Any high-school teachers in the Mayberry?

[MacDaddyWraslin]

Well I decided I want to become a teacher, I finally coped with doing something I have a passion for and not pursuing a degree where I will not love my work.
Anyways I want to teach history, and I've been doing a lot of research and I still don't know what pathway to take.
I heard you can major in any kind of social science (exolitical science) and pass credential exams to be certified to teach history.
Another is just simply majoring in history.
Also I heard majoring in education may be an option as well but my sister who is an elementary teacher said if I do so I'll get stuck teaching elementary.
I need to declare a major soon, with my goal being that of a high school history teacher.

Before people tell me that I'm going to be poor or whatever, I'd rather love my job then be miserable at work for a larger paycheck.

 

[VulcanNervPinch]

former

You can only major in educ if you teach elementary (K-6ish)

You need to take secondary ed (which schools seem to technically not consider "a major", even though creditwise it inarguably is) plus a social science major.

Normally I'd suggest majoring in something that would be marketable if it turns out you don't teach your whole life (which is what happened with me, and it was a wise choice), but I'm not sure any related degrees have very good marketability in your case.

 

[europe1]

History teacher, but not American history teatcher, sorry, can't help.:wink:

 

[MacDaddyWraslin]

former

You can only major in educ if you teach elementary (K-6ish)

You need to take secondary ed (which schools seem to technically not consider "a major", even though creditwise it inarguably is) plus a social science major.

Normally I'd suggest majoring in something that would be marketable if it turns out you don't teach your whole life (which is what happened with me, and it was a wise choice), but I'm not sure any related degrees have very good marketability.

Is majoring in political science just as good as majoring in history when attempting to be hired by a school district?

 

[MacDaddyWraslin]

History teacher, but not American history teatcher, sorry, can't help.:wink:

I would like to teach history in general, preferable I'd like to teach AP courses such as World History AP or US History AP

 

[SamboPunch]

Not a teacher but I would suggest trying to find some forums on the internet based more on the topic you're looking for information on if you haven't already. I tend to find you get better information from those sites than Sherdog so I don't even bother asking anything here unless it's combat sport related.

 

[europe1]

Not a teacher but I would suggest trying to find some forums on the internet based more on the topic you're looking for information on if you haven't already. I tend to find you get better information from those sites than Sherdog so I don't even bother asking anything here unless it's combat sport related.

Or if you're looking for the name of a model/porn star. People here seem to be really good at that for some reason.

 

[VulcanNervPinch]

Is majoring in political science just as good as majoring in history when attempting to be hired by a school district?

An excellent question, but I don't know.

I would look/ask around online some more. Also - because it's so crucial to know (wanna go back and get another major if you choose wrong?) I'd recommend contacting a few SS dept chairs from the area you'd probably teach at and ask them what courses they offer in their dept (there's usually more than just History and you may not have the opportunity to do just the courses you like most) and what majors they want.

Be really brief, professional, and respectful of their time - you may be asking them for a job someday.

 

[tec87]

I'm a middle school teacher but here's how it works. My degree is a BS in Secondary Education(meaning I can teach 6-12th grade) and I majored in History and Social Studies. I took classes for my History and Social Studies majors and then took specific classes in the teacher education program towards the teaching degree(the classes for the History/Social Studies major had different degree requirements since I was on the teaching track than what I would have taken had I just gotten a straight up history degree for example). With my History major/certification, I am able to teach World History and US History. With my Social Studies major/certification, I am able to teach Geography, Government/Civics, Economics, along with US and World History. If I want to teach more subjects than what I am certified to teach such as health or psychology or whatever, I would have to enroll in a college as a non degree seeking student and complete the degree requirements for a teaching minor in whatever subject that is and then pass the state certification test for that subject.


Every state handles the certification process differently and has different requirements. For example, In Michigan, I only had to take a history test and a social studies test through the state to be certified in those subjects but in another state, I might have to take another test or two to be certified to teach government/econ. I would recommend that you talk with an adviser at the school you are considering going to school at.

 

[Magooglie]

Most of my teachers in high school had a master of education on top of whatever their BS was.

 

[ventrue]

A lot of teachers in my city, are getting busted for diddling w/ the students. It seems like I hear 1 or 2 cases every day in the local news.

 

[Konquest]

I am a HS English teacher, got a reading specialist license and a masters in literacy and language. My credentials are fairly in-demand due to the emphasis placed on reading skills on the newer standardized tests which schools are unfortunately judged on.

My wife does the same thing in a neighboring district and we do ok, $60k/year each, give or take.

 

[buffpants22]

Im a high school history teacher 9-10th grade American and world history.

Quickest way.

1. Major in social science, the degree will be a B.S.E. so you get a large chunk of history coupled with education courses, psychology, and sociology.
2. Take the basic Praxis test and Praxis 2 content test and pedagogy 7-12 test for teachers.
3. 3 internships throughout your course work.

