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Mon 15 Jan, 2007 09:34 am
I'm done with the MATH class! And I got an A-! Phew.......
I really liked my math class. I love math. It excites me. I also liked the teacher, but she was brutal. She nitpicked - but I guess she graded the way people should grade, with an A+ being absolutely perfect.
Anyway, I am considering becoming a math specialist. I'd need to take an extra Massachusetts state licensing exam (MTEL). But, as a specialist I'd have to spend 80% of my day teaching math. I wouldn't have my own classroom as math only takes up 30% of the classroom day - at best.
Does it sound reasonable to take the extra test to show that I can teach math and not become a specialist? Wouldn't that give me an extra edge on the market?
I'd think so.
I know there is some backlash against "overqualified" teachers -- mostly in terms of salary demands. I think since you're new and won't have much experience, that sort of thing would help you though.
Anecdotally (from my own grad school days and from the copious amount of reading about women in science and math I've done), I think that women math teachers are a relatively hot commodity, too.
Sounds fun!
That's the thing, I don't really want to be a math teacher. Or, maybe I do...... hmmm....
Since you seem likely to score high, I say take it and add it to your
resume. And give some thought to becoming a math teacher. We need
good math teachers, math teachers with a passion for the subject and
with the ability to pass on that enthusiasm.
I don't need to score high, I just need to pass. Employers won't see my score.
Ok!
So, first things first, though. I have to retake/pass the Foundations in Reading (missed the passing score by 1 point) and take/pass the General Curriculum test.
But, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of taking that additional math test. They're about to (in 2008) make a new math test required anyway.
Now that I'm done with my necessary teaching licensing tests, I'll look into the math one a little more deeply. I do have a sample test (one given previously) and it is HARD!!!! I think it tests from k through 8th. It would take some prep, but I'm into that when things settle down a bit.
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