Middle School Teacher: Employment Info and Qualifications Needed to Teach Middle School

Middle School Teachers work in private or public schools offering classroom instruction in subjects like math, science or English. They require at least a bachelor's degree in a subject of specialization and a teaching license to qualify to teach students in grades five through eight.

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Career Definition for a Middle School Teacher

Middle School Teachers foster intellectual and individual development of children between the fifth and eighth grades, either within the elementary school or in a separate school dedicated specifically to this age group. Middle School Teachers design age-specific curricula, prepare activities, administer tests, grade assignments and enforce discipline in the classroom.

How to Become a Middle School Teacher

Required Education for a Career in Middle School Teaching

All teachers are expected to have at least a bachelor's degree, and public schools require a teaching license; private schools may or may not require the same license. Requirements for obtaining the license vary by state. Optimal education for Middle School Teachers will be a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in an area of specialization (English, history, etc.), along with a teaching certificate. Another possibility, though now less favored by employers, is a more general bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Though Middle School Teachers are not required to earn a master's degree, additional certification and a higher degree in education may offer a more competitive salary and better career options. Teachers with extensive on-the-job experience and education may be able to move ahead into a position as mentor, guidance counselor, supervisor, program director or school principal.

Required Skills for a Middle School Teacher Career

Middle School Teachers are just as involved in teaching as they are in personal development. One minute they are involved in the lesson plan, and the next, in helping a student set a new personal goal or share ideas with his/her peers. Yet the biggest challenge for Middle School Teachers comes from outside the academic curricula. Faced with the lowest retention rate among elementary school teachers, the most essential skills for Middle School Teacher might prove to be good humor and an ability to turn student's anger, hostility and raging hormones into a lesson and a memorable experience.

Career and Economic Outlook for Middle School Teachers

Middle School Teachers make up one of the largest groups of occupations. Job prospects for future school teachers are excellent especially in growing states like Nevada, Georgia and Texas. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, (www.bls.gov) the median annual salary for early education up through secondary level teachers ranges between $43,580 and $48,690. Private school teachers usually earn less, but they sometimes receive other benefits such as subsidized housing or childcare discounts.

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