#PLUS a substitute teacher might be a sub for just the one subject but has maybe an easier time to sub for other subjects as well

[thankyoufortoday-if]

might go ahead and make mc a substitute teacher rather than hired on the spot.... so there can be ✨ consequences ✨ for your actions

[rotationalsymmetry]

I just have so many opinions on how teaching, specifically, would be way better if we didn’t try to make one adult manage an entire classroom.

Picture an elementary school, kindergarten through fifth grade, with, for the sake of simplicity, one class per grade. The way this is normally done, you have a teacher and maybe a teacher’s aid per class, and if the teacher can’t come in you bring in a substitute who isn’t attached to that school and who only works when someone calls in sick.

This is absolutely wild. That sort of thing makes perfect sense for college students who can manage their own lives, it makes no sense whatsoever for five years olds, many of whom are also going to spend all afternoon in after school care and not actually get one on one adult attention until their parent/s are off work. And if your parents suck or are exhausted after working all day? Sucks to be you!

Kids spend the hours of a full time job plus commute time in these institutional environments. It’s not good for people! People talk as though school is good for kids’ social skills just because they’re in proximity with other kids, but schools are highly artificial environments and it’s not normal or good for kids to not really get attention or advice or emotional support from anyone older who’s got life slightly more figured out. For hours at a time, days at a time. Kids need an adult’s full, caring attention now and then and to get it about things that matter to them, not just things that matter to the adult. And schools as they are now make that more or less impossible.

And of course the working conditions are brutal for the teachers. The work can be relatively rewarding because you’re working with kids and you know it’ll make a huge difference if you don’t show, but it’s demanding as hell and there’s a lot of pressure to not call in sick unless you absolutely have to, and there’s no time and you spend a lot of time being a disciplinarian rather than, you know, teaching.

What if the same school, instead of having six teachers (one per grade), had eight or nine? Six teachers each assigned to a specific class (although I imagine it’d be fun to switch it up now and then, and probably better for the kids so you get some year to year adult continuity) and two or three floaters. One’s with say the kindergarteners in the morning before recess (while the kindergarten teacher does some lesson planning or something, or maybe they co-teach if the kindergarten teacher would rather do that), the first graders recess to lunch, and the second graders from lunch to the end of the day. On a normal day. But maybe the first grade teacher has a headache that isn’t going away, and he could push through it but he doesn’t really want to and he especially is worried the pain might make him short tempered and he doesn’t want to lose his patience with the kids. So the floater goes “cool, what were you planning on doing?” and the first grade teacher either passes on the plan or suggests something else, and gets to go lie down in a dark quiet room for a couple hours.

(Would this cost more? Yes, almost a third again or half again as much. (Not quite that much because under the current system you do need subs sometimes.) Is it not worth it though?)

Now picture this. Two or even three teachers per class. I imagine a lot of current teachers would hate the idea of having to split a classroom, but I imagine there’s way more potential teachers who could work in a system like this who can’t function under the current one. For one, it lets you split up roles more, maybe one teacher is great at getting large groups of kids to sit down and pay attention so that teacher can do that, and the other teacher/teachers can focus on what they do best, which might be eg explaining fractions in a one on one context so that the kid who is really just not getting fractions can understand them. You know, teaching. And it would allow for a lot more diversity in subject matter teaching and style of teaching in one setting; maybe one teacher prefers lecturing but manages to do it in a way that gets the kids to listen and be interested, like the teacher is revealing ancient secrets to a select few. And another one is really good with setting up learning-by-doing situations. And one has a gift for making up silly songs that get the kids engaged and help them remember things.

And maybe you also have one counselor per classroom, one person whose job it is to look out for learning disabilities and the like and to look for why a kid who’s acting up is acting up and to be available when someone’s having a bad day and needs someone to talk to or conversely is so excited and happy that they really can’t just sit still and listen until they’ve had a chance to share why they’re so happy.

