How much to get a passing mark?

I want to be a High School History Teacher. I need help, how do I get there?

• I am 19 years old and I live just north of Cincinnati, Ohio. In High School, I ****** around. Did a lot of drugs, made a lot of bad decisions. Graduated with a 2.3 GPA, and only scored a 19 on my ACT. I need to do something with my life and I have always loved History. I never visited my school counselor, and they never bothered me to talk about my plans. I have no idea what I have to do to get to where I want to be. I do not have any foreign language credits, and from my understanding this is a problem. I am working 40 hours a week, have bad credit along with my Mother. If needed, I could have my Father cosign on a student loan if thats the way I need to do it. Any general guidance is appreciated. However; if you have background as an educator or you know your stuff, I would like more relevant information to my case. I am not asking for you to do my work for me, but tell me what I have to do and give me some things to look into to find a way to get there. If you can truly help me, read on please. Graduated from a decent school with a GPA of 2.3. The school does use a 7 point grade scale as appose to the more common 10 point. Not sure if colleges take that into consideration or not. I did fail a few classes that I had to repeat. But, one thing I did not do is take a easy senior year. It is almost impossible for me to pass stupid elective classes, what most call... blow of classes. Its so easy I do not do any work and fail. The bare minimum to get a Diploma at my school was 4 years of English; 3 of Math, 3 of Science, 3 of History/Social Studies which include Government and Econ, a couple electoral credits, and the passing of all the sections of the Ohio Graduation Test. For me, I have 4 years of English, 4 of Math, 4 of Science, 5 of History/Social Studies classes which do include Government and Econ. Grades range from B's to D's all through school. Depended on my drug use, but last semester in junior year I wiped up and was able to range it off to all C's. Never took a foreign language class in High School because I knew I would fail it. That takes a lot of studying. Took my ACTs a couple months ago and the results ended up at a 19 average. This was after a summer and a couple months after I graduated, and I did no prep work. I am a good test taker, always have been, and its because of that I can thank for getting me to graduate. I know the material, but never brought my books home from High School. I am sure that if I were to put some effort and money into it, I could get at least over that 20 mark. My question to thous that can and are willing to help me out is what should my next move be? What are the prerequisites for being a High School Teacher, preferably in Ohio? What do I have to do to meet any of these prerequisites? What are some good schools in the Cincinnati Area that I can look into to be a High School History Teacher? Should I go to a community college like St. Clair, and then transfer into a actual University, like UC? If so, how does that work and what would it likely cost? Do I have to go to a University to become a High School Teacher at all? My Current Issues Teacher in High School told me that he has his Bachelors and the school is paying for him to go back and get his Masters. Is this common, and if so how can I take advantage? What kind of finical aid is out there for students interested in teaching? What does the real world think about Online Degrees like what the University of Phoenix has? Is that a possible route that wont hinder me later? Please help me out. I need someone who knows the field to give me some advice, there are so many options that I can see. I have no idea what is a waste of my time and money and what is not. If what is best and easiest happens to be not the cheapest, then I will do what I have to do (Loans). Tell me as much as you know and where/how to find information that you don't but I do need to know. Thank you for all answers. Its all helpful.

• Answer:

  Go to the state website for State Board of Education. You'll see the requirements. You have to start with a Bachelors degree. You might be required to do some student teaching, but there are ways around that if you ask. Then you can apply for your teaching certificate. You have to pass an exam to get it. Get some study skills. Remember studying is a means to an end. Keep your goal in mind. Online schools have to be accredited. Some are not. Ask the SBOE which schools have the requirements you need. Best of luck. Sometimes the troubled kids make the best teachers.