Just finished my A levels and going to uni next year to do maths (with comp sci). Wondered if people could please post some "pros" and "cons" for being a teacher. In particular I am looking to be a maths teacher.
I've been looking around and found that the first year of teaching is £20,133. I wouldn't say this is brilliant especially as there are loadsa comp sci jobs people could go into and earn way way more. Howveer I also found you get this thing called the golden hellow where they give you some money to get you started and pay off some loans (£5000 for maths isn't it?). It's good don't get me wrong but with maybe 5 years studying my overall loan will be way more than £5000 and wondered if there are any other benefits around. Is it even worth going into teaching straight after uni?
On this download i found:
M1 £20,133
M2 £21,726
M3 £23,472
M4 £25,278
M5 £27,270
M6 £29,427
this was described as the "Main Pay Scale" for teachers. does anyone happens to know how quickly you move "up" the levels and even to the Upper Pay Scale too?
I just finished 2 weeks at a primary school, and at the end of it I have to say, that at some points I was getting extremely bored.
Even the teachers noticed, and my final report came back from them and said that I had a tendency to look bored and tired during lessons! (story time was the worst )
But it was actually really good fun working with the kids and talking with them, and really satisfying knowing you've helped them learn and helped them work something out
To be honest, dont complain about the golden hello, at least you get it. Other professions dont. So £5000 to pay off some debts is pretty darn good by my standards. It shouldnt really be about the money, it should be doing something you love, and passing your knowledge and passion down.
As far as pay is concerned, it will be higher by the time you get into the profession (though if you'd be any better off in real term is debatable, and the reason for the recent strikes).
Also consider teaching in London, where starting salaries are much closer to £25k. You don't necessarily start on M1 either, and I'm sure you can negotiate a higher starting point if you can show you're bringing something 'extra' to your school.
It shouldnt really be about the money, it should be doing something you love, and passing your knowledge and passion down.[/quote]
i definatly agree. teaching shouldnt be about money it should be about inspiring young minds. However thats not to say that the pay isnt fair by any means, but I think if you go into the proffesion with the understanding that its not well paid, anything over and above what you are getting is going to be a bonus really isnt it?
why not do work experience in all levels of schools and by the time you finish your degree you will have a better idea if you still wish to pursue this career.
One of the careers I'm seriously considering is secondary school (German) teaching, so I'll be interested with what people say!
Me too if i didn't have to be a lawyer. I have loved working in my scchool just helping out. I learnt so much and if you get kids to respect you it feels great and its a big acheivemnt for a sixteen year old lol
Teaching is all about passing on your knowledge after all someone did it for you. They allow performers to be the best they can. So its very un selfish
Pros:
Rewarding job
Get to share your enthusiasm for the subject with others
Well respected
Brilliant holidays - ideal if you plan on having kids
Cons:
Most of the kids won't like the subject/won't want to be there (if you work at my school anyway lol)
Have to put up with rowdy classes
Have to mark coursework and homework
Some kids may be aggressive
You have to put up with the kid's parent(s) at parent's evenings
Last edited by steffi.alexa : 12-07-2008 at 18:53.
I just finished 2 weeks at a primary school, and at the end of it I have to say, that at some points I was getting extremely bored.
Even the teachers noticed, and my final report came back from them and said that I had a tendency to look bored and tired during lessons! (story time was the worst )
But it was actually really good fun working with the kids and talking with them, and really satisfying knowing you've helped them learn and helped them work something out
Pros: Working with children
Cons: Working with children
Seriously though, from talks with my own tutors the great benefits are the huge summer holidays. Big cons are the 12 hour days that no one sees, children assume you roll in at 8 and go home at 4.
One of the careers I'm seriously considering is secondary school (German) teaching, so I'll be interested with what people say!
Yes me too, i'm *hopefully* going to go into primary teaching if i gain right grades to go to Uni.
I've applied for loans etc for uni. Course is like £3,175 a year. Course lasts 4 years. 4 X 3,175 = a whole lot of money. But you don't pay these loans back until your earning over £15 k a year. And even then you pay a bit each week/month depending on your income. So don't let the money ideap ut you off. If teaching is seriously something you want to do, go for it.
