Here’s part 3 of the So You Think You’d Like to Teach School series. The idea for this series came out of some questions I’ve gotten from folks interested in making teaching their profession.
Volunteer or at least observe 20-40 hours in a classroom, preferably in the same one. If you have to take vacation time from your job, please do. It is remarkably illuminating watching someone work. Plus you will get a head start on what is expected when you are in the front of the room. It will also help you get a head start on your credentialing school application.
Read teacher books and blogs.
Books I found inspiring:
Read some blogs to get you thinking about what issues teachers are facing today. Here are some of my favorites.
It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages
Blogging Through The Fourth Dimension
Informational interview all kinds if teachers: ones who love their jobs and those that hate them. Find out why. It is better to know what you are getting into before you find yourself in a career you hate.
Make teacher connections on Twitter. New teacher chat #ntchat on Wednesdays at 5pm PST is a treasure trove of excellent ideas. Other helpful hashtags include: #mathchat #edchat
Read 20 Tidbits for New Teachers from Lisa Dabbs.
Substitute teach. Sub teaching was as beneficial {or more} than my credential program in a lot of ways. Kids will never be more ill-behaved than with a sub, so you get a sneak peek into future behavior issues now. It helped my classroom management a lot. Plus, being paid to practice teaching? I’d say a pretty good gig.
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Did I miss anything? Have a question about teaching? If so, leave me a note in the comments.
Stay tuned for upcoming topics in the series: Classroom Management, Taming the Homework Beast, Parents: Friend or Foe?
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Interested in more about Life As A School Teacher? Be sure to click the Life As A School Teacher category link below.
Teacher Goes Back to School 
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Again, thank you for the recommendations! I didn’t even think about volunteering in a classroom before I start my credential program. DUH, GINA.
I’m definitely planning on getting certified to substitute teach when I move back to the States. I’m a little nervous about it, but you’re right: it’ll be good to practice handling kids at their worst to REALLY test my decision to become a teacher.
Question: Do you think it would be beneficial to put together some kind of portfolio that exemplifies all of my lessons plans and classes I taught while in Korea?