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Hartley
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What does teaching as a profession entails?
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4 answers
John Hand
User Experience Designer
28
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Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Hartley,
I've been a teacher in the past and my partner is a principal at an elementary school. In addition to lesson planning, teaching, testing, and grading, there are other aspects to this job which you should know about.
- Politics: there tend to be a lot of politics in school systems, so having a good grasp on understanding contextual issues and navigating through various parties' interests will be helpful.
- Adults: Students are the easy part of this job - and bring the most joy. The adults are typically the ones who cause the most problems (IE, parents, administration/district.) In an ideal world these adults should be supporting teachers, but that's not always the case.
- Documentation: Whether it's keeping track of grades, students' progress, goals and achievements, personal/professional development, or dealing with issues, documentation is key. It's not enough to have a phone conversation with someone and trust that they will follow-through with what was discussed, or that they will even come away from that meeting with the same outlook on decisions made. Every interaction should be documented in writing for legal reasons.
- Compensation: While most teachers really love what they do, they're not in it for the money. Teacher salaries have historically been low. When I was a paraprofessional, my salary was technically below the poverty line. If you would like to make decent money as a teacher, consider going for a Masters degree, or a specialty degree.
- Certifications: Each state requires teachers to be certified, which can be a lengthy process that includes taking an aptitude test and proving that you can handle the job for a certain number of hours. In addition to this step, you might consider getting additional certifications, like special Ed, gifted, or STEAM certifications to be eligible to teach those roles that are high in demand.
- Meeting students where they are at: One size does not fit all. Many students have particular learning styles, communication styles, or praise styles that work best for them, in addition to various levels of aptitude. Great teachers will meet their students where they are at and engage them in ways that motivate them and encourage them to strive for excellence. This also involves helping students understand how to bounce back when things don't go their way. While this isn't difficult to do in most cases, it can be very emotionally draining.
-Mitigating Burnout: burnout is very common among teachers, even with 2 months "off work" during the summer. Practicing self-care and taking time to recharge is super important for anyone in education.
Skills that make great teachers are things like: organization, presentation, engagement, time management, attention to detail, cross-team collaboration, quick learning, thinking on your feet, creative thinking, problem solving, etc. I don't mean for this to scare you away from teaching, but it's important to have a realistic understanding of what comes with the job. Teaching can also be very rewarding, and even fun. There are very few jobs that get 2 months off in the summer, plus vacation time and continued health benefits. I think a lot of the balance comes from finding a district, cluster, community, school, and class that is right for you. I hope this helps!
I've been a teacher in the past and my partner is a principal at an elementary school. In addition to lesson planning, teaching, testing, and grading, there are other aspects to this job which you should know about.
- Politics: there tend to be a lot of politics in school systems, so having a good grasp on understanding contextual issues and navigating through various parties' interests will be helpful.
- Adults: Students are the easy part of this job - and bring the most joy. The adults are typically the ones who cause the most problems (IE, parents, administration/district.) In an ideal world these adults should be supporting teachers, but that's not always the case.
- Documentation: Whether it's keeping track of grades, students' progress, goals and achievements, personal/professional development, or dealing with issues, documentation is key. It's not enough to have a phone conversation with someone and trust that they will follow-through with what was discussed, or that they will even come away from that meeting with the same outlook on decisions made. Every interaction should be documented in writing for legal reasons.
- Compensation: While most teachers really love what they do, they're not in it for the money. Teacher salaries have historically been low. When I was a paraprofessional, my salary was technically below the poverty line. If you would like to make decent money as a teacher, consider going for a Masters degree, or a specialty degree.
- Certifications: Each state requires teachers to be certified, which can be a lengthy process that includes taking an aptitude test and proving that you can handle the job for a certain number of hours. In addition to this step, you might consider getting additional certifications, like special Ed, gifted, or STEAM certifications to be eligible to teach those roles that are high in demand.
- Meeting students where they are at: One size does not fit all. Many students have particular learning styles, communication styles, or praise styles that work best for them, in addition to various levels of aptitude. Great teachers will meet their students where they are at and engage them in ways that motivate them and encourage them to strive for excellence. This also involves helping students understand how to bounce back when things don't go their way. While this isn't difficult to do in most cases, it can be very emotionally draining.
