Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with teacher

Traditional or Alternative Teaching Certification?

odayoday — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:37:59 -0800

I'm seriously considering becoming a teacher, and am not sure if I should pursue traditional or alternative certification. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's done either, and what the pros and cons were for you. I have an English degree and worked as a teacher's assistant in preschools for several years through and after college. I know I love kids, and I THINK I would like teaching, but I'm not completely sure I want to leave my fairly comfortable, well-paying, but passionless job to risk it. If I do decide to become a teacher, I want to make sure that I'm well-prepared enough to deal with everything that it will entail, but I'd also prefer not to waste time and accumulate debt in a traditional program if it's not completely necessary. So, what do you think? Any anecdotes and advice would be much appreciated!

Breaking into Performance Art

divabat — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:45:01 -0800

How do I get into performance art? I've seen this video series and read some links, and find the concept of performance art interesting. However, I'm finding it hard to get more resources and help on breaking into performance art.

Whenever I try asking people about it, they think I'm asking about performing arts and start referring me to theatres and choirs. (Google does the exact same thing.) Trying to describe performance art is tricky too - "well, they do weird stuff. In all sorts of styles. And it has a concept."

I have plenty of ideas for potential performance art, but I don't know how to start putting them together. I'm worried about seeming wanky or pretentious, when really all I want to do is express myself in a mixture of mediums. (A large part of this involves creating a persona, which is also another hard subject to Google - I keep getting stuff about MPD or superheroes.)

How do I find a teacher to guide me? What resources are out there and how do I find them (without getting stuck into the Performing Arts section)? How can I develop myself and my art? How do I get my ideas out of my head and onto...well, whatever my stage happens to be?

How do I become a teacher?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:13:49 -0800

I have several general (and some specific) questions about teaching high school in the U.S. My situation: I graduated university in the U.S. in the early 90s with a degree in English, with a minor in German. I worked in customer service/tech-ish jobs out of college, and since 2002, I've been living and working in Japan teaching English. I've taught at private schools, mostly teaching adults, and for the past 3 years I've been teaching English at a few rather exclusive Tokyo high schools.

I'm planning on moving back to the United States and teaching at a high school, but there are some (probably painfully ignorant) questions I have:

1) Do I need to get a Masters in Education or Teaching Certification to be qualified to teach at a high school in the U.S.? Are they the same thing? Is it possible to be hired without a Teaching Certification? Where/how is a good route to get a T.C.?

2) I have eclectic interests and would feel comfortable teaching a number of subjects--English literature, history, languages such as German and Japanese. Do some schools "take a chance" on a new teacher teaching a subject that he/she is knowledgeable of, but one that doesn't necessarily show up on resumes or college transcripts? Do some schools allow teachers to teach more than one subject, a sort of switch-hitter?

3) I would like to move to a nice area of the country, perhaps Washington State, and probably the West Coast. What state has a good reputation for progressive schools, competitive teacher salaries, etc.?

I know it seems weird this is anonymous, but there's a good reason for it I won't bore you with--prying eyes, and all that. I've set up a throwaway email at teacherinwaiting@gmail.com for those generous enough to ask followup questions and comments. Thanks to all in advance.

Back to the Sooner State

Edelweiss — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:42:04 -0800

What should a Florida teacher know about buying a home (i.e., getting a mortgage) in Oklahoma? I'm just about to finish my first year of teaching in Florida, after which my husband and I are moving to Oklahoma, where I'm originally from. We'll be crashing with my mother for a couple of months until we find a home to buy. My questions are:

1. Do I need to secure a teaching position in OK before I can start looking for a house to buy, or will mortgage lenders rely on my prior proof of income (FL paycheck stubs)?

2. What else do I need to know about this whole process? Any general advice about making this move?

Looking for replies from those who changed careers to enter public education.

4ster — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:21:42 -0800

For a friend: If you have ever changed careers to become a public school teacher, I would love to hear your story, especially if you were already at the "married with children" stage of life when you made the switch. Are you happy with your choice? Do/did you regret it? What happened that you didn't expect? What was it like. Answers to any of or all of those questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, as always.

Budding New York City Math Teacher - what's the best course?

pammo — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:15:14 -0800

Life after high school? How to decide? My son who is a senior in high school is trying to decide what to do next year. Here's what he knows: he's gay, he wants to live in NYC, and he wants to be a math teacher when he grows up. For now though he doesn't have an idea of what grade level he's interested in teaching.

