Becoming A Teacher Questions and Answers

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Check Applicable Question Cagetory*

	Teaching Careers
	Student Teaching
	Substitute Teaching
	Getting Teaching Jobs
	Classroom Management
	Team Building / Community
	Discipline
	Classroom Set Up
	Parent Issues
	Classroom Technology
	Special Education
	Learning Disabilities
	Teaching Strategies
	Lesson Planning
	Curriculum
	Student Testing
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How long does it take to be a teacher?
The bigger question is how long does it take to be an effective teacher?

How bad is the violence in school really?
Safety in schools and new teachers...anything to worry about?

Why be a teacher? Does federal funding matter?
Funding for school has a dual impact on education careers.

Is becoming an elementary teacher still a good career?
Why be a teacher with so many budget cuts?

How can I become a teacher without a degree?
Alternative certification programs may be available in your state

I want my resume to be creative but effective, too
How to play the resume game to win

Teacher jobs as second careers
What experience do you emphasize in your interview?

How should a student teacher admit they don't know?
How to seek answers without embarrassment

Should I use the teaching style of the regular teacher?
Choose a style carefully, but be true to yourself

How does a sub gain the respect and attention of a class?
Learn techniques for immediate student connection

Can a sub teach their own elementary-school curriculum?
Respecting the classroom teacher's planning

How can I inspire kids to read as a sub?
Guest teachers can create inspiration with a few simple steps

Should a sub handle discipline or leave it for the regular teacher?
Handling behavior issues as a guest teacher

Lessons learned from becoming a teacher Q&A
Betsy's thoughts about your next steps to success

Lessons Learned

Pre-service educators write to me asking quite a variety of questions about becoming a teacher:

Some want to know the nuts-and-bolts of resume preparation or interviewing

Some have concerns about student teaching

Some are struggling through their years as a substitute teacher

But one thread runs through all of the questions:

Uncertainty in the face of rapidly-changing
state and federal requirements

This question is just under the surface of much of the communication about becoming a teacher:

"Will the profession for which I'm studying even exist in a recognizable form in a decade?"

Well, I'm here to report that that question is all wrong. The real question to ask is this:

"Will there still be children who need teachers in a decade?"

And the answer, of course, is...well...of course!

As long as there are children...

...the world will need teachers

This has been true since the beginning of time; humans have always taught their young what they needed to know to be successful as adults. And it will remain true for as long as you and I are alive.

Now...there is another question to ask:

"Will teaching be the same?"

And the answer to that is...of course not!

But nothing is ever the same, in any industry or profession, from one year to the next. Teaching has just been a little, well..frozen...for lack of a better word. There are many things that caused this, but the thaw has occurred and instead of a gradual progression, our profession is experiencing years of change in a short span of time.

Things will settle down. And when the dust clears, there will still be children sitting in classrooms all across the world who need teachers to do what only we can do...teach!

Our future is bright!

This is a fantastic time to plan on becoming a teacher. Times of great change are always exciting. A little scary, yes, but mainly exciting (at least I think so!)

You are not alone. I started this website to help, so please let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you...any questions at all about becoming a teacher!

(Click the link above to hide the lessons learned again)