Job Discussion Forums

[wildchild]

I'm currently negotiating a contract with a school for next year and wanted to get an idea of my bargaining position. It is an elementary school (K - 8th or 6 - 14 year olds) located in the States. They are looking to hire me to teach Spanish a few hours a day.

From your experience teaching language around the world, what is a good estimate/average of in-class hours/contact hours that would be considered full-time? How many would be considered part-time? What would be the ideal ratio of in-class hours to prep time hours?

let me know if I can give more info and I thank you for your input, should you decide to give it.

[wildchild]

those of you working in Universities, Secondary, and Elementary schools, how many teaching hours do you work a day? How many preparation hours are you given a day?

Thanks.

[spiral78]

I get one prep hour for every contact hour, two prep hours for every contact hour of a writing course (plus paid time to mark papers depending on length). Contact hours normally should be 20, plus 20 prep hours. The prep hours may or may not be spent at school - it is assumed that we can prep wherever we want, and it is also assumed that we are paid for our expertise. Meaning that some courses may require minimal prep and some may require more, but we are paid one to one regardless.

Writing curriculum is a separate contract, and should not be considered 'prep.' Ideally.

[Glenski]

My work history in hours:

conversation school: 25 classroom hours per week (about 16 classes, which translate into about 11 lesson plans)

private high school: 17 classes (45 minutes) per week, translating into about 11 lesson plans); plus half a dozen meetings, mandatory club activity, dorm duty, etc.

university: 4-6 90-minute classes per week (2-4 lesson plans)

[Justin Trullinger]

Dear Glenski-

I certainly hope they're paying you more for the hard university work!

(I gotta get some more paper for my wall...)


Best,
Justin

[naturegirl321]

I'd say 20 to 25 is normal, I'm at 31 now. and teach Maths, English, science and social studies, and art, but art is now dance for this quarter. Fifth grade primary

[wildchild]

this year, I have about one preparation hour to every 5 hours in-class. It would seem that I'm entitled to more, eh spiral?

[spiral78]

Wild-child, I've worked at three diferent universities and never for less than one to one. Maybe you have a rep for not doing prep??

No, really, I thought that was pretty standard...unless maybe you are teaching the same course over and over inside a week to students who are cut-out copies...