Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Teacher
The job of a teacher is essential to developing skilled, intelligent adults who have a chance to find rewarding, productive careers. Some teachers may have expertise in particular subject areas and wish to share it with students, while others enjoy working with children and teach multiple subjects to younger students. Whatever the case, teaching places special demands on those who select it as a career.
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Types
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Teachers work in several different types of positions and school environments. Some work at public schools while others work in private schools with different policies and requirements. Elementary teachers work with younger students and often teach multiple subjects to a single group of students. Secondary school teachers are more likely to focus on one or two areas of specialization and teach it to several classes of students during a single school term. Preschool teachers, bilingual education teachers and teachers who work with disabled or special needs students also represent variety within the field of teaching.
Background
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The basic qualification most teachers share is a bachelor's degree. This may be a degree in a specific subject area, augmented by specialized teacher instruction courses, or an education degree. Public schools typically require special certification. Teachers with a master's degree may be able to access a higher pay grade or find more job opportunities, but a master's degree is seldom a requirement.
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Regulations
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Each state has its own set of regulations governing teacher licensing or certification. These regulations apply only to public schools, with private schools free to set their own standards for hiring. State certification may be further divided into single-subject secondary certification and multiple-subject primary education, with additional certifications for special education. Certification requires a prospective teacher to complete a teacher education program and pass a skills exam. Teachers can also receive credentials through the national teacher certification program, which may make it easier to find a job or allow a teacher to reach a higher salary.
Skills
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Teachers typically need a variety of skills to engage students and present information in a thorough, clear way. A teacher needs to be a strong communicator with multiple strategies for communicating visually, verbally and through a hands-on approach with students who have diverse learning styles. Teachers also need to develop strong time management skills to cover the required material in a given class session and over the course of a full semester. Finally, teachers need patience and interpersonal skills to deal with unruly or challenging students, school administrators and colleagues.
Considerations
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Job prospects and salary expectations vary for teachers based on region and subject area. Rural and urban school districts, which teachers view as less desirable, offer the best opportunities for finding a job while suburban school districts are more competitive. Teachers who have a certification in a math or science subject area are also in higher demand. Many teachers belong to unions, which negotiate with schools over salary, benefits and hiring and retention practices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median teacher salary was between $47,100 and $51,180, as of 2008.
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References
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