10 Myths About Being a Teacher CareerMetis.com

10 Myths About Being a Teacher Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comEveryone has opinions about everythingâ€"including teachers. As happens all too often, opinions become confused with facts. There are many preconceived concepts about being a teacher that has reached mythological statusâ€"and those who believe them aren’t teachers themselves.If these myths were good, it would be more tempting to turn a blind eye to them. But unfortunately, teachers seem to get an undeserved bad rap about their profession.Here are some of the most common myths about being a teacher, and the facts that they seem to overlook.Myth 1 â€" 8 to 3 and Off on WeekendsevalOne of the most common myths about being a teacher is that they only work from 8 to 3 during the week and have weekends off. In fact, most teachers actually work a minimum of 50 hours a week.Compared to many other professions, teachers are far more likely to work in the early mornings before class begins, to work late into the night, and to dedicate one Teachers earn about $36,14 1 in a year All jokes aside though, this is a very real myth that disregards the amount of training and preparation it takes to become a teacher. Teaching is a highly specialized field, with professionals not only having to be incredibly knowledgeable in their subject matter.In fact, teachers are all required to have some training in educational psychology, assessment, communication skills, classroom management, curriculum instruction, and budgeting. As one teacher has pointed out, a qualified teacher is required to have the same skillsetâ€"and levelâ€"as in any other profession.Myth 6 â€" Good Teachers Mean Good Student Grades and Test ScoresThe term “teaching” is actually something of a misdirection that has led to this popular myth about being a teacher. Educators don’t actually “teach” students anythingâ€"they merely facilitate the learning process.Learning in a wholly internal activity. Teachers are there to focus on a student’s motivation to learn and to provide an environment where students develop that motivation.While it’s easy to find a private English tutoror other teaching aids online, students still have to work hard to attain good grades. It is not a teacher’s job to motivate learners, although fostering and promoting that motivation certainly can be considered part of one’s responsibilities as an educational facilitator.Myth 7 â€" Teachers Are Born, Not MadeSimilar to Myth 5: “Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can’t, Teach”, this myth about being a teacher disregards the level of training required to become an educator.As mentioned already, all teachers have to undergo extensive training before earning their degrees. In fact, more than half of America’s teachers have a Master’s Degree.Furthermore, those summer developmental training courses they attend aren’t entirely optional. Teachers need to obtain graduate-level credits in order to retain their teaching certificates, which requires the attendance of further training every year.Myth 8 â€" Anyone Can Become a Teacher â€" It’s EasyAside from the fact that teachers undergo a lot of trainingâ€"both before they can start practicing their trade and continues throughout their careersâ€"the daily requirements of the job preclude many individuals from becoming teachers. Being a teacher is very much a full-time job.evalNot only are there the long hours to consider, but you have to be vigilant from the moment your students step foot onto school property to the moment they leave. Once students arrive at school, their teachers are held responsible for anything and everything they doâ€"whether in the teacher’s sight or not.Furthermore, the profession requires a lot of patience, dedication, creativity, and a love for the act of teaching.Myth 9 â€" It’s Better to Enter Teaching After Working in the IndustryAgain glossing over the amount of education-specific training required, the idea that it’s better to work in the industry before teaching a subject i s also highly ignorant of the profession.While it may be tempting to think that someone who has worked as a scientist may be a better science teacher Myth 10 â€" There Aren’t Any Out-of-Pocket ExpensesRemember how teachers are earning far less than other graduates? Well, unfortunately, their meager salary doesn’t only go toward providing for themselves and their families.In a rare instance, teachers receive a stipend to pay for classroom materials. Most schools merely provide a box of copy paper, some pencils, furniture, and basic textbooks.All the decorations, classroom library books, notebooks, crayons, markers, provided stationery, and folders (etc.) are actually paid for by the teacher. In fact, teachers tend to spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on classroom supplies every year, despite being underpaid and overworked.Final WordsThere are dozens of myths about being a teacher. These are just the ten most common ones. Working in educationâ€"especially with younger c hildrenâ€"may seem like all play and little work, but you’d be very surprised if you tried to walk in their shoes for a week.There’s certainly a reason many male teachers enter the profession after having worked in the militaryâ€"it requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and rigorous training to become a teacher.