For many years, teachers have been an essential part of the community. Teachers not only there to impact knowledge to the rising generation but they also serves as a role model. They mentor and inspire young minds as they move through life in their quest to change the world.
A career in teaching is a noble one and it also has few worth while benefits.
To begin your journey as a teacher, you need to be proficient in some skills. You also know to get a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in related fields.
In the teaching profession however, the degrees you have are not quite all you need to become a successful teacher.
A shared trait of successful teachers includes excellent communication skills, problem solving mindset and adaptability to changing situations and environment.
So, if you have these skills set and you are looking to dive into the teaching profession then keep reading for more insight into degrees you need to become a teacher.
The table of contents below will guide you!
Is teaching a good career?
Teaching in my honest opinion is a great career. It gives you the opportunity to groom and inspire the next generation of great minds.
Yes, I know you might not be able to buy a jet ski or yacht but thinking deeply about it, there is more to life. Teaching would give you certain satisfactions that a 9-5 job in an office would never give you.
It is stressful and annoying as to the fact that you are dealing with students who might range from 2 – 18 years of age, all going through their stages of development.
But to be part of all that and to help groom these new generation and watch them attain heights you imagined is one of the main reasons why I would say that teaching is a good career choice.
Why should I become a teacher?
As I earlier said, a teaching career gives you the power to impact positively on the new generation of great thinkers and give them the hacks and tools to face life and create a difference in the world as a whole.
There are also some cool benefits which you should know about when thinking of choosing teaching as a profession.
Healthcare Benefits
Some full-time teacher receives health care benefits and retirement benefits which are way better than what is offered n some private sector office jobs.
Additional job security is also available for teachers who may be part of teacher unions and those who are also very experienced and qualified and exceed expectations in the job.
Job Satisfactions
One of the perks of teaching is that, you get job satisfaction and fulfilment. You have the opportunity to teach subjects you love and impact your students as regards to that subject.
What is that subject you feel strongly about, maths, history, literature, physics or chemistry, all you have to do is get the degree and requirements needed in that area.
Also, assuming you have multiple interests you can also get endorsements in all the fields you would like and be on your way.
This way you don’t have to drone away at the same area every time. What is that they say about variety and spice of life? (Xanax)
Gives Time
One of my most favourite benefit of being a good teacher is the time offs. I mean who wouldn’t want a time off.
So, here’s the thing, teachers work schedules are highly dependent on the school schedule, so all the school breaks that come in the summer and springs and all the major holidays are your days off, I know it sounds great.
Most schools function on school calendars which typically run from August to May the following year with June and July typically being off. Even in the working period there are still certain holidays and breaks positioned here and there.
What do teachers do?
The responsibilities of teachers aren’t exactly carved in stone. The duty of each teacher varies based on the institution they are teaching in to the field they teach.
For example, the duty of a kindergarten teacher is miles different from that of a primary or secondary school teacher but fact is that a few similarities in duties remain.
“One of the toughest parts of the job is encouraging children to use their imagination and challenging them to develop consistency, empathy and emotional intelligence”, this was stated by Callum Thompson from Crab Lane Primary in Manchester.
Now, the duties of a teacher include but are not limited to;
- Making use of the national curriculum guideline for your subject area while teaching students
- Organizing and delivering interactive lessons
- Encouraging students to participate in both curricular and extracurricular activities
- Assessing the behaviour of each individual student
- Being the educational and social backbone for your students and recommending specialist area of advice when need be
- Ensuring that you are up to date in teaching trends and ensuring you apply them to maximize the learning experience for the students
- Being part of continuous professional development (CPD) to boost your own learning
- Attending and participating in staff meetings to ensure the smooth running of the institute
- Working closely with parents, guardians, support workers and other professionals to ensure the safety as well as sustained educational welfare of the students.
How much does a teacher earn?
Let’s get down to the money talk. On an average, a teacher earns $44,782 per year.
