What are some good questions to ask?

What are some good questions to ask a teacher...?

• I plan on asking my teachers a bit about their jobs very soon, as I'm a senior considering becoming a teacher. I want to ask them questions like "When did you decide to become a teacher, and why?" or "How hard was it for you in the first five years?" Maybe just ask them to tell me about the whole thing, a bit. What are some other good questions I might want to ask a teacher when I do this?

• Answer:

  You might want to ask: What are some of the frustrating parts of your job? What are the most rewarding parts of your job? Did you feel properly prepared for your job through the education and training you received? How much time do you spend actually teaching, compared to grading, paperwork, meetings, etc.? What advice would you give a new teacher? Did you find ways to "try out" teaching before getting certified (volunteer work, tutoring, etc.)? Did these give you a good sense of teaching? Do you still receive further training, even years after your certification? How do you address different learning styles all in one classroom? What are your views on use of standardized tests?