And surplus teachers would still be good in the grades where kids go to different classes based on subject. You’re teaching social studies, but you’re the one who really loves getting into ancient Egyptian and your partner teacher is the one who really likes covering current events. You’re teaching math, but you’re the one who loves math conceptually for it’s own sake and your partner is the one who’s good at typing it to the real world. Or you’re good at explaining things in a way that work for some of the students and your partner is much better at getting those other students who are just lost and frustrated with your approach. And any time a student just doesn’t want to be in the class, they can go to one of the professionally trained counselors or one of the community ambassadors who don’t have to have professional training (beyond, like, this is how we do things here/this is our sexual abuse policy/whatever) but can keep a kid company and keep them out of trouble when the kid doesn’t want a counselor but also just can’t stand being in the class another five minutes and also legally can’t be left without some sort of adult supervision. And if the teacher really doesn’t want a specific kid in the classroom for another five minutes because the kid is acting up, the teacher can kick the kid out without it being a disciplinary thing. You’re not in trouble, but you also have to leave the classroom until you stop being disruptive.

and if the teacher has a headache and doesn’t want to be around any kids, well, you have a partner. And if both of you want to be out, well, there’s got to be someone in a different class who can step out for a bit.

This would cost so much more than the current system.

But wouldn’t it be worth it?

And as a society, would it actually cost us more? We have more or less the same number of adults capable of working full-time professional jobs regardless of what they’re doing. If there were somewhat fewer adults say working to add short video features to social media apps or find new ways to squeeze money out of people playing mobile games, and instead in schools working with kids, would that be a bad thing for society?

[salonforteachers]

Getting a teaching job

John Brown

If you have a teacher’s license and a college degree in the subject and grade level you want to teach, you are well on your way. There is, in fact, a teachers’ shortage in some areas of the country, but most of these shortages are in special education, STEM and ELL. That doesn’t mean you are doomed if you want to teach elementary school, or high school English or history. You will just have to work harder to find these positions, and you will have to be more patient with the process.

I was a high school English teacher for 19 years, but I started as a special education teacher, because I couldn’t find a job teaching English right out of college. So, if you had your heart set on working in the Boston area, but you can only find a job in Worcester or Springfield, take the Springfield job. If you had your heart set on teaching high school, but you get an offer to teach sixth grade, take what you can get. If you, see a lot of ESL jobs, and you have that license, apply, even if you really want to teach English or history.

You will end up teaching the grade level and subject you prefer soon enough, but take what you can get now.

How did I get my first teaching job?

My brother-in-law was the principal of a school. I tell you this because networking is the key to getting your first job, your second job and all your jobs. Rarely do people get positions by applying for jobs blind. They almost always know someone on the inside, they are almost always connected. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for jobs where you know no one. It just means that you should try to get connected or realize the connections you already have.

How do you get connected?

Well, start with your professors from college. They will help you meet people who might hire you. I got the job I have right now because my professor recommended me for it.

Now, I am a professor, and in the five — only five years — I have been here, I have directly helped at least a dozen students find positions to for which to apply. Now, they have teaching positions at those schools.

Also, network with family and friends. Tell them you are looking for a teaching job in science or math or whatever it is, and tell your neighbors too. If you feel shy, if you are introverted and don’t want to stop your neighbor as he is walking his dog by your house, even though you heard he is on the school committee in town, remember this: The worst thing he can do is say no. And, if you don’t like hearing that word, that’s ok. Do it anyway. Just know, that when you hear YES, the no’s you suffered through will have been worth it.

What else can I do to get a teaching job?

Go to Career Fairs.

This is how my wife got her teaching job, and she has been at that school now for two decades. These Career Fairs are advertised in local newspapers, on monster.com, in LinkedIn and on the websites of school districts under their link employment. Don’t forget to bring two dozen copies of your CV with you to them when you go and be sure to smile and make eye contact with everyone there. my wife walked up to a table where a principal was sitting waiting to meet potential teachers. They had a positive conversation, which lead to an interview, which led to an offer. I isn’t always that easy, but it can be. However, that will NEVER happen to you at a career fair that you don’t go to.

