What I mean is, I am doing a ACP (alternative certification program) and will be taking the Secondary / High School Mathematics License Exam at the conclusion of my program with the intent to get a job as a math teacher (preferably IB).

MY Uni degree is in Business and ive not had math in quite the time, so I am / will re-teach myself everything that I forgot.

What publication does your school / curriculum use?

It was my first day at my host school (observations / student teaching) and their school used Haese IB books along with Glencoe books.

I am looking to stock up on some good books. Pretty much re-teaching myself everything from the ground up. Which books would you guys recommend me to buy or any other advice or resources I could use to help?

In reference to the last poster,

While you prob wont be able to get an elite school out the gate, doesnt mean you will only be destined to get a job at the bottom tier with a low salary starting out. Anything is possible and many things go into getting a job.

Hello,

I am actually teaching in Korea and doing the TeacherReady program as we speak. Finish the program in May/June.

I will give you my opinions from spending countless hours researching and talking with people.

TeacherReady is an hybrid online / onsite (mentor school / teacher) ACP. It wont keep you/us from getting a job, but at the same time it wont look "good" on the resume. Kill the interview and add my last piece of advice at the end of this post to help offset the "online ACP" stigma.

Your ESL experience will count for nothing, generally speaking.

Having a masters is only "icing on the cake" imo. It will obviously make you more competitive and increase your pay in some cases. Having one is great, but I wouldnt worry about not having one.

My advice would be to get your license in a high demand / need field. (High School Math / Science or in Computers / Technology.)

I think ill throw on the CS license exam as well. Seems like an interesting subject.

I am curious, when ppl talk about the computer related jobs having a fare amount of openings do they mean computer science or technology education (drafting?)

@PsyGuy

There will be learning targets and goals for the students to learn. If I can explain and demonstrate each along with giving them feedback during a class while they practice the day's learning target then I don't see what the problem is. Now if I can't do the above than yes that will be a problem in which case I wouldn't agree to teach the class in the first place if I didn't feel confident in my knowledge on said subject.

Either way, its the path I choose. Just gotta buckle up and handle my business and learn / acquire the knowledge that I need to know and seek out the advice of people that have been in the field for awhile.

@Teachermom

Yea man, I made a google doc with all math resources and sites and have that one listed.

@Pgrass

I disagree. You don't have to have natural talent so long as you know how to teach every learning target in X subject and your students learn what is required / expected of them. Obviously being a natural helps for improvising, doing questions on the fly, answering theoretical questions, but is doesnt mean you cant be a successful teacher without being a natural.

True, I will be sure to have extra problems / work in my file to give them (which I will have the answers for) for that situation. Thanks for bringing that to light, hadnt thought about that yet.

I'll do everything in my power to know the material inside and out.

I doubt I will be teaching HL for my first contract though.

[quote]
That isn't the way it works I am afraid. You can not be prepared for even half the questions the students will ask you. For example, when considering vectors and angles, maybe a student will ask why we use abs(a.b)=abs(a)abs(b)cos(theta) in one question while we use a.b=abs(a)abs(b)cos(theta) in another.

The chances are that no other teacher will be able to help you, since there is usually only one HL math teacher in a school.[/quote]


While there might be some theoretical questions I might not be prepared for, there will not be ANY questions in regards to solving a problem / coming to the correct answer for a question that will appear in my class. ie I will know step by step how to solve every question.

There are many avenues to get answers and advice outside of the other math teacher (if there even is one) in your school.

[quote]
If you are self teaching yourself high school maths you will not have the knowledge/ability to teach HL maths. It is much more difficult than whatever you are teaching yourself.

Schools will not know whether you have the ability to teach HL when they interview/hire you. They will know within the first term though as you are stood staring at your whiteboard, wondering how to solve a problem that you cannot solve, with students complaining that you cannot teach the subject.[/quote]

That would be impossible. All problems I would give to the students or that would be in the book I would have solved prior to that class and would be able to explain / show the process of coming to that answer. When developing my lesson plan / curriculum if there is a problem I cant solve I will go to someone that can solve it and get it addressed before class. I could certainly get tripped up if I didnt know in advance what the questions / problems were. But that wont be the case in my classroom.

@Antitravolta

Where / how did you get your mathematics license? (school or ACP) I am thinking about throwing a Computer Science license on my resume as well.

How would a school know / determine you dont have the ability to teach HL?

I am self teaching myself high school mathematics right now. Will hopefully have it all down at least to a decent level by the time I take my licensing exams next Dec/Jan.

Seems like a daunting task at the moment as I forgot alot of math from high school and college and pretty much working from the ground up as if I was a student.

Ill get it all sorted though.

Man you have me worried. I will have no experience with my high school mathematics license next hiring season.

I think you would have got more leads and interest if you went to a job fair.

Hopefully Ill be able to land something in the ME with no taxes and the ability to tutor and double my salary.

You certified to teach Middle School or High School mathematics?

Too many gringos in Medellin for my taste. The Rolas are a bit on the conservative side to add with the dreary weather in Bogota. Cali is great, only downside is no beach to go to.

Pretty sure your making considerably more than "next to nothing" if you are working at one of the top 2 IS in Barranquilla. (Parrish ect.)

All things considered Barranquilla is the best city in Colombia for me.

1) Off the tourist / gringo trail
2) Close to awesome beaches (Tayrona) & cool costal towns of Cartagena y Santa Marta
3) Beautiful women that in true Costena fashion know how to have a good time
4) Great nightlife