Teacher Career Overview

A career in teaching offers a wide variety of opportunities for individuals who wish to convey knowledge and skills they have learned to future generations.Teachers act as facilitators or coaches to help their students learn to apply concepts and solve problems.Those striving to be teachers need to have a strong command of their subject areas, good judgment and solid communication skills so that they can teach others to grow to their full potential.The goal of educators is to attempt to give students a firm foundation so they can grow into useful members of society.

There is a wide range of opportunities for careers in the field of education and a variety of applicable degree programs.Educators today work in Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary and Postsecondary Education programs.And, they teach Adult, Vocational, Distance and Special Education classes, as well.Teachers work with students from varied ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds.It is important for teachers to work well with a diverse student population.

In addition to conducting classroom activities, teachers supervise study halls, recess, homeroom, lunchroom and extracurricular activities.In many schools, teachers are being given increased responsibility for selecting textbooks, developing curriculum and making budget decisions.

Work Environment for Teachers

Working with students as they grow and learn can be very rewarding.Seeing students develop new skills and maturity can bring a great deal of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment to the classroom teacher.

However, teaching can also be frustrating when an instructor is dealing with students who are unmotivated and disrespectful.Teachers may experience stress when dealing with large classrooms, heavy workloads, and run-down facilities.And they may find frustration in many public schools where they have little control over curriculum.

Teachers in private schools generally have smaller class sizes and more control over establishing curriculum and maintaining discipline.Students also tend to be more motivated since the admissions process is usually selective.

Many teachers work more than 40 hours a week performing duties outside the classroom during the school year.At traditional schools, however, they teach only ten months out of the year, with a two-month vacation.

Educational Requirements for Teachers

Requirements for teaching positions vary from state to state and are dependant upon the level of education that is being taught. Because Early Childhood educators work with children during their early, formative years, they require special training and education in the field of child development.Some states require a Bachelor�s degree in early childhood education, some require an Associate�s degree, and others require certification by a nationally recognized authority.

Requirements for licensure for elementary teachers also vary from state to state, but a Bachelor�s degree in education is required for all teaching positions in the public school system and for most private schools.The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education currently accredits teacher education programs in the United States.Graduating from an accredited program makes it easier for the prospective teacher to fulfill licensure requirements.

Most secondary school teaching positions require a student-teaching internship under the supervision of a certified teacher.All states require a Bachelor�s degree for licensure, and many states require that teachers obtain a Master�s degree in education within a certain number of years after they start teaching. Before teachers can obtain a license to teach in most states, they must pass examinations that test competency.

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