Make a LinkedIn profile.

This site is like facebook for job seekers. It is the best way to keep in touch with your professors, colleagues and classmates from college or graduate school. And, one of those people might be the person who tells you about a job that you will apply to which will lead to an interview. Just make sure you have a professional looking profile picture, and connect with as many people as you can. There is also a recommendation feature. You and your classmates should consider recommending each other. Not only is LinkedIn free, but it is easy to use. And they have a smartphone app that makes checking for new posts easy.

Get on SchoolSpring.

This is a website that posts education jobs exclusively. You can set up the automated alert system that will email you when a job in your area is posted. So, sign up for an account and activate the alerts function, but also check the site every day in the area that you are qualified to teach in. Apply to every job you are even remotely qualified for.

Use the Career Center at the college you graduated from.

They will help you write your CV and your cover letter. You can also use that college’s Writing Center to help you improve both your CV and CL. Call them and make an appointment. Don’t just show up. And, bring all your professional data with you. Don’t forget to thank those people for their help both verbally and in writing. If you get a job using a CV that a person at the career center helped you with, send him or her an email telling him or her the good news. You might be back there some day.

Facebook, YouTube and Twitter?

Scrub your social media profiles for anything that makes you look bad. Pictures of you drinking alcohol, smoking, flipping a friend the bird in jest, comments that are angry, political or intolerant and LIKES or UNLIKEs that make you look mean or unprofessional need to go. Don’t delete the whole profile. It’s good to have a positive presence. Plus, use your fb to make yourself look like a teacher. Post, LIKE and SHARE articles about teaching, about your content area and about your alma mater.

Google yourself. Right now!

If you find something on the internet that makes you look bad, ask the admin of that site to take it down. If they don’t get right back to you, ask again. The worst they can say is no, and if they do, at least you know what potential employers might see, so you can explain to them why it’s there and how that is so not you.

Substitute Teaching?

Apply to and work at as many substitute teaching jobs as you can juggle. This will put you in contact with the principals of those schools, and then you might learn before other people of openings in your teaching area. If a teacher in one of those schools gets very sick or has a baby or has a spouse who is sick, that principal might hire you as a “long term sub,” which will give you a chance to prove yourself. And, then if that teacher who is out sick, has to take the year off, then maybe the principal will ask you to stay for a whole year. Many of my former students have landed teaching jobs this way.

Dress for Success.

If you don’t know how to dress for an interview, ask a teacher whom you know how they would dress. If you don’t know any professional teachers, make an appointment with the Career Center at the college where you went to school, and get the opinion of one of the career counselors there about what to wear. Most interviewers expect you to dress a little bit more conservatively than you would for the job which you are applying.

Interviewing.

1. The day before the interview, drive to that school to see how long it takes you to get there. Do it at the time when your interview is, if you can. Also, do some research about the school and even the person who is scheduled to interview you. That doesn’t mean you should say anything abut the school during the interview. But, you should know the publicly available information and news about the school, so you can be ready in case they expect you to know.

2. Make sure you have an inflated spare tire n your trunk. Fill the fuel tank the day before. Missing an interview that could turn into an offer is tragic. Don’t let a flat spare stop you.

3. Shower. There are some things you do not have control over, like whether or not the chair of the school committee has a son who wants the same job you want. But, you there are some things like getting a haircut, showering, and making sure you don’t have a flat spare that you DO have control over. Always do what your can. So, no perfume, but yet, do, shave and get a good night’s sleep. Smile and have a firm handshake.

4. Eat a healthy breakfast or lunch but no onions. You don’t ant low blood sugar or need to belch or use the restroom when you are in the interview. Seems obvious, right? I guess most of these things are. But, then again, why do so many people arrive late to their interviews.