Now for beginner teachers this could be $41,267 per year but can increase to about $55,349 per year after more than 10 years.
This salary scheme varies based on the school you are teaching in and also the type of teacher you are.
An elementary teacher can earn $46,185 per year whereas a high school teacher earns $49,432 per year and a preschool teacher earns $38,318 per year.
Also, the pay varies based on in demand subjects and challenging fields.
For example, special education teachers earn as much as $51,095 per year where as a science teacher earns $64,101 per year.
So, you see the pay for a teacher isn’t as bad as you might think. So, if you have the skill and the desire, why not go for it.
How long does it take to become a teacher?
The duration it takes to become a teacher is dependent on the degrees you are aiming to get and how far you wish to go.
On an average, it typically takes four to five years to become a teacher. This is basically the length of time required to complete a bachelor’s degree, which is the minimum qualification for teachers no matter the level of education you wish to teach in.
If however, you are interested in getting a master’s degree which is an added bonus in your teaching career that would require an extra 2 years to complete the master’s program making it a total of six to seven years to become a teacher.
Do you need a specific degree to become a teacher?
To become a teacher, you need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and at least a minor in the specific subject you are passionate in.
There is no specific degree needed to become a teacher, however, a master’s degree in education will help give you a boost and a steeper salary in your teaching career.
The degrees you need to become a teacher in 2022
When it comes to degrees needed to become a teacher, a bachelors degree in any field preferably the field you wish to teach.
Also, a bachelor’s degree in Education is acceptable. After getting your bachelors degree, most times a further degree is needed such as a masters degree.
Below is a list of master’s degrees you would need to become a teacher in 2022
- Master of Education
- Master’s in Teaching
- English Education Master’s
- Master’s in Mathematics Education
- Master’s in Special Education
Masters of Education
This master’s degree is needed by most public and private schools. This is why it is top in the list of degrees you need to become a teacher in 2022.
It has various fields of specialization from which you can choose such as curriculum and instruction, English as a second language, educational leadership, or pre-k-12.
There are however two branches of this field which are masters of science and masters of arts but for a teacher it is preferable you go for masters of science in Education because it provides you with knowledge and practical skills to enable you impact on the students.
Master’s in Education
If you have a degree in a non-education field and is looking to become a teacher then this degree is a must for you.
It also gives you the choice of specializing in a field immediately rather than starting from a bachelor’s field again.
English Education Master
This focuses on the most effective methods and teaching practices needed to teach English language in a classroom.
Some common courses under this field include critical reading and methods, differentiated reading instruction and theories of cognitive development.
Master’s in Mathematics Education
This field not only improves your knowledge of mathematics, but it also gives you the knowledge on how to properly transfer this knowledge to your students.
This degree enhances teacher’s ability to explain mathematical concepts, and curriculum design and strategy as well as assessment tools.
Master’s in Special Education
This field focuses on providing resources for teachers to be able to handle students and how they all learn differently.
Some common courses under this field include; cognitive learning and behaviour, supervised practice, characteristics of learning disabilities, and inclusion strategies for special educators.
This also focuses on available digital tools available to special education teachers and how to properly apply them
What are some of the most in demand teaching subjects?
These are currently the most in demand teaching subjects in 2022
- English as a Second Language
- Maths
- Science
- Social Studies
- Special Education
English as a second language
This is simply a subject were the teacher helps students who do not have English as their first language get acquainted with the English language.
This subject goes beyond the teacher teaching them basic and common words but it also encompasses how to write English as well as how to have fluent conversations in English language
Maths
As we all know this is the usual 2+ 2, but currently maths is not what it used to be as more complex problems are needed to be solved with the help of maths. A teacher here would take the students on a journey from elementary maths all the way to calculus and its likes.
Science
Science is the founding block on which our current civilization stands. Students need science to make important discoveries and understand basic concepts of nature, living things and physical environment that exist around them.
