Teaching Subjects

tvnutz

I just completed my PGDE and looking for jobs at the moment. In my degree I have History to first year,which means I could have done it as a subject in the PGDE and be able to teach it to Junior Cert. However I couldn't get any classes in my teaching practice school so I couldn't do it.

Is there anyway for me to be able to teach history to JC level now? I really enjoy history and would like to teach it even if it is just to JC level. However since my dip is done and I am not technically qualified to teach it,is there any other course or anything that would qualify me to teach history?

gaeilgebeo

tvnutz wrote: »

I just completed my PGDE and looking for jobs at the moment. In my degree I have History to first year,which means I could have done it as a subject in the PGDE and be able to teach it to Junior Cert. However I couldn't get any classes in my teaching practice school so I couldn't do it.

Is there anyway for me to be able to teach history to JC level now? I really enjoy history and would like to teach it even if it is just to JC level. However since my dip is done and I am not technically qualified to teach it,is there any other course or anything that would qualify me to teach history?

The teaching council will not recognise you as qualified to teach history because you do not have it to degree level.

tvnutz

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

The teaching council will not recognise you as qualified to teach history because you do not have it to degree level.

Yet there are so many teachers teaching it to JC level having only done it in first year. And you can do it as part of the dip despite only having it in first year. So clearly schools don't really care what the teaching council actually think,would that be fair to say!? As long as you are registered with them thats all that matters.

There was a teacher in my school last year teaching geography who didn't have it in her degree at all,her only qualification was geography in her leaving cert. She rang the teaching council to see if they were ok with her teaching it and they said if the school is happy with you teaching it then so are we.

I'm just curious if there is anything I can do to increase my chances of being able to teach it.

Blushingblue

I was wondering about this too. So my subjects for the Teaching Council are Accounting and Business. I'll be doing the PGDE this September and I was given all first year Business Studies classes as my school only gives first years to student teachers. For college, Business Studies was one pedagory/methodology so I chose Maths as my second as I studied it for the first 2 years out of 4 in my Degree.

So once I'm finished the PGDE and register with the Teaching Council with Accounting and Business studies, if I'm asked to by a school, will I be able to teach Maths as well?

gaeilgebeo

tvnutz wrote: »

Yet there are so many teachers teaching it to JC level having only done it in first year. And you can do it as part of the dip despite only having it in first year. So clearly schools don't really care what the teaching council actually think,would that be fair to say!? As long as you are registered with them thats all that matters.

There was a teacher in my school last year teaching geography who didn't have it in her degree at all,her only qualification was geography in her leaving cert. She rang the teaching council to see if they were ok with her teaching it and they said if the school is happy with you teaching it then so are we.

I'm just curious if there is anything I can do to increase my chances of being able to teach it.

She rang the teaching council to see if it was ok? Very diligent.
Of course there are many teachers teaching subjects that are in the first year of there degree or not in their degree at all, but the teaching council hasn't been around all that long... Again, it's entirely up to the school, but if a school advertises a history position, you won't be seen as qualified.
I know that the VEC that I work for have become very strict on this. A business teacher applied for a maths position but because the teaching council didn't recognise her maths, she wasn't called for interview. She called the school to ask why she wasn't shortlisted and this is the answer she was given.
I'm sorry if you didn't like my reply to your post but I am only trying to give you an answer on how things stand at the minute. If you can get a school to employ you as a history teacher, go for it

dory

The only way this could work is if you get hired as some other kind of teacher and then if you get a permanent job the principal might need you to teach some History to fill up your timetable. You could mention it to the principal once you're hired that you wouldn't mind a few history hours.
Not much chance of being hired as a history teacher though.

tvnutz

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

She rang the teaching council to see if it was ok? Very diligent.
Of course there are many teachers teaching subjects that are in the first year of there degree or not in their degree at all, but the teaching council hasn't been around all that long... Again, it's entirely up to the school, but if a school advertises a history position, you won't be seen as qualified.
I know that the VEC that I work for have become very strict on this. A business teacher applied for a maths position but because the teaching council didn't recognise her maths, she wasn't called for interview. She called the school to ask why she wasn't shortlisted and this is the answer she was given.
I'm sorry if you didn't like my reply to your post but I am only trying to give you an answer on how things stand at the minute. If you can get a school to employ you as a history teacher, go for it

Sorry,I didn't mean it to come across that I didn't like your reply,as a matter of fact thanks for replying! I was just saying was there anything I can do to improve my chances of being able to teach history! I did reckon that it would probably have to go along the lines of getting a job in my primary subject and then if the school is ok with it,teach history.

And just on another note,I heard VECs would be stricter on these kind of things in general anyway,is that true?

and ye very diligent on her part! :P don't know if I would have been bothered ringing them!

tvnutz

dory wrote: »

The only way this could work is if you get hired as some other kind of teacher and then if you get a permanent job the principal might need you to teach some History to fill up your timetable. You could mention it to the principal once you're hired that you wouldn't mind a few history hours.
Not much chance of being hired as a history teacher though.

Ye that is what I was thinking. I hadn't put any hope really on being hired as a history teacher,but rather that once I got a job,I might be able to teach history by saying I have it to first year in my degree,as you said.

mrboswell

Yea it appears that VEC's are stricter.

There is a common misconception going around that the schools seem part of.
Many schools are advertising subjects up to "Leaving Certificate Higher Level".

