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Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

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Jennifer

Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

I've been thinking of applying to NYC teaching fellows fo rthe midyear program, but then I saw a chat board for NYC teachers where they were sayong terrible things about fellows. I'm concerned about this. Has anyone been a fellow or worked with fellows? And does anyone know how it differs from TFA?

ETA: I've spoken to a lot of TFAs at Kaplan and other palcesd, and I've literally heard 50% "it's wonderful" and 50% "it's hell"

Message edited 6/16/2006 9:35:53 AM.

Posted 6/15/06 10:00 PM
 
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Karen
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Karen

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

I had looked into it about 2-3 years ago. To say it was unorganized would be an understatement.

I decided to go the traditional route and went back to school. I am very grateful. Teaching is extremely hard, and no way would I have succeeded just being tossed in there. There is no student teaching, no observations, nothing with the Fellows. They literally just toss you in there.

Posted 6/15/06 10:03 PM
 

MegZee
My bunny

Member since 5/06

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Name:
Meaghan

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

Posted by Karen

I had looked into it about 2-3 years ago. To say it was unorganized would be an understatement.

I decided to go the traditional route and went back to school. I am very grateful. Teaching is extremely hard, and no way would I have succeeded just being tossed in there. There is no student teaching, no observations, nothing with the Fellows. They literally just toss you in there.



I agree - FH is a teacher in the city (he is in a great school though) and he finished is MS ED before he taught -- he has friends that did the fellows route and ended up quitting.

Posted 6/15/06 10:05 PM
 

Melbernai
I am a lucky Momma!

Member since 7/05

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Name:
Melissa

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

There are quite a few fellows in my school, one of which is AMAZING! FM me if you have any questions.

Posted 6/15/06 10:06 PM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

TFA tends to be mostly people who go directly from their BA into teaching. They get a summerlong crash course and then take grad courses while going to school. Fellows tend to be people who have at least a few years in the work force. Some are quite a bit older- I know one woman in another school who's in her mid-50s. There's more diversity of experience among the fellows. They get a similar summer training and then go to grad school.

I think I know the chat board you were on- teachers.net? It got a little out of hand. I think it's all how you approach it. With the fellows and TFA teachers, I've found a good deal of arrogance among *some* of them. Like, they think their degree from a fancy school means that they need no help, feedback, etc. Those people also tend to be the ones who have their azzes handed to them by the kids VERY quickly. But I've also worked with Fellows and TFA people who were great- who knew that they had a lot to learn (as we all do- I have ten years and there's so much I don't know!).

One concern I'd have about the Fellows would be your placement and how much say you'd have- you could end up in a total zoo and there would not be a lot you could do. I don't know if they place you or you get to look at schools and interview. If I were you, that would be my biggest concern because when you're just starting out you need to be in a well-organized school that is under control. That's the make-or-break thing, I think.

Sorry this was so long but I hope it helps.

Posted 6/15/06 10:15 PM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

It defintiely helps. I've been thinking about NYCTF and TFA for a long time and one thing that has kept me from applying is that I could end up in a really bad school, and I don't know if I'm cut out for it. I did SAT tutoring for "high needs" kids in harlem, but it was a voluntary program and the kdis WANTED to be there, so it was drastically different. I'm so small, and I have a small voice. I don't know if I can be a disciplinarian, and I'd furthermore be afriad for my own safety. I started my application though. I dunno.

Posted 6/15/06 10:20 PM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

There are more decent schools I think- I think that while academics leave a lot to be desired, I think there are fewer truly crazy unsafe schools. They're still out there, but there are not as many.

Do you have a preference for elementary or middle? Maybe elementary school might be a good start. I have to say, I've had only good experiences with 5th graders, I'm sure 4th is similar, whereas I've found 7th to be rough.

ETA: I also don't think it's so much about being a disciplinarian- it's about being a manager, creating structure and predictability for them, and being clear about what you want them to do and how you want it done.

Message edited 6/15/2006 10:25:02 PM.

Posted 6/15/06 10:23 PM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows

Posted by MrsProfessor


ETA: I also don't think it's so much about being a disciplinarian- it's about being a manager, creating structure and predictability for them, and being clear about what you want them to do and how you want it done.