5. Arrive 15 minutes early to any interview. This requires planning and prioritizing. If you get there 30 minutes early, sit in your car for 15 minutes. Being too early can hurt your chances.

6. Smile. Did I say smile? Make sure you smile and not just for the person interviewing you. Smile for the secretaries, the janitors and the security guards.

7. Look the people in the eye.

8. Bring your resume, some teaching materials like lesson plans or lesson plan ideas with you.

9. Be ready to write. Sometimes candidates have to write during the interview.

10. Be ready to teach a demo lesson during the interview.

11. Turn off your device. If you forget to do this, and your phone buzzes, do NOT look at it. In that circumstance, the only reason you would take it out is to turn it off — and do so without looking at it.

17. Say Thank you for your time, when the interview is over.

Here are some things NOT to do in the interview:

Don’t brag.

2. Don’t be shy.

3. Don’t talk too long.

4. Don’t chew gum.

5. Don’t smoke before hand.

6. Don’t tell people you are pregnant.

7. Don’t tell people you have five children.

8. Don’t talk about your medical conditions.

9. Don’t lie.

10. Don’t look at your watch.

11. Don’t make assumptions.

12. Don’t swear.

13. Don’t wear jeans or sandals.

14. Don’t show up drunk or high.

15. Don’t ask to go to the bathroom during the interview.

16. Don’t eat during the interview, unless it is a meal, and then eat very little, just to be polite.

17. Send a Thank You note to anyone who interviewed you, right after the interview. Send an email from your car if you can. And, send a thank you text to any friends who may have set you up with the interview or who gave you a tip about the job. And, do it right after the interview. If you get a job offer, send another thank you text to that person who was your connection.

If you get an offer.

It’s ok to be excited, but it’s also ok to ask them for some time to think about it. If they ask you how much time you need, ask them if you can have a few days, especially if you may have other opportunities, like interviews coming up. Definitely ask for some time to think about it if you have another offer.

If you don’t get an offer.

Don’t take it personally. There are many reasons why you might not get an offer. Maybe the person who did get the offer is the son of a school committee member. Maybe you were not a good fit. Maybe they wanted someone younger or older. Many of these things are beyond your control. And, it’s possible that a school that did not make you an offer in June, because they filled the position may offer you a different position in July because a person announced his or her retirement, and you were #2 among the candidates. Or. In August, the person who was #1, gets a better offer and walks away from it. The principal might very well call you and make the offer, so when you are rejected, make sure you thank the person who interviewed you for his or her time.

You are always networking.

The secretaries, janitors and security guards in schools are obviously people who you should be polite and gracious too because you want to be nice, right? But, you are also selfish WHICH IS ok. Instead of selfish, let’s call this trait “hungry” or ambitious. Now, imagine, you are in line at the grocery store, and you sigh deeply at how slow the cashier is. The person standing behind you hears you sigh and you start to complain about that cashier. Then, a week later, you go to an interview for a teaching job. And, the principal who is interviewing you is that person standing in line behind you. Now, you are wondering if you made a bad impression, and your just wondering will affect your ability to make a good impression in that moment. Think about it this way, everyone you meet could be your next boss.

Who knows who?

You never know which one of your relatives or neighbors works at a school, so at every opportunity you can, tell people you meet that you are looking for a teaching job. If a neighbor tells you that she knows the principal of the local school, ask her if she would introduce you to that principal. If that neighbor is a close friend of your mother or borrows your dad’s tools all the time or parks his boat in your yard, give that person a stack of your CVs, just to have.

Final Thoughts.

Getting a teaching job is not easy, but it’s not impossible. If you are willing to do the things above, if you are willing to travel a little, to compromise and to treat your job search like a job, you will get an offer. I teach people who want to become teachers, and then they graduate. Most of them get jobs teaching in schools. But, those who get the best jobs and get them the fastest are willing to travel, willing to put themselves out there and willing to apply to a bunch of schools every day.

#teachingjobs#ELAjobs#teaching