He has two choices, each of which presents an opportunity to dive right in:

The first is CityYear. This is a year of paid work with elementary school kids in NYC schools, after which he'd go on to college to pursue his career.

Another possibility is enrolling in The Teacher Academy at Hunter College. This looks to be a pretty rigorous but satisfying program, focused on preparing middle & high school math & science teachers.

Anyone out there have any experience with these programs? Help my son make a decision!

Would it work to RE-learn Piano AND learn Violin?

DetonatedManiac — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:39:42 -0800

Given that I have a somewhat substantial history playing the piano, how difficult would it be to take up lessons for the piano again after years out of practice AND start, for the first time, lessons on the Violin? How beneficial would such "cross training" be? How difficult would it be to find a teacher who could guide me on such a hybrid path? Other Thoughts? I have to say, from the start, that though I played for more than a decade, I never considered myself all that musical, so forgive me if any of this sounds overly simplistic.

I played the piano from when I was 5 or 6 up until I was 18... however I had many teachers and ended up with a quasi "Suzuki" method, never really learning to sight read or any theory. Also I quit for varying lengths of time due to power struggles with the parents.

It has been 5 years without seriously touching the keyboard and aside from the key movements of one or two of my favorite songs, I feel I have retained nothing from years of practice.

I kinda feel like if I take up a new instrument along with resuming piano practice it may allow me to practice the fundamentals of sight reading and theory on the violin while still playing the more impressive pieces I used to on the piano. Additionally I always loved the sound and sight of a violin, in all its forms.

Is this dual approach misguided or too simplistic? Does it have any merits? Are Piano and Violin theory and sheet music similar enough that this cross pollination would work or are they like oil and water?

Also, what should I do for a teacher (or teachers)? Two separate teachers or just one?

Hot for teacher

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:59:21 -0800

I'm attracted to one of my university instructors (and we're approximately the same age, in case it matters). Is there an appropriate way to ask her out? Here are some details: I'm an older student, having returned to school to finish my degree. She's a teaching assistant. We're both in our late-20s to early-30s. We've had long, friendly conversations during her office hours, but mostly about academic topics with the occasional digression. She has spoken highly of my work, and always laughs at my jokes (or pretends to, anyway).

The problem is that the student-teacher relationship makes me feel a bit inhibited; I don't banter nearly as much as I otherwise would, let alone flirt. I'm afraid to be more overt about my interest, because I don't want to put her in an awkward position. (I don't believe she has sent any signals to me, though I'm sort of oblivious to begin with -- and the extra inhibition here doesn't help.)

So, is there an appropriate way for me to express my interest? Or am I making too big a deal out of this? Thanks in advance.

To Stand and Deliver in Massachusetts?

MasonDixon — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:20:57 -0800

What does the hivemind know about teacher licensure in MA? I took an MTEL practice test and it seemed quite doable. Any experience with the Boston Teacher Residency Program? Teaching in the Boston Public School System Generally?

How hard to become adjunct teacher of philosophy?

Malad — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:23:05 -0800

My formal educational background/profession is in a different area, but I would be interested in teaching a seminar on spirituality, comparative religion, and philosophy at a university. I've studied these areas informally. Anyway, I want it to be mostly a participatory, discussion-oriented class, not one where I pass down my knowledge from on high. How hard would this be to do and how should I go about doing it -- esp. at a well-known university like, say, NYU? I don't need much if any compensation.

How to inspire teenage graduates in 25 words or less?

Elmore — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:10:30 -0800

Asking for a friend: I'm looking for a short story/anecdote/or whatever that encapsulates the teacher/student relationship. A sentence, short story, poem, song or novel where the point is that education doesn't end at graduation and that teachers - in their infinite adult wisdom - will always have something to learn from their students.

Anyone can play guitar

ludwig_van — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:05:35 -0800

Advice and resources for a guitar teacher? I've recently taken a new job at a music store/school where I teach 55 students a week for half an hour each. I have students as young as 8 and some in their fifties. Most of them are 12-16. They range from brand new musicians to a few that have played for a couple years. My place of work is a fairly traditional music school that offers guitar, vocal, piano, drums, and woodwind lessons.

