We all had a favorite teacher in school who impacted the way we see the world and helped us become who we are today. Were you born to teach? If you love working with others, especially kids, becoming a teacher may be a great fit for you! Read on and learn about teaching careers.
THE DAY OF A TEACHER NEVER ENDS
What’s a day in the life of a teacher like? They are responsible for preparing their students for a variety of skills so they can be prepared for life after school. Elementary school, middle school, and high school educators all teach grade-level appropriate lessons. They have to assess their student's abilities, strengths, and even their weaknesses. They have to communicate with parents, teachers, and administration on the progress of their students, as well as interact with the students on their own progress. A lot, if not the majority, of the lessons, are geared toward the state-required testing.
Once the students have left the building, teachers will very often complete paperwork, fill in grades, hold conferences with parents, have discussions with other teachers regarding students, or help students after school. Sometimes, it’s a combination of everything just listed. Then, they’ll go home and prepare for the following days, whether it’s creating a lesson plan, grading classwork, or coming up with something new and exciting.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEACHER?
Some children spend more time with their teachers than they do with their parents. A teacher who makes a positive impact can change many lives. It’s a big responsibility; do you have what it takes?
- Patience: Teachers need to have patience as they are working with students with different abilities. It can be tough to watch students struggle, and sometimes, all it takes is the kind words of a teacher to help them on their way. Being patient is imperative to teaching.
- Passion: Many teachers feel their career is their calling. They are passionate about teaching children and helping them to navigate their way through that school year.
- Creative and resourceful: You will need to have the ability to figure out how to take the information you need to teach and presenting it in an fun, and exciting way. Teachers can use props, illustrations, mnemonics, and songs to teach key concepts and keep students engaged through lessons.
- Flexible: The days won’t always go as you envisioned, but you know how to roll with the punches while keeping students engaged and learning.
- Collaborative: Teaching students is a team effort, even though just one teacher stands in front of the students. Teachers collaborate with other teachers, administration, and the parents, to ensure the best possible education for every child.
THERE ARE PERKS TO TEACHING
Teaching careers come with quite a few perks.
- All the school vacations are also your vacations: From those long holiday weekends to summers off, one major perk to teaching is the vacation time. Plus, you’ll get a certain amount of paid vacation time annually, as well. You can even structure your pay to keep checks coming year-round, instead of just during the working months.
- You never know who you’ll inspire: Depending on what grade you teach, you’ll either spend the entire day with the same kids or have a different set pass through your door every time the bell rings. You’re helping to mold the minds of students who will one day go on to greatness, maybe because of something you said or did.
- It’s not a desk job: Teachers have a much better chance of achieving those recommended 10,000 steps daily. As a teacher, you’re probably not sitting much. You’ll be standing in front of your students during lectures.
- Pretty secure job: Most states have tenure laws that state after a certain amount of years, teachers have some job security. This number is different for every district.
- Health Insurance: One of the major bonuses of teaching is that most districts still provide health insurance for teachers and their spouses, even after retirement. In Michigan, health insurance is provided for 30 years after retirement.
HOW TO BECOME A TEACHER
- Bachelor’s degree: This is the minimum requirement necessary for getting into a career in education. In a bachelor’s degree program, you will take courses which will prepare you for being in a classroom. Whether you want to teach preschool or high school, you will have to get a bachelor’s degree first.
- Student teaching: Student teaching is a major factor in your education. You’ll work alongside a mentor, or experienced teacher, to gain your classroom experience. Student teaching time frames vary by state. It can be done during your college school year, as an internship, or after graduation and before obtaining a teaching position.
- Get certified/licensed: Like most other professions, most states require a standardized licensing exam for those who desire to work as a teacher. These credential tests show if your knowledge is up to state standards. Which grade you are planning on teaching will determine which portion of the test you’ll have to take. The Praxis Series is used by 40 states, and it is set up to determine teaching eligibility. States have their own acceptable score range. There are three different tests for educators: math, reading, and writing. There is also the subject assessment segment, which has multiple choice and essay questions varying from one to four hours depending on the subject you’re testing in. There are over 90 different areas, and you can take up to four tests per test date. The National Evaluation Series is a newer program given through Pearson, which is an organization specializing in professional development, teacher education, and educational technology. Each state sets their own requirements; check with your state’s board of education to find out which ones are required for you.
- Higher education: Having a bachelor’s degree is great, but a master’s degree makes you even more desirable to school districts. A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) can contribute to making you a more marketable, and better, teacher. The more in-depth your understanding is, the better suited you are to teach your students. A master’s degree will take between one and three years, depending on what you’ll be specializing in.
MASTER'S OF ARTS VS. MASTER'S OF EDUCATION
- Master’s of Arts in Teaching will focus on classroom careers. This is the degree mostly pursued by students wanting to teach students. A MAT degree curriculum will go into depth on how to be a teacher, everything from the method to the approach.
- Master’s in Education: The M.Ed is meant more for those wanting to go beyond the classroom, and work more in the administration aspect of education. You can still work as a teacher with this master’s degree, but you’ll also be eligible to pursue wider range of careers. Within the M.Ed, there are three major areas: Curriculum and Instruction, Counselor Education, and Educational Administration.
A TEACHER'S SALARY
Salary does depend heavily on the district and state you’re teaching in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average pay for elementary school teachers in 2023 was $70,740. The average for middle school teachers was $71,460. The average for high school teachers was $73,800.
Top Paying States for High School Teachers in 2023
|
State |
Salary |
|
$105,540 |
|
|
$96,400 |
|
|
$94,780 |
|
$87,000 |
|
|
$86,280 |
ARE THERE AVAILABLE TEACHING JOBS?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that the demand for high school teachers by 2032 is expected to show little to no significant increase or decrease. Despite this slightly limited growth, the BLS still expects about 67,100 new jobs to open for high school teachers each year throughout the next decade.
Teachers are among the most influential people our kids come into contact with. It’s so important to be sure that teaching is what you want to do. Lifelong learners are shaped by other lifelong learners. Could you be the next teacher to make a great impact?
References: