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Degrees and Schools
Middle school teachers usually get started in their career by earning a bachelor's degree in education from a college or university. They usually need to be sophomores before they can apply for admission to an education program. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council award accreditation to schools with educational programs.
Those interested in becoming teachers who hold bachelor's degrees in unrelated fields can attend 1-year professional development programs which qualify them for licensure.
Classes
Required coursework for an education degree typically begins during the sophomore year. Areas of study include:
- philosophy of education
- teaching methods
- psychology of learning
- use of computers and other learning technologies
In addition to these classes, middle school education students usually take course in areas of specialization such as math, English, the physical and social sciences, music and / or art. Most middle education students are expected to participate in a student-teaching internship as well.
Online Classes and Programs
Obtaining a degree or credential in middle education through an online program can be a convenient option. At least one school with an online program is accredited by TEAC. Online schools, however, may be less likely to help set up student teaching internships or assist with job placement upon graduation.
Employment Requirements
The traditional career path for middle school teachers involves obtaining a bachelor's degree in middle school education before obtaining a teaching license. Due to high demand for public school teachers, most states now allow graduates with bachelor's degrees in non-related fields to attend one-year professional development programs to qualify for licensure.
Teachers who work for private schools do not need to be licensed but must have a bachelor's degree in education.
A potential teacher's state board of education or licensure advisory committee usually grants licensure for grades 5-8. Each state has different specific requirements, but most require a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved teacher training program, and practice teaching that is supervised. They may also require a minimum grade point average, training in technology and / or a master's degree at some point in the future. Graduates from a school accredited by the NCATE or TEAC find this to be an advantage when obtaining licensure.
How to Evaluate Schools
Consider asking these questions when comparing middle education programs:
- Location - What does the state require for licensure? What states fund education well and offer the best amenities for teachers?
- Reputation - Where do the school and its education program rank nationally? Is the program accredited by TEAC or NCATE? If an online program, have direct-learning organizations granted accreditation?
- Class size and courses - Are class sizes conducive to particular styles of learning? Are course offerings comprehensive?
- Tuition and financial assistance - Are loans, scholarships and work study programs available? What support is available to help students take advantage of these opportunities?
- Student-teaching internships and job placement - Does the school facilitate placement in student-teaching internships during school and jobs after graduation? Are the kinds of internships that are available relevant and desirable? How many graduates are successfully placed?
Middle School Teacher Job Description
To students in grades 5-8, teachers are key authority figures and role models. Middle-school-age youth are developing interests in specific areas such as math, music, English or science, and learning intense social lessons. Middle school teachers act not just as educators, but as coaches and facilitators. What their students learn from them can greatly influence their experiences and successes as adults.
Middle school teachers are responsible for educating youth according to national and state standards. Their responsibilities include:
- Instructing youth in intermediate levels in math, English, history, science, music, art, social sciences and physical education
- Specializing in particular areas of emphasis, often determined by what roles need to be filled at the school
- Creating lesson plans, planning field trips and inviting guest speakers
- Presenting established curricula as selected by the school
- Preparing students for and conducting national and state tests and assessments
- Using computers, games, music, artwork, videos, experiments, books and goal-setting to motivate students to learn
- Selecting required instructional materials and resources
- Administering and grading homework and tests
- Monitoring behavior; instilling discipline and productivity
- Coaching individual students and groups; promoting development of social skills through group interaction
- Adapting lessons to different levels of learning ability within a group
- Addressing current issues in the news, and happenings in the world and local community
- Encouraging understanding of racial and cultural diversity, and social mores
- Exposing students to potential careers
In many cases, middle school teachers rotate classes, spending less time with each student than elementary school teachers. They may have larger classes in public schools, or smaller classes in private schools. A two-month summer break allows middle school teachers time to plan for the next school year and to take continuing education courses.
Career Profiles
Job Title: Middle School Teacher - 6th Grade
Attended: Penn State • New Kensington, PA
Studied Education And Curriculum Development (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 1/26/2012
"I enjoy what I do. I enjoy working with the students. I do not enjoy the politics and union battles."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | Set union pay scale where for better or worse I will receive the same level of pay increase. The yearly evaluation is informative for me. |
| Job Security | 10 | Unions protect tenured teachers. Administration appreciates and approves of my teaching style and student engagement. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | Eventually, the pay will be good if the contract does not change (again). Unions and districts renegotiate every couple of years. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Sometimes parents don't care. Sometimes students don't care. Sometimes the partners I work with don't pull their share of the load. Report card and mid-term time is the worst because students and parents don't always communicate and parents call me to find out what their kid is or isn't doing. |
| Task Variety | 9 | It is what I make it. Although the schedule stays the same, I can engage the students in a variety of educational practices. I try to meet the different learning styles. It makes it fun and engaging. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I think it's cool because I get to influence the leaders of the future. Teachers generally get a bad wrap because of the summers off and union battles, not to mention standardized test assessments. |
| Career Flexibility | 2 | Public education requires a set time schedule. The students show up to the given location and the teachers teach. Generally speaking, education jobs are tough to come by. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | Always collaborating with peers, administrators, parents and students. Work within my grade level, within the middle school, and within the district to collaborate with other educators in my subject areas. |
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