Teaching high school vs middle school math - HELP?? (San Antonio: how much, costs)

[silvs1707]

Hello,
I am new to this forum and wanted to get anybody's insight about the differences in teaching high school vs. middle school in San Antonio, TX. I will be doing the alternative certification program through UTSA, and i hold a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering. I passed the test for 4-8 math, but I don't know if I should take the 9-12 or if I should stick to teaching middle school since I don't have any experience??? Current teachers I would love to hear your advice!
Thanks

[Dopo]

My dad is an engineer,
for some time he took a job as a high school teacher in Central Florida for about 1 year.
From the little that he told me... it sucks.
I guess kids around that age tend to think that they are adults but still act like little kids.

Only thing I recommend you,
try to make the class a little fun (as difficult as that might be)
and always be willing to spend extra time with students that have a hard time understanding, because if they fall behind, they are gonna make it harder for you to teach when they are not paying attention at all.

[ashbeeigh]

I linked to http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...-teachers.html last time. Read that thread. It's general about teaching in San Antonio, but it's the mother of all teaching threads in the SA forum.

[mamatotex97]

ya know that really depends on the age of kids you enjoy. That's not something anyone can tell you. I can tell you my middle schooler loves his math teacher and wishes he could teach him next year. This guy makes it fun...for example when teaching circumference he incorporated basketball and the Spurs into the lesson. Point being this is a teacher that wants to be there with 11-14 year olds.

If you think you'd like high school I would suggest taking the necessary test in case you change your mind you will have that option.

I work with middle schoolers myself and I think their are pros/cons to both age groups. Personally I miss the elementary age

[loves2read]

my son taught jr high English for 7 yrs in variety of schools in DFW area--including Highland Park and a couple of charter schools
jr high kids are just very immature and hormonal and social--even more so than high school kids--
I think to a new teacher w/o background in student teaching they would be really more of a demanding environment than high school...
they test your patience because of their immaturity on top of the other negative with teaching...
you need to be a VERY patient person in that milieu...and a very good teacher to interest them in math--which they either love or hate --but not as much as trying to flirt with the girl/boy next to them...
you need to look at what is on the agenda/curriculum of different junior high teachers in the area--
most teachers have web sites on their school sites that give their lessons for the week--
see what they are teaching
would you like to teach that---
then check out the high school math teachers--
which material appeals to you--what do you think you would feel most comfortable teaching...
TAKS grades do much TAKS prep--in most districts--if you teach a TAKS year-- you will have more pressure to succeed by having kids pass the test--vs being in a non-TAKS year and getting somewhat of a break while you learn the ropes...
TAKS years are usually driven by learning/teaching test strategies and dealing with bringing kids up to grade level--remediation--which can be pretty boring if you have a group of kids who are pretty much capable--it just all depends on the district/school/principal/class as to how much flexibility and creativity you might have and how much will just be rote discimination of information...

if you are so totally bored with basic math--a lot of that happens in jr high--kids don't know math facts...
high school has higher math but there are also remedial math classes happening there as well...

it is never bad to be certified for all grade levels--math and science teachers are usually ones that get job offers to teach in order to complete their alt cert--but if you can pass the secondary test you would be doubling your chances of getting an intern spot...
do you think it is possible that you could also pass a test for the elective in my school that was architectural drafting--I don't know what that would consist of--
if so--would take that test as well--I know it costs money to do that--just thinking of being able to offer other options to principals...

[AnthonySA]

I can't offer much help with regard to math education, but you might find plenty of answers in the Education forum.

[silvs1707]

thanks so much for your responses. I take my math 8-12 test on monday and hope i pass it the first time around. I enjoy those subjects better.

[skeet09]

Middle School is nice because you can get to them before the math anxiety kick in for some of the students. Either way (middle or high school), you've got TAKS pressures. I have a friend who's a teacher but she's in bilingual elementary education.

[loves2read]

for kids who struggle with math--anxiety kicks in with second grade or sooner