If you major in history or another humanity getting a teaching certificate will be a little more difficult. Schools may be wary about you lacking educational training .

 

[MMAdict]

My dad is a HS teacher and has been for some time. He has a BA in History Education, MA in US History and MS in Secondary Education. I will give you the advice that is his biggest regret. He still kicks himself for getting that second masters in education, rather than a PhD in History. I would try and get as much higher education as possible.

Also this is a personal grip I have with alot of HS teachers, but the fact they mostly have masters in edu bothers me. I wish HS teachers had masters in their field. Its important to know how to educate, but I'd prefer them to have a more masterly understanding of what they are educating. I absolutely think elementary and maybe even middle school teachers would benefit more from a masters in edu since the children need more direction at younger ages and the subject material is basic. However, by HS the material becomes harder and it benefits students to have a teacher with a great understanding of said material.

 

[muerteverde]

I am an English teacher for middle school and high school. I was previously certified for English and Spanish in New York but I am now in the process of certifying for PA while I teaching in an international school in Colombia.

It is hard to give any useful advice about the certification process because you didn't list your location and every state is different. NY and PA are right next to each other and the variation in requirements is significant. There are five exams I would have to take if I returned to NY, offered at different times, with costs associated, without study material, etc. and it just isn't worth it for me. And I was certified back in 2008 (but they changed all the requirements). I have a BA (English and Spanish) and a masters in arts of teaching.

Most states require a masters degree now and you will also need a teacher training program (those usually go together). The first four years is generally, as you mention, content specific, unless you go to a specific teaching college and then there are other program available.

You need to be certified if you teach in public schools, which means exams, student teaching internships, evaluated portfolios and other requirements. But if you teach in a private school, you do not need to be certified by the state.

Have you considered teaching abroad as well? The IB organization has a system of member schools and content area teachers who can teach in English are in demand in many places. Here in Colombia, the cost of living is lower and the pay isn't so much different. I would suggest considering it if you don't have enormous student loans to pay back, but then again there are places like Saudi Arabia that would allow you to repay all those loans easily.

 

[MacDaddyWraslin]

Im a high school history teacher 9-10th grade American and world history.

Quickest way.

1. Major in social science, the degree will be a B.S.E. so you get a large chunk of history coupled with education courses, psychology, and sociology.
2. Take the basic Praxis test and Praxis 2 content test and pedagogy 7-12 test for teachers.
3. 3 internships throughout your course work.

If you major in history or another humanity getting a teaching certificate will be a little more difficult. Schools may be wary about you lacking educational training .

So will majoring in Political Science instead of History affect me in anyway? I am going to attempt to get a job as an avid tutor soon as my sister is good friends with the instructor who hires tutors.

 

[MacDaddyWraslin]

I am an English teacher for middle school and high school. I was previously certified for English and Spanish in New York but I am now in the process of certifying for PA while I teaching in an international school in Colombia.

It is hard to give any useful advice about the certification process because you didn't list your location and every state is different. NY and PA are right next to each other and the variation in requirements is significant. There are five exams I would have to take if I returned to NY, offered at different times, with costs associated, without study material, etc. and it just isn't worth it for me. And I was certified back in 2008 (but they changed all the requirements). I have a BA (English and Spanish) and a masters in arts of teaching.

Most states require a masters degree now and you will also need a teacher training program (those usually go together). The first four years is generally, as you mention, content specific, unless you go to a specific teaching college and then there are other program available.

You need to be certified if you teach in public schools, which means exams, student teaching internships, evaluated portfolios and other requirements. But if you teach in a private school, you do not need to be certified by the state.

Have you considered teaching abroad as well? The IB organization has a system of member schools and content area teachers who can teach in English are in demand in many places. Here in Colombia, the cost of living is lower and the pay isn't so much different. I would suggest considering it if you don't have enormous student loans to pay back, but then again there are places like Saudi Arabia that would allow you to repay all those loans easily.

Yeah sorry about not mentioning where I live, I live in California and wish to teach in California. I would really be interested in teaching abroad, hopefully I'm not in too much debt.

 

[Dogstarman]

Lol. Hope you like being disrespected and poor.

 

[MacDaddyWraslin]

Lol. Hope you like being disrespected and poor.

Well the first part is based on how I can manage a classroom and I believe I can manage it well. Also teachers actually make a pretty decent amount, a combined income with your spouse of over 100k doesn't sound bad at all to me.

 

[buffpants22]

So will majoring in Political Science instead of History affect me in anyway? I am going to attempt to get a job as an avid tutor soon as my sister is good friends with the instructor who hires tutors.

If you are just getting a b.s. in poli sci you could get a teaching job whit taking the appropriate testing and probable an extra class or two. If you want to go straight into being a teacher a b.s.e is the fastest root, a poli sci b.s. needs to be coupled with a m.a. or history or social science. if you want to teach AP you need a masters in history. Schools will probably take a social science or history major over a poli sci graduate for history classes.