Job Discussion Forums

[Spatula City]

I have an offer right now to be a kindergarten homeroom teacher (as in, be with the kids from early morning until 5pm), and while it seems like total madness and possibly an early grave, the money is really good. I have done individual classes and enjoyed them, but never anything like this.

Any experiences, tips, etc... would be appreciated.

[nimadecaomei]

Early grave. I am guessing the good money is to buy the plot, coffin, and tombstone. Not much of a life.

But, I am guessing the kids will go to other classes during the day and give you some free time? Or would you then be teaching other kids something else?

More info would help to evaluate better

[Modernist]

I can't even imagine it, personally. I wouldn't even do homeroom teacher for HS age kids. The constant presence of the same kids, even if they are good kids, can be extremely draining. They go a little bonkers because they spend so much time together, and the HR teachers have to sort that stuff out constantly. Subject teachers just get them in and out.

And then kindergarten?! Are you serious? My God. I can't believe you are even considering it. I mean, that's hours and hours of dealing with them. I taught 1G/2G once, for a single term, and I saw them twice a week, for 40 minutes. And I had a co-teacher in there with me. And even then, I was SO glad when it was over. It was exhausting. You would be dealing with endless stress and crisis and every time things have settled down something else would happen. Most of them can't focus for more than 5 minutes on anything, even coloring or videos. Those age kids don't even understand how to be in school yet.

Just remember: 'early morning until 5 PM'...it's not teaching. It's daycare.

I'd also love to know what constitutes 'really good' money in this case. Like, even 20K a month wouldn't be enough for me to deal with that. I had a subject teaching job on the table recently, I almost got it, it was 20K+ a month not including housing, for 20 teaching hours with really smart HS kids. Are you going to get AT LEAST that much at this job? Because you would be working MUCH harder than I would have been.

[Spatula City]

They're offering 28000 per month before tax.
To be honest, I am not even certain that it's enough... but I would have helpers.

[cormac]

[Markness]

Avoid!

Spending a ton of time with tots gets stressful. Parents are more likely to be treating you in a suspicious manner because of all of the bad juju that kindergarten teachers have been getting in the news recently. The money can't cover your stress levels as well. And a final point, the little ones require constant attention, like all the time. This isn't something that is fun, especially when you've got a little bugger that has been raised by grandma and grandpa and doesn't know what "no" means.

You can always find a decent public school or "international department", and do a little privates during the week and you'll feel less stressed out and earn the same dough.

[rioux]

50k minimum for that.

Remember too, that these kids are young, so at least 2 naps a day are definitely in order.

[geosmiley]

You should acquaint yourself with the cultural realities of the single child policy in China. Grandma and Grandpa will be scrutinizing your every move and if you so much as miss a sticker for their spoiled little forehead it will be the crime of the century. This will be a train wreck and you'll be the conductor.

[nimadecaomei]

I work at an AP center in a high school and earn that + a nice housing allowance. 21 contact hours (40-45 minutes each) max so far, max in contract is 25. My point is not to point out my pay, etc and troll, my point is you can do better.

However, you still never said how many periods you would actually be babysitting them. How many periods are they in the home room? When out of homeroom do you have to teach other classes? If they are in home room 2-3 periods and you don't have other responsibilities it might be acceptable.

[Kalkstein]

It's a fairly standard offer for the type of job that it is. Not many places will pay you a higher base salary if you don't have related qualifications or a teaching license. Whether or not you take it is up to you, it'll be tiring no doubt and you'll be working for that money but they'll find someone to do the job for 28k.

If you the money concerns you that much then just take a teaching job at a public high school with an international program that has low hours or a university job and fill the rest of your time with private tuition. You can get 600/h without much difficulty. You could potentially make double that salary after tax.

Every option has its own pitfalls, if you're not that keen on being long periods with children then don't take it.

[Spatula City]

[Spatula City]

Yeah, you've all successfully convinced me not to take the job.

I was sent a schedule, and the work goes from 7:30AM-5:00PM every day... and I would be with them practically every minute of that time. There is a nap time, sure, and the classes are just 15 or 20 minutes... but the thought of dealing with breakfasts, lunches, washroom breaks, playtime, etc... it's brutal.

I really can't imagine surviving an entire week.

[Chris33166]

I'm curious - how much vacation time / year for these kindergarten type jobs?

Also, what about the AP center?

Is it all paid time off?

[Elicit]

Just reading this thread is enough to give me nightmares. Like the majority, I’d say you can’t put a price on keeping your sanity.

[mandu]

I think its a great idea,I was a childcare teacher in New Zealand,I would love to have just one kindergarten class all day everyday.the children will get English all day everyday.

it is a good idea.

when I was doing childcare I changed nappies put the kids to bed,gave them morning tea lunch and afternoon tea.I set up activities inside and outside.

gave mat times(singing songs and reading storys.

if you think you can handle it you should do the job,very rewarding.

I would love to do that.