Actually from my directing, management is something I'm really good at, but I know I'd get frustrated with Freshmen, let alone 7th graders. According to NYC TF, most people will end up teaching 7th-12th grade in the Bronx.

I may qualify to teach science, which will probably make it easier for me to get in, and may give me better placement, or more flexibility in placement, since science is needed all over. It would be an exception (because I don't have a math-related major), but I would be willing to do the math immersion program as well, and i think I'm qualified for it, because I taught math for Kaplan for years. But science may be better anyway. I almsot minored in bio in college. Came only a few credits short, decided to take tai chi instead. haha

ETA: It was teachers.net.

Some of those people were so nasty!

I guess I can understand if people come in really arrogant. But then they also criticized TFAs for having a "change the world" attitude. Isn't that what it's all about? And don't TFs and TFAs prevent their schools from being understaffed? And someone said "2-3 years teaching doesn't make you a teacher." Maybe I'm all wrong about this, but doesn't one day make you a teacher if you go in there and give everything you have to those kids and try to help them achieve?

Message edited 6/16/2006 9:34:40 AM.

Posted 6/16/06 9:30 AM
 

giggles
LIF Adolescent

Member since 5/05

584 total posts

Name:
Colleen

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

I teach the teaching fellows at Mercy College - I'll send you an FM about it later - but definitely think about it. The fellows generally end up in high needs positions (IE special ed) with very little training. The training they really need is done AFTER they've spent a year in the classroom and have become slightly jaded.
Educational goals tend, at that point, to take a back seat to classroom management issues.

I'll FM more later, meanwhile, if you have any questions feel free to FM me!

Posted 6/16/06 9:47 AM
 

Shanti
True love

Member since 6/05

12653 total posts

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

It's funny, I have heard the same reaction as you. I have 3 close friends who did it. 2 absolutely hated it, and 1 loved it.

Posted 6/16/06 9:48 AM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

I started my app, and I checked the boxes for ESL, Math, Science, and reluctantly, special ed.

I'm just afriad of teaching special ed w/o training. The only thing I didn't check was bilingual because I'm not fluent in spanish, but as far as I know you don't necc have to be bilingual for ESL.

I've gone back and forth about being a teacher for my whole life. When I was 4 I would setup all of my dolls and "teach" them "lessons", or I wold carry my doll around and teach him all dya , like why it's important to brush your teeth, why we eat vegetables, etc.

When I started college I planned to do an Ed program, and then it didn't happen, and then I planned to do TFA, City Year, or NYC TF. Then a lot of people REALLY discouraged me from teaching, and I found a new outlet for those abilities, whcih was directing, which I am also passionate about, and also feel I MUST do. But I could technically teach and do theatre in the summer. And TF is only for a few years. I'm relaly divided. throw myself into teaching, or throw myself into theatre. I love them both.

My feelings on teaching though, is that the point is to teach the most needy children. I feel like if I go the traditional route and then I look for the best district in the suburbs or teach at stuyvesant or something, I'll be more comfortable, maybe, but I'll be doing a disservice (I'm not saying this as a relfection on any other teacher, but just for ME). I just feel like I should be serving the neediest students. I worked for Kaplan for years, but the most fulfilling and meaningful thing was volunteering with another org. to help underserved students get into college. I'd really like to work toward closing the achievement gap.

An image that has stuck in my mind for along time now was during my first semester, maybe within the firts few weeks at stuyvesant, there was a huge protest in the lobby. Hundreds of parents, mostly, or all, black and hispanic were carrying signs and protesting that hardly any black and hispanic kids get into Stuy. A lot of kids were so callous and joked that those parents should go back to their jobs at McDonalds. I always felt the admissions process for Stuy was the msot fair since it was a test and therefore colorblind. Yet the school was 50% asian, 44% white and 6% "other". It defintiely wasn't the microcosm of the city that it should have been.

The parents were protesting that the exam was in "white english." I thought that was a stupid argument because it was standard american english and by 8th grade the kids should have learned it in school, so it made me realize that there is something going on in these schools that serve minorities that isnt teaching them the same skills that white and asian kids are getting, and THAT's the problem, not the test, not the elite school, not white english, but that these kids were underserved. And I've always wanted to do something about that.



