Teachers in Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Schools

What a Teacher Does

Primary and secondary teachers work in either public or private institutions teaching one or more subjects to a class -- or several classes -- of students. Kindergarten and most elementary school teachers are responsible for only one class but must teach all subjects each day. Upper elementary, middle school and high school teachers have the opposite responsibility: they must teach one subject but manage multiple classes every day. A math teacher will work with either the public school district or a private school department head or advisor to create a curriculum that suits their class level and state standards and recommendations. Using textbooks, technology and other resources, a math teacher will help students understand basic principles and skills in areas like addition and subtraction, algebra, integers, advanced math, and even calculus, depending on which grade he or she teaches. They give and grade homework and tests, organize projects, prepare students for standardized exams, and communicate with teachers, principals, department heads and other educators to facilitate the learning process.

How to Become a Teacher

There are two main tracks to becoming a teacher. If you want to be a general education teacher, you should probably major in education and become accredited as you earn your undergraduate degree. But if you want to become a math teacher, working with middle school or high school students, you might prefer to major in math while working towards certification in education. Make sure that your school's training teacher program is accredited by both the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, and you'll make it easier for yourself to obtain full licensure after you graduate. If you want to work in a private school, you may not have to be licensed by the state board of education, but you should have taken some education training classes anyway to help you learn appropriate skills in educational technology, classroom management, and related subjects. For those who want to teach in public schools, you will need to research your state's exact requirements and licensing standards.

Career Outlook for Teachers

The employment outlook for teachers is strong, as teachers are needed throughout the country, in every city and community. Out of 3.5 million teaching jobs in the country, middle school teachers accounted for 659,500 jobs and high school teachers accounted for over 1 million positions. Overall, the teaching profession is expected to see a 13% increase in job growth through 2018. Middle school teachers will see a 15% increase, and secondary school teachers -- not including special education or vocational teachers -- will see a 9% increase. Teachers willing to work in inner cities and more rural areas will experience the best job prospects. The median annual wage for all teachers, kindergarten through high school, was $47,100 to $51,180 in 2008, and this salary range can vary greatly depending on your school district, whether you teach for a private or public school, your state, your experience, your education, and any special projects or groups you oversee, like becoming a department head.