I Would Like To Become A Secondary Education Biology Teacher (6th-12th)…?
and I would like to know a little more about it from an actual teachers perspective. I understand I have to speak to my College counselor about it but here is some information about myself…
I will be just starting college in September and I will be 20 years old. I have no prior college credits or anything (I have my High School diploma and all…) I decided to take 2 years off to decide thoroughly what I wanted to do (Not sure if it was smart or not so I hope I am still young. enough to pursue this career well. Currently I work at a Daycare for kids from 10 months to 13 years. Ever since elementary school I have been interested in Natural Sciences and such. I was a huge Magic School Bus fan as well as Bill Nye among many other science programs. (Just to give a little childhood background) I’m not great at math by any means. I do very well in Englsh, History and also love to do some Art as a hobby.
Now for the questions (thanks to anyone who reads and responds by the way…)
Am I young enough still to pursue this? Will I have a disadvantage because I have not completed any coursework at all?
How was the journey through schooling? Was it horribly difficult? I’m up for a challenge but would like to know if I will be able to work at my Daycare while going to school.
Will working at a Daycare provide me a slight advantage? I understand that it is not High School students and that they are MUCH different to deal with but will it look good on a resume? If not, what jobs should I look for? (I have no teaching cert. at all so an assistant is out of the question for right now)
What courses are required besides the obvious Biology? Will I HAVE to take Chemistry or Physics or can I take Bioloigy and Earth Science? Is Math THAT important? I can do basic things and probably a bit more if I really focus but the word Calculus scares me!
How is the pay for a Biology teacher? I do not want a job based on pay however, I would like something that will obviously feed me and allow me to be independant from anyone (I want to be able to ALWAYS support me myself and I even if I do have a spouse I want independence so I don’t end up stuck in a rut)
I have patience and from making a list of things I would like to pursue for myself in the future a teaching job seems the correct path for me to take. I have thought about it and reviewed my pros and cons and this is what I would like to do! And YES I have patience for kids and I am also a kid myself (at heart, ALWAYS will be!)
Thanks for your responses in advance. I just want to have an informed decision from real world people and not just some college counselor.
Well obviously you’ve thought this out well. I went to college right out of high school but didn’t even decide on my major until a year later. Then it was another year before I decided to become a teacher. I do not think you are too late at all. Because you are a bit older you probably will be more focused and will most likely do better in school.
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I wish you the best!
As far as your question on what courses you will have to take…just go to the college’s website where you want to go and I’m sure you will be able to find out which courses you will have to take. A friend of mine is a Chemistry teacher and I know she had to take some math but since you are Biology I’m not sure as to if you’ll have to take that “C” class
I think that the fact that you’re working at a Daycare might look good on a resume, but not necessarily. You should be able to work while you’re in school, but I’m sure that depends on your schedule. Online classes aren’t all that bad either, I’m taking one currently.
School isn’t all that terribly difficult…mostly fun actually because after you get done with generals you get to take all the classes you love, so definitely not like high school in that respect!