OMG. I think I just inadvertently wrote my personal statement for my app. LOL

Posted 6/16/06 9:58 AM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

14279 total posts

Name:

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

Posted by JenniferEver


The parents were protesting that the exam was in "white english." I thought that was a stupid argument because it was standard american english and by 8th grade the kids should have learned it in school, so it made me realize that there is something going on in these schools that serve minorities that isnt teaching them the same skills that white and asian kids are getting, and THAT's the problem, not the test, not the elite school, not white english, but that these kids were underserved. And I've always wanted to do something about that.




Unfortunately, the middle schools aren't adequately preparing the kids in those communities for the standardized HS test. There is so much lacking at the middle school level, in the schools themselves, in the homes and in the communities. And I think, having seen the people with the "change the world" attitude, I think my issue is that a lot of them act like it's easy and doable, and I hate to be negative but I don't know if it's doable. Though Geoffrey Canada has been doing some great things in Harlem, but if you read about him you'll see what a huge challenge it is, how you have to start with these kids when they are newborn! (His program has multiple facets, including parent education)

Anyway, didn't mean to get off topic! And I didn't mean to steer you away from 7th grade- my current kids are in 6th and I will have them next year for 7th (and the year after for 8th Chat Icon ) and they are awesome kids. I hope they stay that way! Chat Icon

ESL kids tend to be great for a lot of different reasons, but I'd rethink special ed- that is a TOUGH gig.

With your theater background you might be able to find something at an arts school and you could do so much- that would be awesome.

My school is pretty good, but I don't think we will have any openings. But I can keep you posted if you want.

Posted 6/16/06 12:30 PM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

Thanks so much for the insights.

I know that the problem is so much bigger than one person, or one organization, but at the same time, I helped kids from harlem get into Cornell, and we ran parent education seminars that helped parents realize their kids could go to college. It's amazing how many parents don't know about or understand financial aid, and how many kids don't understand that their unique backgrounds and experiences make them appealing to colleges.

And if you don't want to change the world, then why are you a teacher? KWIM? Teaching isn't just another job. It's one of the toughest and also one of the most rewarding, but if you're not in it to help kids, even in a small way, then there's really no point.

I have literally one teaching credit. I took the LAST a few years ago and got a near perfect score. I haven;t taked the ATS-W yet. I have to study for that one because I didn't take ed courses in college.

I might uncheck special ed. My FMIL is a paraprofessional and works with special ed, and she has mostly kids with major behavioral problems and she's always getting hurt, threatened, etc.

Maybe I should stick to science. Chat Icon

Posted 6/16/06 12:36 PM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

14279 total posts

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

There are science jobs out there, and there is a big need for ESL. I have been thinking about getting ESL certified myself, just to round out the trio (I have Literacy K-12 and English 7-12)

Posted 6/16/06 12:39 PM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

I need ed credits though, to begin teaching, right? If i don't do NYC TF or TFA, I'd have to go back to school?

Posted 6/16/06 12:40 PM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

14279 total posts

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

Posted by JenniferEver

I need ed credits though, to begin teaching, right? If i don't do NYC TF or TFA, I'd have to go back to school?



I don't know- when I began in 96 they were taking anyone with a pulse and you didn't have to have any ed credits. But now with NCLB things are a lot different. Your best bet would be to look on nysed.gov or nycenet.edu. NYC used to do what they called "preparatory provisional certification" but I don't know if that exists any more.

For whatever reason, it seems like NYC has done better in the last few years in terms of filling vacancies. I've heard that there are sometimes 5 applicants for one job (compared to 200 for 1 job that you see on LI, which I ran into when I interviewed there) and not everyone gets a job, though there are still shortages in math, sci, esl, bilingual and SE.

Posted 6/16/06 2:19 PM
 

JenniferEver
The Disney Lady

Member since 5/05

18163 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

I remeber when I started college I would be able to start with just a BA, but I know things have changed. I'll have to look it up more carefully. I'd def be willing to teach math or science, though I'm not sure how qualified I am.

Posted 6/16/06 2:20 PM
 

MrsProfessor
hi

Member since 5/05

14279 total posts

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Re: Teachers: NYC Teaching Fellows/Teach for America

You also might try called the UFT- they do a lot to help people get their paperwork and certifications.

Posted 6/16/06 2:22 PM
 
 
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