Becoming a High School Teacher
Instruction in this spectrum of school grades refers to the education of children from ninth or tenth grade through their senior year of high school. Generally speaking, high school teachers prepare and present lessons, administer and grade tests, work with students both one-on-one and in groups or classes, and maintain classroom discipline. They evaluate and track each student's performance and progress, and regularly meet with parents and other school staff to discuss this. In addition, teachers may take students on field trips, supervise extracurricular activities, or provide extra after-school tutoring or assistance to students with behavioral or learning difficulties.
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Education, Training & Degrees for High School Teachers
All K-12 teaching positions share certain common qualifications. A bachelor's degree is required for all public school teaching positions, for example. This degree is often in education, early childhood development, or a similar field. Although a four-year degree is the minimum requirement, an increasing number of high schools prefer that their teachers possess, or are working toward, a master's degree. Some states are currently planning to make a five- or six-year program mandatory for K-12 teachers. Not all private schools require a bachelor's degree, but it is often preferred.In addition to a bachelor's degree, high school teachers in public schools must have completed 24 to 36 hours of college courses in the subject area they wish to teach.
All teaching positions have requirements beyond obtaining a degree. Often these include a term of practice teaching under the supervision of a certified and experienced teacher. States also require all public schoolteachers at every level to have a teaching license, to ensure the public that every teacher has met certain standards of teaching excellence. Licenses are granted by the respective State Boards, and must be renewed annually.
Various teacher-training programs are accredited by The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. While graduation from an accredited program is not mandatory, it certainly makes it easier for teachers to fulfill licensure requirements.
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Job Responsibilities and Desired Skills for High School Teachers
High school teachers, who are also known as secondary school teachers, teach students from ninth or tenth grade through high school graduation. Typically, the age range of these students runs from about 14 to 18. High school teachers most often focus on one specific subject, such as physics, chemistry, biology, or English, using lecture and presentation to provide additional depth, detail, knowledge, and instruction than was delivered in elementary or middle school studies. High school teachers develop lesson plans, assign homework, administer tests, establish classroom rules, and enforce discipline. They also may supervise after-school activities, such as sports, clubs, and dances.Anyone interested in pursuing a teaching career in any K-12 grade must be patient, hard working, motivating, organized, dependable, decisive, and able to cope with stress. Teachers of every grade must be aware of and respectful of differences in ethnicity, culture, religion, and race among students. The teacher should be passionate about teaching, have a genuine interest in the well being of youngsters, and be able to communicate clearly with students of high school age as well as with parents, administrators and other teachers.
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High School Teacher Salary Range and Employment Outlook
There is always a demand for teachers, and job openings are almost always available. Currently, there is a high demand for high school teachers, particularly in the subject areas of math and science.According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 1.1 million people in the U.S. held positions as secondary school teachers in 2004, and job opportunities are expected to be good to excellent well into the next decade. Employment opportunities will vary, however, depending on the locality, subject and grade level.
A high school teacher salary will also vary widely depending on factors such as location of the school and experience of the teacher. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2004, for example, the average annual salary for teachers in all K-12 grades was $43,660, but the range of salaries ran from a low of about $27,000 to a high of over $70,000.
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