Teach for America?

[DolphinChicaDDD]

in most cases the lack of support thing comes with being a new teacher, regardless of where you are/who you are placed with. i teach in a city school district, and while i recieved some support it really is more of a sink or swim thing. what i personally believe it comes down to is some people can be teachers and some people can't. if you can, you'll succeed regardless of where you are. if you can't, then unless you have very strong support system you will fail.

if you want to teach as a career, and you are interested in an underrepented field (generally science, math, or special ed...sometimes forgien languages) many states, particualry in the northeast and the mid-atlantic, have an alternate route certification program where you are hired, placed in a classroom with a mentor for usually 60 days and attend classes to obtain certification as you teach. i would reccommend looking into that option

if you aren't interested in teaching for the rest of your life, and just want to "give back" or something like that, then try teach for america.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DolphinChicaDDD

if you want to teach as a career, and you are interested in an underrepented field (generally science, math, or special ed...sometimes forgien languages) many states, particualry in the northeast and the mid-atlantic, have an alternate route certification program where you are hired, placed in a classroom with a mentor for usually 60 days and attend classes to obtain certification as you teach. i would reccommend looking into that option

if you aren't interested in teaching for the rest of your life, and just want to "give back" or something like that, then try teach for america.

yeah, we have teaching fellows here in the city. i really didnt consider that TFA doesnt give certification. i wouldnt wanna teach for 2 years just for experience, especially if im gonna come out bitter. let me be bitter with a masters.

p.s. i want in on the IHE joke...

[ZTAMich]

I did a similar program, Teaching Fellows, for NYC. Lots of TFA members were at my school when I started & have gone on to new city charter schools or teaching in the suburbs. I finished up my committment in 2005 & have been even happier at my school since then (probably bc there's no graduate work to think of). It really all does depend on your principal and your co-workers as to whether you'll like it or not. Our principal retired after the end of my 2nd year & our new one is FABULOUS. My co-workers are really supportive & while we each have our own classroom, there's a lot of sharing going on in planning & instruction. I've applied & received my perm. teaching certification for New York & hope to have teaching as a long career. Not everyone who applies for these programs does but I think it would be nice if people stayed at their schools for longer than 2 or 3 years!

Originally Posted by kddani

How has there NOT been an IHE reference in this thread?

Originally Posted by valkyrie

LOL.

Teach for America is never not funny.

How the holy hell did I miss this thread?

You too can be like IowaHawkeye!

TEACH FOR AMERICA!

[MoonStar17]

DONT DO IT!

I am currently in my first year teaching in an inner city school. I was however, an education major. I am working in the inner city for many reasons, but it was not my first choice for my first year.

There were 3 TFA teachers working with me at the beginning of the school year. One quit after 2 weeks (6th grade-the kids were crazy).
The other quit before christmas break. (5th grade with me)
The other is absolutely MISERABLE and is not sure whether he will be back next year (another 5th grade with me.)

I myself am having serious doubts about education- which everyone tells me is a normal "first year" mentality.

It is not as glamorous as their website makes them out to be.

Although, there are two successful TFA teachers currently in their 2nd year at my school.

So really it all boils down to your own personal strength and determination.
I do know from what my fellow teacher has told me, they do take alot of your personal time for meetings/observations/classes/etc.
And as it is there is little time for yourself as a regualr teacher. I find that I am physically and mentally exhausted by the end of the day.

I would just do as much research as you can before making a final descision.If your interested in teaching, persuing an education certificate may be a better option.


Good Luck!

[Senusret I]

If you were an education major, why are you in TFA? I felt like people in TFA generally wouldn't meet the NCLB requirements otherwise due to their majors/coursework.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

If you were an education major, why are you in TFA? I felt like people in TFA generally wouldn't meet the NCLB requirements otherwise due to their majors/coursework.

I don't think she is. I think she's referring to her coworkers who were in TFA and is trying to give advice based on her observations.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

If you were an education major, why are you in TFA? I felt like people in TFA generally wouldn't meet the NCLB requirements otherwise due to their majors/coursework.

I think you are right as far as the majors and coursework, but I think in general TFA types maybe smarter and better educated generally than many of the folks who go straight through with education majors. And, there are enough non-traditional paths to certification now in many states that if you try TFA, and like it, you can get full certification later.

However, I think folks should keep in mind that TFA will be in schools that are hardest to staff: fully certified teachers choose not to go there and that's probably for a reason. You may go in expecting a Dangerous Minds/ Freedom Writers experience, but I'd imagine everyone who teachs there hopes for that, and yet, those results are the exception. It's important to believe that you can make a difference, but it's important not to be delusional about it. It will be hard work every day; the successes are likely to be small; and to really make a systematic difference would require more than two years.

Completing the TFA contract would probably give you new insights into human nature, management, educational policy, and social class in America, which, if you think about it, could serve you well in many other fields later.

It might be a mistake, though, to use TFA as your experiment to see if you liked teaching generally. It not likely to be a representative sample.

[MoonStar17]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

If you were an education major, why are you in TFA? I felt like people in TFA generally wouldn't meet the NCLB requirements otherwise due to their majors/coursework.

I am not in TFA, but have seen and am currently working with TFA teachers. As others have said, TFA experiences will differ greatly.

For me the greatest challenge has been going in with such high expectations and being hit with the reality of the situations these kids are in. I've had to lower my expectations and work towards mini success goals.

I have learned to take things one day at a time.