This is area covers a wide spectrum of the aspects of the community. It ranges from History to politics and even economics, all these leading to improving the students’ communicative skills. It also helps students understand the concept of finances.
Special Education
This field is concerned on the needs of certain individuals with a few learning disabilities and developmental issues ranging autism to orthopaedic impairments.
What subjects are needed to become a primary school teacher?
To become a primary school teacher, you would need to have at least A* to C grades in GCSEs in English, Maths and at least one science subject.
You must also have previous in school teaching experience, passes in professional skills test and successfully completed the initial teacher education training program.
What degree do you need to become an ESL teacher?
ESL stands for English as a second language and the role of an ESL teacher is to teach and educate students who English isn’t there first language in writing, reading and effective communication.
To become an ESL teacher, you would need a bachelors degree in either Education, English, writing or teaching English as a foreign language.
Then you would need to obtain ESL training by completing a certificate program in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).
After this you can go write ahead and apply for your ESL teaching license.
What are the licensure requirements for a teaching job?
Teacher certification is the process where by prospective teachers get licenced to teach in a given area after fulfilling the required criteria. Now these requirements are;
- You must have a Bachelor’s degree and have completed a teacher’s preparation program to assure you can handle a class room
- You must fulfil the student teaching requirement demanded by your state. This varies from state to state
- You should have a master’s degree if your specialization requires one or in case you want to function in the path of educational administration
- You must pass your state’s required exam for teachers which in most cases is Praxis, which is a standardized exam for prospective teachers.
- After you must have completed these steps, then you are ready to apply for your teacher certification and licence.
What is the career outlook of a teacher?
The job outlook for teachers is projected to grow 4% from 2018 to 2028, approximately same as other occupations.
The type of teaching you do, the institution you teach in, the state you teach in and the subject you teach are all factors to be considered when talking about the career outlook of a teacher.
For example, it is difficult to come about teachers in science, math, special education and English as a second language and as so a teacher who specializes in any of these fields has a better opportunity to find available positions.
What kind of a teacher is in high demand?
If you were looking towards kick starting your career as a teacher and you are wondering what field is in high demand, then look no further.
Fact is that teachers would always be needed from primary all the way to tertiary institutions.
The fields of study that are most in demand as of 2022 however include Maths, Science, Special Education and English as a second language (ESL).
As a teacher in any of these fields you are rest assured of being top in schools search list
FAQs on What degree do you need to become a teacher?
You would need at least a bachelor’s degree. If you have a bachelors degree but its not related to teaching or education, you may need to return to school and complete a teacher preparation program.
It depends on your previous education. If you do not have a college degree then you would need to get a degree in education which would take a minimum of four years of full-time study but if you already have a college degree, you can apply for an alternative certification program which basically takes one year.
Different states has different requirements before you can become a certified teacher in the state but some steps are common for all states.
1) get a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education or related to the field you want to teach
2) Pass the Praxis exam for teaching licencing
3) Apply for certification in the state you wish to teach
- Master’s in Teaching
- English Education
- Master’s in Mathematics Education
- Master’s in Special Education
Teachers on average earn an average of $49.210 per year but this depends on the state and institution you are teaching in.
Conclusion
In the end, teaching is a noble career. Teachers would be needed from now till many years to come and if you intend to pursue a career in teaching you would be making a great decision.
All you need is a bachelor’s degree in education and related courses and a master’s in one of the above-listed fields, pass your licensing exams and you are on your way to make an impact in the upcoming generation.
References
- https://www.totaljobs.com/advice/teacher-job-description#teacher-salary
- https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/careers/#faq
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-long-does-it-take-to-be-a-teacher
- https://study.com/articles/which_teaching_jobs_are_in-demand.html
- https://study.com/how_to_become_an_esl_teacher.html
- https://planbee.com/blogs/news/how-to-become-a-primary-school-teacher-2020-edition
- https://www.wgu.edu/blog/teachers-high-demand-20201712.html#close
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