I’m going back to school to get licensed to teach; I already have a bachelor’s degree, but am going back to get the education requirements to teach middle and high school.
The problem is that part of this process invovles a ton of in-class observation (during mornings, often going as late as noon) and will involve student teaching further on down the line, which is a full-time thing (for no pay).
I’m working at a coffee shop right now - after working professional office jobs since getting my undergrad a few years ago - and I really enjoy the job and the flexible schedule, but it just pays so little that I’m barely getting by - and it pays three bucks more than minimum wage (plus tips)!
What sort of jobs can I get that will offer the flexible schedule that a typical retail job does, but which actually pay a decent enough salary ($10/hr or more)? For teachers, what did you do for a living when you were student teaching? Any ideas?
Student teaching took all of my time. Not only did I have a lot of paperwork from and for the classroom, but there also was paperwork for the student teaching program at the university. And, of course, I needed a lot of prep time.
One possibility is tutoring. You wouldn’t want to charge for tutoring any of your own students, however.
I wish you great success in teaching. You will learn a lot!
Honestly, I would take on quite a bit of debt before I would work through student teaching. If you aren’t spending 60 hours a week at it, you aren’t doing it correctly. Remember this, too: a positive student teaching experience often leads to job offers, or at the least valuble contacts. On the other hand, doing only what you have to do and not showing any passion or enthusiasm (because you are exhausted) is a sure way to NOT get any offers or sent in the direction of any great jobs.
You know it’s coming: save the best you can, and if you must, find something you can do for less than 10 hours/weekend. Coffee shop might work for that. But don’t think you won’t be putting in 10-12 hour weekdays during your student teaching.
Babysitting. My son supplements his income by sitting for his friend’s kid two days a week and makes $10/hr. And he’s definitely undercutting the going rate because it’s his friend.
The beauty of this is that you can choose the age group you want to sit with. If you can’t stand the thought of diapers, go for the 6-10 age group (who will definitely require more energy). Infants sleep a lot, which will also give you a little time to rest.
Every parent needs a little time off. You could do occasional sitting for a bunch of people or find someone who has to work weekends and get a regular gig locked in.
I put myself through college by driving a school bus. Most districts will train you (free of charge) to get your CDL (Commerical Driver’s License) and School Bus Driving Certification. Most of them will also work with your teaching schedule (I knew several teachers who would drive in the mornings to pick up the kids, then teach, and reverse it in the afternoons). Plus, most bus driving positions pay a lot better than almost any other part time job (depending on the part of the country, you could begin with $12 to $15/hour), and usually there’s the option of field trip driving (basketball games, cheerleading competitions, band competitions, etc.) on the weekends or evenings.
That being said though, from what I’ve heard, you’ll probably need all time to devote to student teaching.
[sub]#%@!##~! computer ate my original reply…[/sub]
I waitressed weekends and vacations while I was student teaching. Occasionally I’d pick up a weeknight shift, but as the semster wore on, it became impossible to do so.
I echo what other posters have said: Once you “get into” student teaching, the concept of free time will be but a fleeting memory. There were plenty of times when I’d be holed up in the back room grading papers during a lull in the shift; other times I’d beg to use the owner’s typewriter so I could write up an exam.
Financially, though, I was extremely lucky in that I lived at home at the time. Other than school-related items, my only expenses were gas/insurance, groceries, and the $50/week I paid my mother for board (she’d up it to $100 when I was on vacation).
I had to sometimes bow out of a shift, depending on what was going on. I was co-advisor for the school’s drama club, and it was impossible to do anything during dress rehearsal week. When “my kids” advanced in the state drama festival finals, I ended up quitting waitressing and lived off my savings. They didn’t come in first, but seeing them perform was, to me, worth more than the $100 or so I’d make in tips
Would I do it again? Yes and no. Yes because, like you, I needed at least some money for everyday expenses. No, because, if I didn’t budget my time, the waitressing job could’ve easily eaten up all my non-school time. There’s no way I could’ve student taught while holding a FT job. No way.