Originally Posted by ArchedEdge
I just finished 2 weeks at a primary school, and at the end of it I have to say, that at some points I was getting extremely bored.
Even the teachers noticed, and my final report came back from them and said that I had a tendency to look bored and tired during lessons! (story time was the worst )
But it was actually really good fun working with the kids and talking with them, and really satisfying knowing you've helped them learn and helped them work something out
Plus you get long holidays
Yeah i did work experience for 2 weeks, i found it a good experience. Obviously at times i was like yeah i would change this if i was teaching...i got a good reference so fingers crossed. And for you too!
I just love working with children, seeing them learn, helping them achieve their goals and reach the right answer. It's really rewarding in itself.
Last edited by Miss.Naughty : 12-07-2008 at 18:56.
iv just done 4 weeks work experince at the school were my mum works and foun it so good the kids are funny and most of them wanter to learn
it was a private prep school and i was working with kids aged 7 to 13 and the older ones were the worst
however been the end of the school year it was a really good time to go as there was so many things going on
biggest pro of working with kids is that it is so rewarding
yesterday was the schools last day of term and seeing how sad many of them were to be leaving made me realise how much they really enjoy that school some of the children crying had been at other schools that they didnt like so just the fact that they were crying shows how much they like it even if some times they do act like they dont sometimes so i would say that teaching is a really good job if you thing that you want to help people as seeing them rally enjoying school is so satisfying
Yes me too, i'm *hopefully* going to go into primary teaching if i gain right grades to go to Uni.
I've applied for loans etc for uni. Course is like £3,175 a year. Course lasts 4 years. 4 X 3,175 = a whole lot of money. But you don't pay these loans back until your earning over £15 k a year. And even then you pay a bit each week/month depending on your income. So don't let the money ideap ut you off. If teaching is seriously something you want to do, go for it.
Yeah i did work experience for 2 weeks, i found it a good experience. Obviously at times i was like yeah i would change this if i was teaching...i got a good reference so fingers crossed. And for you too!
I just love working with children, seeing them learn, helping them achieve their goals and reach the right answer. It's really rewarding in itself.
What sort of work did you do?
I'm doing some work experience but... it seems mostly easy stuff. I can't get into the gritty work that stresses out teachers =\
I think the Golden Hello does apply to Maths and Physics (and it used to be for DT & ICT too, but I am not sure if it still is)
The thing about teaching is it is something you just know you want to do, obviously no-one wants to work for peanuts but I think for most teachers/student teachers the job satisfaction far outweighs most of the negatives.
For me:
PROS:
Making a difference (cheesy?)
Actually helping someone learn!
Can finish at 3.30pm if I choose!
Frequent holidays
Wall Displays! (or is that just me, lol!)
Holidays same as my daughters (when she is at school)
Having a laugh/fun with the kids
Seeing them really enjoy work you've set or something you've come up with yourself.
CONS:
Exhausting (especially in NQT year)
Frustrating sometimes when you know you've taught them something and they all stare blank faced up at you!
Headteachers- can be a pain sometimes!
Parents- sometimes can be very overprotective and scrutinise your teaching.
I'm doing some work experience but... it seems mostly easy stuff. I can't get into the gritty work that stresses out teachers =\
Yeah i think it's because they don't want to give us their jobs if you know what i mean. They just give us the small odd jobs that need doing or they need help with.
I worked in groups, or on certain tables, varies, and helped pupils with their maths or whatever they were doing. They would then ask me for help, and i could show them methods or working out the answers.
In the mornings i used to go around children, listen to them read, then write in their reading records. etc.
Basic stuff like that really. But i enjoyed it.
When i watched the class i was in and the teacher i was like, i can see myself doing this. I would love to do this, but in my own way of teaching.
Also did odd jobs like photocopying paper and making booklets etc.
But they did try and include me in what they did.
How about you?
Yeah i think it's because they don't want to give us their jobs if you know what i mean. They just give us the small odd jobs that need doing or they need help with.
I worked in groups, or on certain tables, varies, and helped pupils with their maths or whatever they were doing. They would then ask me for help, and i could show them methods or working out the answers.
