the basics
What's it like to be a high school teacher?
Overview
All teachers are tasked with developing curriculum, basing creative lessons around state standards, presenting information in an understandable and interesting way, producing assignments for students every day, and then grading those assignments. However, high school teachers may also act as mentors, write college recommendations, or even coach on the side. That is why education is a great way to make a difference in the community.
Requirements
To become a teacher, the first step is to complete a bachelor’s degree with a high GPA (3.0+) in an education specialty (Physics, English, etc.). This usually takes 4-5 years depending on the majors and/or minors one pursues. After that, a teacher preparation program and a student teaching program may be required depending on the state requirements to obtain credentials, which takes about 1-3 years. Some colleges and universities offer the teacher preparation program as part of the bachelor’s degree to minimize the time spent in college and maximize the time spent in classrooms. The student teaching program allows you to practice teaching in a classroom setting under the supervision of a teacher. Once these programs are completed, the final step before applying to jobs is to pass the state’s teacher licensure test. All the while, keeping strong grades and a clean background.
What Can High School Students Do?
- Shadow your teachers and ask them questions about their job
- Tutor peers or siblings
- Narrow down the subject or age you would want to teach
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