Elementary teacher or dental assistant?

which job is better? i'm having a hard time!!

Elementary teacher or dental assistant?
If there is any doubt in your mind, go with dental assistant. Elementary teacher requires a very special kind of person. It is a very demanding job - and much of what you do isn't covered by salary but by the intrinsic values that the job provides.
Reply:dental assistant.





i would find it hard to leave my work at work if I was a teacher!


Teachers are under paid and the 2 I know don't like it that much.





Try this page ~acinet.org~


it compares salary, education requirement and job growth/popularity in the state you live in.





GOOD LUCK!
Reply:Elementary teacher you have to deal with children. If you can handle that then it's perfect for you. Just remember sometimes children aren't that bright so don't be harsh about it. Dental assistant. You assist the Dentist which assists the people with their tooth problems. Either way your helping the world. By teaching the children of the future or helping people with tooth conditions. Being a dental assistant may take a longer time though and get more pay. Ask yourself which one seems more worth it to you.
Reply:I don't know about dental assistant, but I can tell you about teaching. Unless you've been in a school situation prior to this (not just as a student), it may not be the job you expect. Much of it is not so much about teaching the kids as it is trying to get them to behave, trying to appease parents, trying to figure out how to fit in all the teaching and preparing you need to do when there are excessive demands made on your time (like having to test kids one-on-one repeatedly throughout the year which takes alot of actual teaching time away), and also being expected to turn in data and participate in staff events/trainings when you'd really rather use the time to get your classroom stuff done.





On the upside, you will really become attached to the kids (even the ones with behavior issues) and they will become attached to you. If you work with a good team, you'll develop a great comraderie with them and have someone to turn to when you're struggling with lesson ideas or need suggestions for dealing with behavior.





You also get a ton of holiday and vacation time, but this means (depending on what state you live in %26amp; how much they pay) you may not like the annual salary considering you are paid for only 3/4 of a year because that's what you actually work . I have friends who complain about teacher salaries being too low, but when you only work 3/4 of a year, its normal to expect you'd make 1/4 less than the average person who works all year. You probably will take alot of work home with you during the school year (especially the first couple years when you are just getting established - after that its easier), but you can afford to be completely work-free in the summer and on winter break, fall break, spring break, etc.





Some of the pros and cons of teaching vary with the area you live in too. Low-income/poverty areas mean lots of behavior problems but also lots of kids who really need a caring parent-figure in their lives (thus making the challenges more "worth it" because you can provide that love and care that they don't get at home). High income areas have less behavior issues but you'll probably have alot of parents breathing down your neck making sure their kids are getting enough attention from you and staying ahead of the learning curve.





If you have any kind of four-year degree right now, you will probably already qualify to be a substitute teacher (depending on your state regulations - but even if you don't, I've known some districts to take people without degrees becuase they are in need of subs so badly - check around!), so you might want to try that for awhile in different schools and areas just to see what its like. And what you like/dislike about the experience. This is also a good opportunity to ask other teachers how they feel about teaching.





I'm not sure what your draw is to teaching, but have you ever considered a library science degree? Librarians are in high demand, make very good money, and if you choose to, you could work in a school library so you get a bit of the teaching side too. Just an idea, as its something I think would be a fun job if you like that environment.
Reply:Of course I am biased because I am an elementary school teacher... but this job is the best in the world! I look forward to work every single day...