I've played guitar for about 7 years and I went to school for composition, so I tend to focus more on theory than technique, although I have a decent array of chops-builders. I usually start students off with Hal Leonard's Guitar Method for reading. I try to spend half the lesson working on reading/theory/exercises and half working on music of the student's choice, if they have any.

I'm interested in any web resources for guitar teachers (good exercises or etudes in particular) as well as any general advice on how to be an effective guitar teacher. I have a couple of specific issues as well:

1) A few of my students are bassists. I usually work with them on scales and arpeggios and rhythm exercises and reading, but I've never owned a bass and don't have any bass technique to speak of. Is there a particular approach I should take with them, or a book I should pick up that will help?

2) I took over this schedule from another teacher who left. I get the impression that his lessons were very unstructured, and it doesn't seem to me that his students were learning much, but they seem to have liked him. I'm having a tough time transitioning with some of them. Some of the ones that have been playing for 2 years+ have decent technique, although most are lacking in theory, chord vocabulary, and reading. However, some seem resistant to learning these things, but are also unwilling/unable to tell me what they do want to learn or what exactly they were working on with their old teacher. Any ideas on how to approach this?

Moneyed career for teaching sort?

shivohum — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:34:40 -0800

If you loved the activity of teaching -- both individual tutoring and lecturing -- and had a law degree from a prestigious law school, are there any jobs you could get (other than law professor) that would pay a lot of money and give a decent amount of free time? Suppose you weren't idealistic and didn't care what you taught or to whom...

Buy & Learn Guitar

BeaverTerror — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:15:51 -0800

I've decided to start taking guitar lessons. Where should I buy my guitar? Know any good instructors? I'm in San Francisco. I don't know much about guitars, and I'm looking for a guitar store in San Francisco with a knowledgeable staff that actually cares, instead of just trying to make sales.

I'm buying a classical guitar.

I'm also looking for a good, non-expensive guitar instructor with experience in the classical and folk genres. I work normal hours so I'm looking for evening and weekend classes.

Please give me your recommendations.

I live at Civic Center, and I get around on a bike, so location is important.

What to get for a new teacher?

Blazecock Pileon — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:01:41 -0800

Gifts for soon-to-be teachers? I have a brother who will be an elementary school teacher (some day soon, probably later this year). What gifts are good for new teachers, that aren't hideously expensive (i.e. no laptop suggestions, thanks).

Gift for teacher moving to Japan?

pammo — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:58:02 -0800

What is a good gift for someone who will be moving to Japan for four months? My 13 year old son's favorite teacher is leaving for a semester in Japan. We'd like to give him a unique yet inexpensive gift that he will appreciate having use of while he's there.

Other details: he's in his late 20's/early 30's, teaches social studies, and is in law school. He's gone out of his way to be there for my son.

Thanks!

Educational Computer sites for kids?

mcarthey — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:30:41 -0800

I'm looking for great educational computer sites for kids. There are hundreds and hundreds of sites out there for kids that are based in education, but they all seem to be very similar. They contain homework help or are just collections of links. Also, they rarely contain information on computers (for a computer teacher/curriculum). As an example of the kinds of interaction I am looking for, I enjoy http://www.brainpop.com and http://www.molecularium.com/kidsite.html. I would like the site to be targeted towards grades 6-8 and, if possible, teach anything from computer concepts to programming. Bonus points if it is presented as a sort of game.

help me help this girl pass writing!

pinksoftsoap — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:41:14 -0800

I will be tutoring my friend in writing skills. I am not a teacher. HELP PLEASE I have a friend in college who has terrible writing skills. This includes all basic skills including spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. (The other day she asked me how to spell 'choke.' Today she asked me if we could go over the ed's and s's.) She has failed her ACT writing exam at least 4 times. I bought a grammar workbook to help her with but the task seems daunting. I assume I will have to go over subject-verb agreement and all that stuff I've forgotten since grade school. Does anyone have any advice? I plan on making her write a LOT during our sessions.

