Thinking of becoming a Secondary School Teacher

IrishKnight · 01-01-2007 12:47am #1

With four weeks to the CAO deadline, I want to know, what is it like being a science teacher in a Secondary School? A few weeks ago I started to think about doing Gen. Science or possible Science Ed in DUC and UL, with the aim of becoming a biology teacher. I would like to hear what people who are in the job think of it, what type a person a good teacher makes and basically what it's like.

Angel28 · 01-01-2007 11:38am

I can't really comment specifically on becoming a Science teacher but as a teacher I can say that you get out of the job what you put into it. It can be very rewarding but like anything it is also hard work. Don't be fooled by the long holidays - although they are a perk they are also a necessity to make up for the time spent throughout the year correcting work, preparing classes etc. When I was considering becoming a teacher someone said to me 'teaching is not the profession to go into if you are interested in money', and although it is reasonably paid the above statement holds. If you really like the subject you want to teach then it is worth doing but if you are doing science just for the sake of having something to teach then I would think twice about it. To be able to go in and teach something several times a day you really need to like it. I love my job and wouldn't change it for the world, I find it a very rewarding career. I hope that helps a little bit.
Good Luck and Happy New Year!!:)

sunnyjim · 01-01-2007 2:45pm

think about doing Gen. Science or possible Science Ed in DUC and UL

Science Ed in DCU is useless to you for becoming a biology teacher, as its only Chemistry and Physics. However, there is a PE Teaching course in DCU, where you qualify to teach Biology and PE.

IrishKnight · 01-01-2007 3:17pm

sunnyjim wrote:

Science Ed in DCU is useless to you for becoming a biology teacher, as its only Chemistry and Physics.

Thanks about that, forgot that it was just for Chemistry and Physics...

sunnyjim · 01-01-2007 4:40pm

No problem. If you want, I can get you contact details of the people who run the PE and Biology course. Just let me know.

IrishKnight · 01-01-2007 4:50pm

Thanks for the offer... but I'll be ok.

hot chick · 21-01-2007 7:23pm

hey,
how about just taking a general science/biology degree, then when you've done ur 3 years, u cud do a 1 year h.dip to become a teacher? can't see this being hard to do, they'r crying out for science teachers so you'd have no prob getting placements with or without the h.dip.

least this way u'll still have ur general degree and u won't have wasted a load of time if u discover teaching's not for u!

Best friend did science education degree in UL and loved it, hates the little tossers she's now teaching tho!

Don't stress! everything will work out for the best!

hunnymonster · 21-01-2007 7:30pm

Are they really crying out for Science teachers? I heard they were 10 a penny? I'm ccurrently a lecturer (which is worse paid & longer hours than teaching) and I need to relocate for personal reasons. Teaching was a logical choice because there are schools everywhere & the hours would really suit.

peewee18988 · 22-01-2007 5:33pm

Heya folks,
excellent thread! I am in my last year of a double hons chem/bio degree. Was short 2% for the hdip but wanna teach this comins September. Is this possible? Are there any agencies that place teachers or where are teaching jobs advertised?

hot chick · 22-01-2007 11:38pm

have heard of the agencies. far as i know they charge you for every day's work you get through them. better idea is to start getting back in touch with your old schools and see if they'll be needing someone or just to let them know you're available so that if a job comes up somewhere else they might mention you for it. UCAS is still taking applications for PGCE's in science methinks

hot chick · 22-01-2007 11:43pm

hunnymonster wrote:

Are they really crying out for Science teachers? I heard they were 10 a penny?

i dunno hunnymonster, all i see in papers is science teaching jobs, and irish. from seeing other people go through it, it just seems to be a case of waiting a little bit (few months max) and holding out for the right job. ie. one that's near enough to you.
surprised you said that about lecturing. i did graphic design and our lecturers had the cushiest gig ever, suppose science is bound to be a rougher ride!

peewee18988 · 28-01-2007 4:50pm

hot chick wrote:

i dunno hunnymonster, all i see in papers is science teaching jobs, and irish.

I will be looking for science teaching jobs for this coming September, is there a certain newspaper or place where principals advertise? All I see in the herald are jobs for Irish and English.
Thinking I might look out for a maternity leave position to see if I like the whole teaching thing.

spurious · 28-01-2007 7:23pm

Get on panels with VECs, than send lots of CVs out.

Go into schools and get some deputy (sub.) work - that's usually what lets people know if they'll like teaching or not.

You would be unlikely to go straight into a full-time teaching job from college - except maybe Home Economics and Woodwork teachers - they are always in short supply.

TheDriver · 31-01-2007 1:05am

I did Science as a degree and then Dip after, I am glad I did as it leaves my options open (even though I am settled in teaching and happy), would be cautious about an education degree if you're unsure about teaching.
Jobs, all teachers are ten a penny and hard to get jobs, not to sound discouraging but its a tough racket out there. Yes its great to be permanent and all that but its tough getting that far.

BULLER · 10-04-2008 1:15am

Im thinking of teaching being a possiblity after the LC. I have Science in Trinity first on my CAO and UCD second. Both are 4 years. In trinity you specialise into a subject like "neuroscience" or "genetics" in your 3rd year. But would that mean you would only be able to teach Biology at LC level as I read somewhere that you must have done an acceptable subject for at least 3 years in collage to teach it.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

TheDriver · 10-04-2008 10:22am

Ask the teaching council as they are the bottom line on this stuff, all we can say here is more here say!

rainbowtrout · 12-04-2008 6:31pm

Generally you are supposed to have studied a subject in the final year of your degree to be qualified to teach it.

I did the Science Education degree in UL, so I have Biology, Chemistry and Agricultural Science, the course changed it's name in 93 or 94 from General and Rural Science, and although the students who did the GRS degree did all the same modules as me they did all their chemistry in first, second and third year so are not qualified to teach chemistry, which seems a bit silly when all they did was shuffle about the modules to spread chemistry over four years.

To answer the original question I like teaching science especially chemistry as it is a bit challenging, I think it's important to teach a subject you like because if you can't be enthusiastic about a subject, your students are not going to be either. Also subjects with a practical element allow the students to get involved instead of being passive.

Thinking of becoming a Secondary School Teacher

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