According the the useless Teaching Council you are either qualified to teach or you are not, at every level. If you are not qualified you are not supposed to be teaching at any level - Junior of Senior.

Doing a History degree at night seems like your only bet.

pathway33

tvnutz wrote: »

is there any other course or anything that would qualify me to teach history?

If you just do the history modules from the www.oscail.ie BA by distance learning you will be qualified to teach history to leaving cert. No need to do the full degree as you have a degree already, just the history modules (4 or 5 out of the 6 available)

Nead21

pathway33 wrote: »

If you just do the history modules from the www.oscail.ie BA by distance learning you will be qualified to teach history to leaving cert. No need to do the full degree as you have a degree already, just the history modules (4 or 5 out of the 6 available)

that's not recognised by the TC, only the Science Degree in Information Technology from Oscail

http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/_fileupload/TC_Publications/Autoquals_updated_16th_April_2010_59583648.pdf

Miss Lockhart

Nead21 wrote: »

that's not recognised by the TC, only the Science Degree in Information Technology from Oscail

http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/_fileupload/TC_Publications/Autoquals_updated_16th_April_2010_59583648.pdf

Bottom of page 9: Bachelor of Arts (Oscail)

peanuthead

I'm a fully qualified english teacher. I have no maths in my degree at all but want to become qualified.

Can I do that through Oscail too?

P

pathway33

peanuthead wrote: »

I'm a fully qualified english teacher. I have no maths in my degree at all but want to become qualified.

Can I do that through Oscail too?

P

No. But you can qualify as a maths teacher through the Open University.

peanuthead

pathway33 wrote: »

No. But you can qualify as a maths teacher through the Open University.

Okay, thanks.

Not being lazy here now, I just don't really know much about this stuff.

Where is the link to that? And would it look better on paper if I did it in a bricks and mortar college?

pathway33

peanuthead wrote: »

Okay, thanks.

Not being lazy here now, I just don't really know much about this stuff.

Where is the link to that? And would it look better on paper if I did it in a bricks and mortar college?

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mathematics-and-statistics/mathematics/index.htm

For maths anyway I'd say you would be fine coming from a distance learning course because of the apparent demand for maths teachers. UCD and NUI Maynooth run higher diplomas in maths which they say are suitable for those wishing to teach maths but I don't know if the Teaching Council recognise them yet.

peanuthead

pathway33 wrote: »

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mathematics-and-statistics/mathematics/index.htm

For maths anyway I'd say you would be fine coming from a distance learning course because of the apparent demand for maths teachers. UCD and NUI Maynooth run higher diplomas in maths which they say are suitable for those wishing to teach maths but I don't know if the Teaching Council recognise them yet.

Okay cheers.

I might give the good old TC a buzz on Monday to get their angle on things.

Thanks though!

rainbowtrout

peanuthead wrote: »

Okay cheers.

I might give the good old TC a buzz on Monday to get their angle on things.

Thanks though!

The Open University maths degree is on the TC list of recognised qualifications. I'm doing it at the moment (already a qualified science teacher). I'm about two thirds of the way through the course.

peanuthead

So If I want a maths degree to teach maths, which course am I looking to take up? Mathematics?


Seems like such a stupid question, but the only stupid questions....

peanuthead

Jesus, that fee jumps right up when you choose republic of ireland!!!!

rainbowtrout

peanuthead wrote: »

So If I want a maths degree to teach maths, which course am I looking to take up? Mathematics?


Seems like such a stupid question, but the only stupid questions....

There are two degrees recognised by TC, BSc Mathematics and BSc Maths and Stats. I'm doing the Maths and Stats one because it doesn't involve a one week summer school in the UK, the other one does I think. It's normally in July when I'm correcting LC exams which pays for my degree... so the summer school would be catch 22 for me.

peanuthead wrote: »

Jesus, that fee jumps right up when you choose republic of ireland!!!!

yes, but you are eligible for tax relief on the tuition fees. The form is on the revenue website. I did 90 credits the first year, 120 (maximum) the second year - which nearly killed me, never again, and got credit for modules from my previous degree so I have four more modules to go. I've taken a year out for a break and I'll probably do the remaining modules one at a time, I'm in no rush for the qualification and it'll spread out the cost. So it'll be another four years I reckon.

roe_cat

I did 90 credits the first year, 120 (maximum) the second year - which nearly killed me, never again, and got credit for modules from my previous degree so I have four more modules to go. I've taken a year out for a break and I'll probably do the remaining modules one at a time, I'm in no rush for the qualification and it'll spread out the cost. So it'll be another four years I reckon.

So are you taking the full degree? Anyone just taken 60 (or 54? = 30% of degree over 3 years) ects in maths with OU to add it to other teaching subjects? If so - how careful do you have to be about your choice of modules? - and how long did/would it take and how much did it cost?

Postgrad10

Hi,
The open university maths degree has a good reputation. Another option would be through the evening arts degree in Ucd. You could definately get the credits
for maths you need and it's definately a widely recognized university.

EoghanRua

Postgrad10 wrote: »

Hi,
The open university maths degree has a good reputation. Another option would be through the evening arts degree in Ucd. You could definately get the credits
for maths you need and it's definately a widely recognized university.

Maths is on offer in the everning BA at level 3 only this year at UCD. If there was an intention to continue to offer the subject it would have been offered at level one this year too I would expect. Same goes for Irish and English. That degree course really looks as if it being phased out as some of the evening courses now require day-time attendance too.