at the options wherever you want to teach. I think that in this area, certification programs are typically degree programs of one kind or another. Presumably, you already have at least an undergraduate degree. For those who don't yet, it is my opinion that they should get themselves a solid liberal arts education, then do ed. work at the graduate level. I don't think elementary ed. undergrad. programs turn out very well-educated people! They may have good teaching methods in their pockets, but certainly by the upper grades, their own limited subject knowledge sometimes shows! I once watched a colleague giving a geography lesson on California. She explained that the Gold Rush happened in the Klondike, which is not far from San Francisco. You can see the Northern Lights from there, and people use dogsleds because there's so much snow where it's really cold up near Tahoe and stuff...

[Anonymous]

OP here- thank you everyone - I was curious more of high school (vs some other poster asking about K).. I am just thinking forward on whether staying with a higher paying job but moving to p/t is better (if i can get it) or consider teaching.. I did wonder about the day to day being hard just like anyone else working .. I'd actually prefer administration but that's even more hours..

thanks again for the real scoop!

[Anonymous]

The first 5 years are HELL and will be 50hrs a week. The only teachers who have it easy are the ones who have years under their belt teaching them same grade and THEN start a family and be able to work reduced hours. This is why most teachers don't make is past 5 years, the stats are pretty humbling.

A best case scenario is to start teaching at age 24, and then start a family 10 years later if you want a more family friendly schedule.

If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first 5 years are HELL and will be 50hrs a week. The only teachers who have it easy are the ones who have years under their belt teaching them same grade and THEN start a family and be able to work reduced hours. This is why most teachers don't make is past 5 years, the stats are pretty humbling.

A best case scenario is to start teaching at age 24, and then start a family 10 years later if you want a more family friendly schedule.

If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

[Anonymous]

I agree with that last poster. I started teaching high school right out of college at age 22. When I had my daughter, I was going on 29. I had been teaching seven years. I put in LONG days...LONG, LONG, LONG days, think 11-12 hours days, prior to her birth. After she came, I did cut back, but I had years of experience under my belt. So, I would say that teaching works out well for me, in regards to raising my daughter. I don't know that I would have the same answer if I decided to switch careers in order to spend more time with her.

Really, not to sound all Polly Anny or anything, but you really shouldn't become a teacher because you want your summers off, or you like the hours. Those are great perks to the job...but, teaching is tough. You don't have ANY down time. From the minute I walk in the school, till the time I leave, I have kids with me. Kids before class, kids at lunch, kids after school. Then, I come home to another one who needs just as much of my attention That doesn't count the parents, and the politics of the district you teach in...I love it, and I couldn't be anywhere else, but it is not a cake walk. My Sister was going to become a teacher right before her first was born. She lasted one semester when she had to intern I would advise that you try to observe at whatever grade level you think you would like to teach. Talk to teachers, ask them what sort of things they do. Many of the procedures you will see in place took that teacher years to develop and perfect.

Finally, GOOD LUCK. Teaching really is a TON of fun, I love how fast each day passes at work, and I get to LAUGH all the time...plus, I am the boss of tons of people, even if they are minors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first 5 years are HELL and will be 50hrs a week. The only teachers who have it easy are the ones who have years under their belt teaching them same grade and THEN start a family and be able to work reduced hours. This is why most teachers don't make is past 5 years, the stats are pretty humbling.

A best case scenario is to start teaching at age 24, and then start a family 10 years later if you want a more family friendly schedule.

If you want to be a teacher because you have a fantacy that it is a part-time job, please spare our children. We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

Thanks- but I'm not a housewife and have a 6 figure paying p/t job from home (but am facing I need to accept a f/t offer or lose my p/t job).. I am completely dedicated to my job and my family (not in that order).. I'd give up the $ to make our vacations work- but I would in no way compromise my work ethic.. if I felt I gave 1/2 I wouldn't do it.. as a mom I';d hope other current and potential teachers would do the same..

[Anonymous]

OP here- PP follow-up- I do think I'd prefer the admin part rather than teaching though learn about it through teaching itself- I did talk to a superintendant who was an alumnus from my grad school 3 years ago - so i've considered this for a while.. just not sure and i wouldn't jump in for the wrong reasons..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- PP follow-up- I do think I'd prefer the admin part rather than teaching though learn about it through teaching itself- I did talk to a superintendant who was an alumnus from my grad school 3 years ago - so i've considered this for a while.. just not sure and i wouldn't jump in for the wrong reasons..

Yes, it is important for administrators to have some teaching experience. I wonder, though, what kind of work you're interested in doing. Principals need to work their tails off! Teachers, parents, and school district officials drop the buck squarely on their desks. For the most part, they put in long days and don't take much in the way of vacations even when school is not in session- there's still lots to do! If you're interested in working at the district level, you're talking mostly year-round office schedules there, too. I can't imagine you would see much schedule benefit.

[Anonymous]

We need good teachers who love to teach, not housewives looking to fill their days.

New poster here -- I think the comment above is unnecessarily combative. I am currently a SAHM, former lawyer, Ivy league grad, currently getting my graduate degree in education. I am looking for a job in education because staying at home has allowed me to teach as a substitute, at Sunday School, and in several part-time positions, and I've realized that I love it.

I don't see why educators can't do more job-sharing. It's a fact that many of those people who love to teach also love to be at home with their children. I am willing to work very hard at being a teacher, but I will not sacrifice being at home when my kids are at home.

There is an enormous pool of motivated, well-educated stay-at-home parents who would love to use our skills to improve schools and teach and motivate kids, if we could work when our own kids are in school. It is ridiculous that our current educational system cannot come up with a way to tap this talent.