-Mitigating Burnout: burnout is very common among teachers, even with 2 months "off work" during the summer. Practicing self-care and taking time to recharge is super important for anyone in education.
Skills that make great teachers are things like: organization, presentation, engagement, time management, attention to detail, cross-team collaboration, quick learning, thinking on your feet, creative thinking, problem solving, etc. I don't mean for this to scare you away from teaching, but it's important to have a realistic understanding of what comes with the job. Teaching can also be very rewarding, and even fun. There are very few jobs that get 2 months off in the summer, plus vacation time and continued health benefits. I think a lot of the balance comes from finding a district, cluster, community, school, and class that is right for you. I hope this helps!
charnelle saint-laurent
Observer analyst
26
Answers
Huntington Station, New York
Updated
charnelle’s Answer
Hello,
It entails knowing your subjects(Math,Science, history an English etc.)and being prepared such as having a lesson plan?ev It also has to do with having a passion to help others grow especially children. I am not a teacher but have worked along side them . Hope you found this helpful.
It entails knowing your subjects(Math,Science, history an English etc.)and being prepared such as having a lesson plan?ev It also has to do with having a passion to help others grow especially children. I am not a teacher but have worked along side them . Hope you found this helpful.
Trisha Borme
Talent Acquisition - Hiring
30
Answers
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Updated
Trisha’s Answer
I have several teachers in my family. They teach middle school to college level. It's a rewarding profession with so much opportunity to teach, help and guide students. While you can teach in a classroom you select the teaching materials and then build the curriculum/syllabus for each course. Additional you have to plan out the class and ensure you have tests/papers built into the program and then grade this work as well. Often teachers will be asked to take on additional work like playground duty or guiding students with advanced level work. You plan office hours each week for students to come to you and clarify their learning or ask advice regarding the class. I hope this helps. Trisha
Aman Kumar
Software engineer
161
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
Aman’s Answer
Teaching as a profession involves a range of responsibilities and skills that go beyond simply presenting information. Here’s a closer look at what it entails:
1. Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development: Teachers design lessons that engage students and meet educational standards. This requires a deep understanding of the subject and the ability to adapt content for different learning styles.
2. Classroom Management: Creating a positive, structured classroom environment is key. Teachers manage behaviors, set rules, and foster a space where students feel safe, respected, and motivated.
3. Student Assessment and Feedback: Teachers assess students' understanding through exams, projects, and informal assessments, providing feedback to support their growth.
4. Mentorship and Support: Teachers often play a mentorship role, supporting students not only academically but also emotionally and socially, helping them navigate challenges.
5. Collaboration with Colleagues and Parents: Teaching is collaborative, requiring communication with other teachers, administrators, and parents to support student learning and development.
6. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Effective teachers constantly update their skills, stay informed about educational trends, and often pursue further training or certifications.
Teaching is both challenging and rewarding, requiring patience, empathy, adaptability, and a passion for guiding students toward success.
Hope my reply helped you
1. Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development: Teachers design lessons that engage students and meet educational standards. This requires a deep understanding of the subject and the ability to adapt content for different learning styles.
2. Classroom Management: Creating a positive, structured classroom environment is key. Teachers manage behaviors, set rules, and foster a space where students feel safe, respected, and motivated.
3. Student Assessment and Feedback: Teachers assess students' understanding through exams, projects, and informal assessments, providing feedback to support their growth.
4. Mentorship and Support: Teachers often play a mentorship role, supporting students not only academically but also emotionally and socially, helping them navigate challenges.
5. Collaboration with Colleagues and Parents: Teaching is collaborative, requiring communication with other teachers, administrators, and parents to support student learning and development.
6. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Effective teachers constantly update their skills, stay informed about educational trends, and often pursue further training or certifications.
Teaching is both challenging and rewarding, requiring patience, empathy, adaptability, and a passion for guiding students toward success.
Hope my reply helped you