Introduce Yourself...

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jessica Nunez on October 21, 2009 at 11:17pm

Bonnie this was such a great idea! it will help us so much

Permalink Reply by Scott Shelhart on November 15, 2009 at 2:18pm

My name is Scott and I'm in Indiana. I am a mid-life career changer. I start my first "field experience" (60 hours) in January 2010. My two 8-week student teaching placements will start in the fall of 2010. I may be ready to make the switch to teaching in the fall of 2011, but 2012 is a more realistic goal. I am working full-time while I pursue my degree.

I've been a substitute teacher for 3 years.

I'm majoring in elementary education. I enjoy all K-6 grades, but have had the best time working with kindergarten students.

Permalink Reply by Bonnie Frampton Faust on November 15, 2009 at 4:21pm

Hi Scott!

I'm a mid-life career change as well :) I'm in NY. I started back 'tentatively' in Fall of 2008 taking 10 credits and in the Spring of 2009 I transferred to a teaching college nearby on a full-time basis. I also went through the summer so I can finish by this spring. I'm finishing the last 12 hours of my observations (we have to do 100 hours in NY) and will be placed as a student teacher in January in a middle school and March I'll start at the high school.

While I'm a secondary ed student (English), our school is predominantly elementary ed. I have a daughter in 3rd grade and I am the leader of her Girl Scout troop since she was in kindergarten. Working with the younger kids is VERY challenging, lol, my hat's off to you! I find that most teachers gravitated toward an age, not too many enjoy ALL ages.

I recently had to quit my job to finish school (my work hours were not at all flexible; i would not be able to student teach and work at all). It was a huge gamble, especially in this job market, but I'm hoping it will be worth it and I won't have too hard a time finding work (I'm hoping for a permanent substitute position or leave replacement until a permanent position opens up!).

I'm hoping the fact that I'm NOT 21 or 22 years old will make the transition from 'student' to 'student teacher' a little easier.

Have you found that your experience as a substitute has been beneficial to you? Did you decide to go into teaching after working as a substitute or did you always know you wanted to teach?

Oh, and welcome!

-bonnie

Permalink Reply by Robin Nehila on December 20, 2009 at 9:47am

hi Bonnie,
I am also a career changer with kids. The reason I decided to pursue a career in teaching was because of my experience as a Girl Scout leader!
I am finishing my student teaching this week, (very very sad to leave my kids! sniff sniff) and am hoping like you to get a leave replacement/long term sub job at least. I am middle school math and luckily I have found a few schools hiring, but haven't heard back yet.
The fact that you are older and a mom will really help you transition to teacher mode a lot faster. Good luck!!
~Robin

Permalink Reply by Jessica Nunez on November 17, 2009 at 11:26pm

Hi Scott!

I think what you are doing is great, it's never to late to change careers! Not many people would actually even take the first step to change careers.

I start student teaching next semester and am very excited to finally be able to get in front of a class and doing what i love.

I wanted to ask, how was it substituting for 3 years? If I do not get a job in the fall I was planning on going to graduate school and try to do substitute teaching until I can get a full time teaching position. This way I won;t be out of the schools for to long before i get a job

Permalink Reply by Mrs. Antoinette on November 28, 2009 at 1:05pm

Hi, my name is Antoinette Bradley and I too am a career changer in Michigan. Actually I am switching sides. I have worked in Human Resources in the training area and after working with new employees I realized they are not very well prepared when they come to the business world. As a result, I decided to go back to school five years ago for secondary education in business. After being there for about three years I decided to add an English minor. I will be student teaching in January 2010 and graduating in May. I am excited and nervous like others and hoping that my age and real world experience will help me shine as I begin looking for a job. I started substitute teaching last fall to try to get as much experience in the classroom as I can before student teaching. I work full time and like Bonnie I will have to let it go to student teach.

Permalink Reply by Bonnie Frampton Faust on November 29, 2009 at 11:17am

Antoinette, many of us here will be in the same boat! My classmates and I will be student teaching in January. Its both scary and exciting! I worked in sales/marketing for many years before taking the plunge back into school. Sounds like we have a lot in common and look forward to chatting with you more in January! Are you on twitter? I've found that to be an amazing resource as well!

Permalink Reply by Mrs. Antoinette on December 2, 2009 at 2:39am

I am looking forward to the support and any that I can give others. I am on twitter @mrsannieeducate. However, I have not gotten the hang of it yet. I have been following others and not tweeting yet. So far I am following classroom 2.0, the English companion, sue waters from edublogs and daniel pink. I don't feel like I have anything to tweet just yet. I am struggling the same way with facebook. I think the more I become familiar with the tools, the easier it will be. Any and all suggestions are appreciated in this area as well.

Permalink Reply by Kelsey J. Brown on February 14, 2013 at 11:19pm

I struggle with technology too! I've found the more you use it the more comfortable you become. 

Permalink Reply by Diane Storch on August 25, 2010 at 9:45pm

Hi! Like some of the rest of you, I am a mid-life career changer from Orlando, Fl. I went back to earn my MA in Elem Ed and just graduated this August. I am looking for a position and was lucky enough to get 3 interviews, but didn't get any of the jobs. I realize there are MANY factors in getting a teaching position and I feel really lucky to have even gotten the interviews, as I've applied for nearly 60 positions with only the three calls for interviews. So here's my plan: to become a substitute teacher and a classroom volunteer which will allow me to develop relationships with several principals. My goal is to make a good impression and build a good reputation that can result in either excellent references or an offer for a permanent teaching position.

In the in-between, I'm working on gaining more knowledge about technology. I want to integrate it, but in an effective manner where students are learning and not just for the sake of using technology. I want to be thoughtful in my selection of what type to use. I am also developing my approach to classroom management and ideas about what to teach in the first weeks of school.

I hope to gain knowledge from the experience of great teachers here on the site.

Permalink Reply by Kelsey J. Brown on February 14, 2013 at 11:18pm

Hey, all! I'm Kelsey from Manitoba, Canada. I am finishing my first degree in Music and English Education. I have three student teaching placements to go with one more year in my degree. I am trying to become more technologically savvy and aware of what is going on in education across North America. I was really excited to find this site!

If anyone out there is young-looking (I sometimes get mistaken for a student in high schools!) can you let me know how you compensated?