Middle School Teachers: Schools and Careers

Middle School Teachers - Career Information

Middle School Teachers

Middle school teachers typically specialize in teaching a specific subject such as biology, mathematics or history. Middle school falls between elementary and high school. Middle school teachers provide a more in-depth education in subjects introduced in elementary school.

Some teachers participate in making decisions regarding textbooks, the budget, teaching methods and curriculum design. They typically teach rotating classes and thus spend less time with each student than elementary school teachers.

Responsibilities

• Create lesson plans
• Prepare students for national and state tests and assessments
• Choose instructional materials and resources
• Motivate students to learn
• Grade homework
• Design tests
• Monitor student behavior
• Provide exposure to potential careers
• Provide assistance to individuals and groups
• Adapt lessons to different levels of learning ability within a group

Job Characteristics

Many middle school teachers have a diverse student population in their classes. Watching students gaining new skills and knowledge can be very rewarding. However, sometimes they have to deal with unruly students. Teachers may have to deal with stress due to the pressure of producing students that are capable of giving satisfactory performances on standardized tests in core subjects.

Some teachers work in modern school settings, yet some teachers work in older schools that are not in good shape and don't have all the modern amenities. When combining classroom teaching and work performed outside of the classroom some teachers work more than 40 hours a week. Most middle school teachers work a 10 month school year and have a two month summer vacation.

Teachers that are employed in private schools typically have smaller class sizes and are given more power in creating their curriculum and establishing performance standards.

Employment Middle School Teachers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted a 11 percent job growth for middle school teachers from 2006 to 2016 which is about as fast as average for all occupations. The demand for teachers varies by regions of the country and the subject taught. There is a demand for teachers that are bilingual and for those that can teach English as a second language.

In 2006 the median annual earnings for kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary teachers had a range from $43,580 to $48,690. In some schools teachers may receive extra pay by working with students in extracurricular activities or for coaching sports.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Middle school teachers are typically required to have a bachelor's degree in education. The Teacher Education Accreditation Council and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education provide accreditation for teacher education programs. Graduating from an accredited program is not required for becoming a teacher, however, it may make it easier to fulfill licensure requirements.

Most states offer alterative paths to licensure for people that have a college degree in other subjects. Private school teachers typically need a bachelor's degree but do not have to be licensed.

An education degree usually provides courses in topics such as psychology of learning, philosophy of education, teaching methods, and using computers and other learning technologies. In most programs students must partake in a student-teaching internship.

Every state requires public school teachers to be licensed. Most private schools do not require a license. In most states teachers must complete a minimum number of hours in continuing education in order to renew their license. Most states provide alternative licensure programs for teachers that have earned a bachelor's degree in the subject they will teach that have not taken the necessary education courses required for a regular license.

Resources

• National Education Association
• American Federation of Teachers

Major Employers

The top employers are public schools and private schools.

Schools for Middle School Teachers are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Middle School Teachers by major metro area.

The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Middle School Teachers, along with salary data by industry.

The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.