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Saw this on Twitter. Just sharing!
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Fellow math teacher here, welcome to the crazy math troll league! I started out as Social Studies, then Science. Settled on Math once I realized it's an area is which you will NEVER be unemployed as good math teachers are hard to find. (I landed the job I have now before I had even finished filling out the application). Believe it or not math was a struggle for me in school, but I think that fact makes me a better math teacher as I can understand some of my student's struggles and can find create ways to get around them.
One thing to be aware of is that, depending on the district and school, 4th or 5th grade usually requires you to be an all-around teacher, not just math. But again, that does vary somewhat.
Best of luck to you, I'll know you'll do great!!
I've taught math/SS/Sci in 5th grade for 19 years, then moved to 4th grade for the past 4 years. I enjoy exploring a variety of ways to model/solve math problems. I've found over the years that many kids believe there is only one way of thinking or doing mathematics, so just being flexible in how others think about problem solving is critical. It's what I enjoy most, along with getting those kids who think they "aren't good at math" to believe in themselves.
I wanted to teach math since I was in sixth grade. Even at that age it was pretty evident that I was not like a genius or anything but I just really enjoyed math class and I was always helping my friends with their math work. That continued throughout high school and in college I was accepted into a licensure program. While I now teach at a private school and don’t need the license it was a very amazing stepping stone because I was able to actually be in the classroom for observation to teaching a few lessons and then in my senior year in college I am student taught and that really firmly confirm for me that this is the job that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So this is my 14th year teaching high school mathematics and I’ve taught basically every high school math class we could think of. And I love teaching I love my students it’s a fantastic profession. That being said sometimes admin and policy is not that great but the actual teaching of math and getting students who might have real math anxiety and I have been told earlier in life that they weren’t good at math and to see their feelings over the course of a year being in my classroom change that they go from really despising math to not loving math but feeling capable and able to doit and some even do grow to love it. That is what I love about my job my students and teaching the mouth to my students.
I think if you like math teaching math is a great idea. Just make sure you like teaching. I'm sure you'll student teach or shadow during your studies, I would try and get set up with a math teacher who teaches those grades. I teach 8th grade math and I love it, but it isn't as much a struggle with slightly older kids.
I just loved math growing up and was fairly good at it. Thought I would prefer 6th or 7th grade, but I worked at a small school and taught 6th grade - HS geometry. Found out I prefer HS age and geometry. So I moved schools and that's all I teach now!
I was searching for a purpose after a too brief military career. I wanted something less dangerous, the actual quote to a career specialist was "I need something where I can do just as much good as being a soldier, but no more explosions or getting shot at please."
Job availability, math talent and potential impact made teaching math a good fit.
It's worth noting that 20 years ago, there were no lockdown drills...
I wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten. It was finding the subject. I chose math for several reasons.
1. Everyone in class asked for my help.
2. I could tutor my peers and they understood.
3. Grading is direct. No opinion involved.
4. Hardly any essays
5. Top 3 class positions available everywhere.
6. Same content repeated every hour. By the last period, you know exactly what the students need to hear for the best understanding. You then can revisit the topic in earlier classes so no one misses anything important. Blaming any mistakes you make rushing to cover material versus not realizing you missed something the students need to know after the practiced and tested wrong a week later.
7. I prefer hearing the mistakes built by the previous teachers and the students interpretation of the lessons and showing the student what went wrong and how to adjust instead of being the first exposure to the topic.
Example: x= 1 instead of x = 1x.
Need to know:
To teach math, you have to take several math classes and computer science classes. If you cannot handle pre calculus or higher, you cannot get certified to teach math.
Most math jobs are 6th grade or higher. If you get your teaching degree for k-8, most likely you will teach elementary school and are required to teach all subjects. You can work in Middle school. It limits you to Teaching Algebra or below.
Not too many elementary schools have rotations to teachers that teach math better or English better. It’s something that is developing but you may get stuck teaching science instead.
You do not need a math minor in college to teach elementary math. They require the college math you must go to with a math strategies class for younger students. Check with your counselor the different classes required for each path.
Whatever you decide, there are tons of support out there. Good luck and happy new year!