In the mornings i used to go around children, listen to them read, then write in their reading records. etc.
Basic stuff like that really. But i enjoyed it.
When i watched the class i was in and the teacher i was like, i can see myself doing this. I would love to do this, but in my own way of teaching.
Also did odd jobs like photocopying paper and making booklets etc.
But they did try and include me in what they did.
How about you?
Yeah, I'd love to see what teachers really do. It's still alot of fun helping them out however
Usually I'm drifting around the classroom attending to those who raise their children or doing TA stuff like sorting out books, printing out things and mounting them on sugar paper. Otherwise I'm just sitting there observing the lessons...
1) Asking random questions during registration.
2) How they can control the class by raising their hand.
Have you had the same problem of the kids wanting to interact with you in every opportunity? When your working on their table...
Yeah, I'd love to see what teachers really do. It's still alot of fun helping them out however
Usually I'm drifting around the classroom attending to those who raise their children or doing TA stuff like sorting out books, printing out things and mounting them on sugar paper. Otherwise I'm just sitting there observing the lessons...
1) Asking random questions during registration.
2) How they can control the class by raising their hand.
Have you had the same problem of the kids wanting to interact with you in every opportunity? When your working on their table...
Yeah i did! I think some children crave interaction and attention, as long as they know that they shouldn't be unsensible about it, i think it's good that they feel confident to ask you for help! But yes, sometimes it can be a bit overbearing when you have 10 kids on one table asking you all different questions, and your trying to sort out the first question!
Yeah i generally observed lessons as well whilst not helping in groups and the children are listening to the teacher. It's interesting!
Some are so euthusiastic!
This one boy in the class in always had his hand up - despite on the occasion got answers wrong, it didn't stop him.
I do however, feel that some children are left out, especially mixed ability classes. Some children are slow at reading than others for example. This shouldn't be a problem but it is because they are the ones not understanding stuff and not gaining teachers attention.
Yeah i did! I think some children crave interaction and attention, as long as they know that they shouldn't be unsensible about it, i think it's good that they feel confident to ask you for help! But yes, sometimes it can be a bit overbearing when you have 10 kids on one table asking you all different questions, and your trying to sort out the first question!
Yeah i generally observed lessons as well whilst not helping in groups and the children are listening to the teacher. It's interesting!
Some are so euthusiastic!
This one boy in the class in always had his hand up - despite on the occasion got answers wrong, it didn't stop him.
I do however, feel that some children are left out, especially mixed ability classes. Some children are slow at reading than others for example. This shouldn't be a problem but it is because they are the ones not understanding stuff and not gaining teachers attention.
Did you find this at all?
Yep
It's fantastic interacting with them, asking questions that adults might not ask. Had any funny questions yet?
Problems I've seen so far is a small level of upsetting behaviour, and bullying carelessly. What year were you working with again? Mine were Year 4.
Yeah i did! I think some children crave interaction and attention, as long as they know that they shouldn't be unsensible about it, i think it's good that they feel confident to ask you for help! But yes, sometimes it can be a bit overbearing when you have 10 kids on one table asking you all different questions, and your trying to sort out the first question!
Yeah i generally observed lessons as well whilst not helping in groups and the children are listening to the teacher. It's interesting!
Some are so euthusiastic!
This one boy in the class in always had his hand up - despite on the occasion got answers wrong, it didn't stop him.
I do however, feel that some children are left out, especially mixed ability classes. Some children are slow at reading than others for example. This shouldn't be a problem but it is because they are the ones not understanding stuff and not gaining teachers attention.
Did you find this at all?
Haha, this one girl kept pinching and attacking me every time I started speaking to some other students...I still have the nail marks from where she pinched me really hard...and it happened on Wednesday
But in terms of mixed ability, I didn't really see much of a problem with how th e school I went to was running it. Sure there were always kids who are slightly behind, but I found that the teachers paid more attention to those ones at least. Added to that, there are also several employed teaching assistants which float around to every class, so they help the main teacher when it's needed.
Teaching careers and teaching and education course discussion.
Useful Resources:
Teaching: Pros and Cons?
Re: Teaching: Pros and Cons?
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