Van Morrison sample

dooabledawg — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 05:14:07 -0800

Calling all Van Morrison fanatics. I'm trying to identify a sample of music used at the end song "A town called Paradise" on the album "No guru, no method, no teacher". I can't upload the music here (don't know how) but the sample appears 5 minutes and 18 seconds into the song. It's driving me mad cos I heard the piece before, many years ago and I can't place it. I think it's a classical piece and was used in an epic western film like "The magnificent seven" or something like that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Great resources for dealing with lethargic innercity kids?

shivohum — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:22:28 -0800

I have a friend who is an excellent but fairly new (2 years experience) teacher now teaching 1st-graders in a poor inner-city school. She finds that they are lethargic, often barely able to keep awake, and hardly respond to her. Are there any great books/articles she should be reading? For example, if she asks them to sit on the rug at the count of three, perhaps one or two might respond. The rest just sit there, as if she hadn't said anything at all. They mainly interact with each other by pushing and pulling. They basically are developmentally way behind where they should be, even though she doesn't think there's anything per se wrong with their brains (she thinks their parents have basically parked them in front of TVs all their little lives).

So, my question is whether there might be a resource for dealing with this kind of extremely unresponsive and difficult young pupil. Any great articles or must-read books? Any clearinghouse or discussion forum of which this friend should be aware?

What is a good "art cheer" for a K-6 art teacher's classroom?

sciurus — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:02:05 -0800

What is a good "art cheer" for a K-6 art teacher's classroom? My friend is a brand new K-6 art teacher. She's trying to come up with a good art cheer/chant/motivational thing as a part of getting her kids into the art-making mode. I figured querying the hive mind for a bit of creativity might help her out. Thanks, yo.

Innovation in distance education

b33j — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:19:06 -0800

What methods, software, stuff will create an exciting and cutting edge distanced education program? I am part of a team that is converting an internal graduate diploma to external mode. This program turns graduates from different areas into teachers in one year (two semesters). It does have practicum in schools. The university requires the use of Blackboard.

The academics in charge of this program want an innovative distance education program but they don't know what it looks like. They're thinking mabye podcasts, maybe streaming video, maybe teleconferences. I'd like to bring them a kick-arse list of ideas from people who know technology.

If you were going to teach “teaching” externally, what things would you like to do? What are some limits (eg students on dialup, accessability issues)? As a student, what did you hate the most with your distance ed course that should be avoided at all costs? What was on your wish list?

Bonus points for tying the technology to a purpose eg "Encourage students to share lesson plans via a diploma-wide wiki"

Yes I would also love links to organisations who are modelling best practices, to product sites, to articles. I am still looking myself, but I'm finding hard to narrow down the search criteria to get useful resources.

teaching in the US

dhruva — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:57:28 -0800

What is it like to be a high school teacher in the U.S.? My mom is going to South Carolina on a teaching gig for a year. She's never been to the US (she's Indian) and she's going to teach maths. What advice would you give her, especially about classroom control? Any other tips and tricks or anecdotes are welcome. Thanks. (She's going to be in Williamsburg, if that helps)

Geology-related gifts for new middle school teacher

mckenney — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:40:50 -0800

Geology-type gifts for a middle school Earth Sciences teacher? My best friend just started teaching Earth Sciences. It is super awesome, and I am going out to visit her later this month. I wanted to get her a birthday gift that was very cool and geology-ish, but all I can think of is geodes, and that is kind of lame. What really awesome things are there out there that someone teaching Earth Sciences would like?

I saw this question already, but I don't want to get her something so much "teachy", but more "sciencey". Also, she is not my girlfriend, so backrubs and massage oils are out of the question.

Evaluating Potential Piano Pedagogues

phrontist — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:49:15 -0800

I've resolved to start private piano lessons this coming fall semester, and want to know how to evaluate (and what questions to ask of) potential piano teachers. My musical training is limited to clarinet lessons from grades 4 through 8, so I'm essentially a complete beginner. I have a general understanding of musical notation, though the ability to read it with any fluency has long left me.

I attend a big university that has a fairly large music department. I have access to practice rooms with pianos every day of the week.

I've already responded (just a basic inquiry to see if he's still interested) to a month-old ad on craigslist from a recent graduate of my school's music department (piano performance major, also attended the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts).

What is a reasonable price for a weekly lesson (I'm assuming hour long lessons or so each week...)? This particular fellow is charging $30 an hour, which is generally cheaper than what I've seen other (generally older) teachers charging in the area (usually more like $50 and hour). That seems reasonable to me - but perhaps I should be wary of a new teacher. Then again, all teachers have to start somewhere, right?

So what do I ask him and other potential teachers? What qualities are generally desirable in a piano teacher?