billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Feb 4, 2018 16:45:48 GMT -5
... nothing wrong with considering options........ Not to mention it gave us something to talk about other than ... hmmmm ... the lead suit in a game of pinochle.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Feb 4, 2018 16:50:48 GMT -5
There's also something very exciting and invigorating about starting a new career later in life.
I have been teaching (second career) for 8 years. I can retire in 4 years. I know I will never be as bored with teaching as I was in my first career, if only because I will have done it for half the time. (I was a print journalist for 24 years, and I can retire after 12 years of teaching.)
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Feb 4, 2018 17:12:26 GMT -5
You felt "alive" doing it on a part time basis. When it's your full time job and you are not in total control of the curriculum and other things, maybe you will find the same stressors as any other job. I am not sure why people nowadays think that just because they like something that it then has to become their career. I mean, you can do whatever you choose, but have your eyes wide open. Earning less money and then have the issues of full time job, the office politics of that particular position, the issues of students, etc, isn't all charm.
It wasn't really a part time basis. It was a 2 week class that I taught like 2 weeks "on" (teaching), 2 weeks "off" (update lesson plans, catch up on mandatory training, other assorted extra duties my boss gave me, etc.), 2 weeks "on", 2 weeks "off", rinse, wash, repeat.....But I take your point. I probably will end up staying in current job, but nothing wrong with considering options........
You should do whatever you believe is right for your life, regardless of what any of us here think. We don't know you or your situation so of course we are not in any position to advise you other than generally. But, it is all food for thought so maybe that will help you with your decision.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 4, 2018 22:00:56 GMT -5
Something else to think about for anyone considering this type of move: Will someone want to hire you for a position usually filled by a much younger person? I made a comment to my principal during my first year of full time teaching about how I could handle a parent meeting independently because he hadn't hired a 23 year old. He grumbled back something about having hired a 30 something first year teacher. I guess it depends on the field. But I can tell from personal experience that a career change in your mid-forties is not easy to achieve. I tried last year and failed. I think many employers cannot look past the age difference between one applicant and the rest. At mid-forties, they expect the candidate to have years of experience under their belt, not someone who's looking for an entry-level position. I think most of them find it off-putting.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Feb 5, 2018 14:52:49 GMT -5
I guess it depends on the field.
I agree Ava , I don't think it's easy to find a second career in your 40s or 50s. But both business schools I work for are very happy to hire teachers who have had a previous (relevant) career. There is even a program here to get "second career" starters into the public education system (MS/HS), and another program for public PS. As I said working in the public MS and PS did NOT work out for me, but there was a man at the MS working as a long-term math sub. It went so well for him that he was looking into getting certified through this program. But I agree, teaching (especially being an adjunct) may be the exception to the rule. Also, here in France, even adjuncts get benefits and retirement, so there's that too.
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Ryan
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Post by Ryan on Feb 5, 2018 15:44:04 GMT -5
At 47, I wouldn't recommend it. For one, it's probably going to be hard for you to get a job and it's not even a knock on your age. People with experience will have an edge over you and, really, even recent college grads will as well because they would have just done a bunch of applicable training.
My wife is a teacher and she loves it, but teaching has changed a lot since she started. In the past, you basically could veer off the curriculum to teach some cool lessons or projects. Now with all the testing, it's much more difficult to do that. So she still loves working with the kids, but you have to put your head down and make sure you work through the material.
I personally think it would be a little more liberating and freeing just to volunteer mentoring or tutoring kids.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2018 19:00:33 GMT -5
Rob Base 2.0, this one's for you. A student starts laughing as we are discussing Macbeth today. Since there is absolutely nothing funny in a tragedy where almost everyone ends up dead, she obviously wasn't listening to me. No, she was on her cell phone. I asked her politely to put it away. She rolled her eyes and then said, "You mean this cell phone, the one I pay for and you don't?" That's the one. I mentioned she might not want to talk to me like that, and she did put it away. I called her mom and discussed the issue of disrespect as well as its consequences. Her mom was extremely supportive. All is well although she might pout a few days when she goes to Saturday School. She's actually not a "bad" kid. I can honestly say I am fairly fond of her. I think she has a lot of potential. But she is a little mouthy. So when you feel you can handle that as calmly as I did, you are ready to become a teacher.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Feb 5, 2018 19:51:43 GMT -5
@bamafan1954 You handled the situation great!
My nephew, in his 2nd year of teaching at the residential behavioral school, told me last weekend of how one of his students was refusing to work on her assignment so he started singing the Flintstones song--over and over. He said peer pressure took over because the other students were sick of hearing him sing.
This is only the second year the school has had their own teachers. They used to take the students to the local public school. It's a quick burnout job dealing with only difficult students.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Feb 6, 2018 16:48:53 GMT -5
Thanks all. Part of it is me not being happy at current job. Things have happened recently at the job where I am not having much confidence in my abilities at the current job and thus considering other things. Also I only have to hold out a few more years if all goes well (fingers crossed).
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