[FitGirlyGirl]

I have a BS in elementary education. I taught for 2 years in Florida before going overseas for 4 years because my husband is military. I taught one year of 4th grade and one year of 6th. We have now been in Arkansas for a little over 3 years. I have not taught since January 2004. I tried to get a job as soon as we got to Arkansas, but nobody wanted to hire me because my degree was from Florida and it had been so long since I taught. I did work as a long term sub for a few months in a 5th grade classroom last year. That was enough for me to see how much things have changed and how crazy it has gotten with all of the requirements for testing. Of the grades that I have taught I had a strong preference for 6th grade (middle school). I am considering going back to school and doing whatever I would need to do to be certified for middle school math and possibly high school. I have reservations though which lead me to questions. Is it any easier to cope with all of the crazy standard requirements if you are teaching middle or high school and therefore only one subject? What are your opinions on having gone back to school and having a recent certification making it easier for me to get a job?

[Zeitgeist]

Having never taught elementary, it appears to me that there are more testing requirements in the younger grades than in high school. For example, the only year high school students in my state have high-stake testing is their junior year, unlike the yearly testing that occurs in elementary. We do have to meet curriculum standards, but I don't find them crazy or unreasonable.

Again, not knowing AR, math and special education educators always seem to be in demand in my area, whereas elementary ed degrees (as well as English and social studies) are a dime a dozen. It would seem logical to me that a recent certification, from a school in your state, would lead to more interviews than a seldom used out-of-state degree in a common field.

Are you able to make any connections (even directly contacting someone) who teaches middle school math so that you can observe their classroom and get some specific answers from them? In this area, 6th grade math is taught by the same teacher students have for most subjects. It is not until 7th grade that teachers become specialized and just teach a certain subject. While you might want to teach 6th graders, you will probably have more luck finding a job for a 7th or 8th grade math class.

Good luck!

[sontaikle]

I'm a first year teacher in New York in an elementary/middle school and I have a BA in History and Childhood Education, an MA in Childhood Education and an Advanced Certificate in Special Education. Specifically I'm a Special Education Teacher and I found that it was that certification that landed me interviews and ultimately a job. Right now there is a big demand for that as more and more children are diagnosed with learning disabilities and other things.

I guess because I'm new to the field that I'm just used to the testing requirements? Then again I'm not directly responsible for preparing the children for the exams and I have a bit more freedom in my lessons since I teach resource room.

I DO prepare the children for the tests anyway, focusing on what their weaknesses are specifically, but as I said I'm a new teacher and I think since I entered school and the field only recently that the testing requirements have just been ingrained in me so far.


If you have the patience, working with special needs children can be very rewarding. I love what I do, even if I get aggravated at the other teachers who don't understand the children with special needs sometimes

[FitGirlyGirl]

Zeitgeist - Here, and in Florida too, 6th grade is middle school most of the time. I wouldn't mind 7th or 8th either though. The school where I taught 6th had it set as a middle school grade. It was the middle school atmosphere that I discovered I preferred to elementary, not 6th grade specifically.

Sontaikle - I am considering the idea of special needs as well, but I'm not sure if I can handle it. I'm giving myself some time to think and pray about it before I make any final decisions. I would be in New York too if it were up to me, or at least I would be in a few years. He's actually from Brooklyn. What's funny is that I would like to move to his hometown when he's out of the air force and he would like to move to my hometown.

[sontaikle]

Originally Posted by FitGirlyGirl

Sontaikle - I am considering the idea of special needs as well, but I'm not sure if I can handle it. I'm giving myself some time to think and pray about it before I make any final decisions. I would be in New York too if it were up to me, or at least I would be in a few years. He's actually from Brooklyn. What's funny is that I would like to move to his hometown when he's out of the air force and he would like to move to my hometown.

I work in the New York City school system right now and I highly recommend getting a second certification if you want to come over here. It doesn't have to be special ed, but so many places here in NY aren't even taking applications unless you have at least two certifications!

I have loads of friends out of a job right now because they only have one certification It's crazy right now.

Then again, if you're going to wait, you might not have to do that. They keep saying things are going to get better in a few years...but who knows :/

EDIT: If you want to do Math, go for it. My math teacher friends got snatched up.

[FitGirlyGirl]

I don't think I'm going to get to live in NY anyhow He is quite determined to stay away.