Middle School Teacher Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Middle School Teacher

Middle school teachers are educators for children in grades between elementary school and high school, normally grades 5-8. Teachers are often responsible for running several class periods per day in one or two subjects. They also often supervise homeroom and after-school activities.

Job Description

Teachers use classroom presentations and individual instruction to help students learn. Unlike elementary school teachers, middle school teachers tend to specialize in one or two subjects, such as math, English, science or history. They provide students with more in-depth lessons, building on the information they learned in elementary school.
 
Middle school teachers wear many hats and, in an average week, are expected to plan lessons, prepare and grade tests and homework, and maintain class discipline. They also prepare report cards, meet with students after school for one-on-one sessions where needed and arrange meetings with parents to discuss students' progress. Due to the amount of responsibilities teachers have outside of normal classroom hours, most middle school teachers work more than 40 hours per week.
 
Teaching is not an easy job. Middle school teachers must sometimes deal with rude behavior or violence, large classes, heavy workloads or small schools that force teachers to share classrooms. Standardized tests may increase stress for teachers, since they are held accountable if their students perform poorly. Public school teachers do not always have control over the material they teach in their classes, which can be frustrating.
 
Most teachers work a 10-month school schedule, followed by two months' vacation in the summer. Many teachers teach summer school in this time; others take classes to maintain their certifications. Some work a part-time "summer" job to supplement their income, travel or pursue personal interests.

Salary Guide

Beginning teachers with a bachelor's degree earn, on average, $31,753. The average middle school teacher salary is $50,630, but salary depends on location and other factors. The acquisition of a master's degree or higher usually leads to an increase in pay. Teachers can also earn additional income by teaching summer school or mentoring.

Education and Training

Middle school teaching positions in U.S. public schools require, at minimum, a bachelor's degree and a teaching license. Most middle school teachers undergo a bachelor-degree program tailored specifically for teachers; or they major in the subject they want to teach while simultaneously enrolled in a teacher preparation program.
 
Teacher preparation courses include art, mathematics, science, literature, child psychology and teaching methods. Most programs require a semester of student teaching. Many states, especially those struggling to fill teaching positions, offer alternative paths to licensing.

Prior Work Experience

Prospective teachers can gain classroom experience in a variety of ways prior to becoming a certified teacher. Popular part-time and volunteer jobs include tutoring, substitute teaching or becoming a teacher's aide.

Career Advancement

Teachers may become certified to teach additional age groups and subjects over the course of their careers. Some teachers choose to move into different careers as librarians or guidance counselors. Others choose to move into school administration, which brings with it higher pay but fierce competition. Outstanding teachers may be asked to become senior teachers or mentors. They guide newer teachers while continuing their own teaching duties.

Related Associations and Groups

A wide variety of associations are available to assist middle school teachers. They include:
  • Association of American Educators
  • American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
  • National Council of the Teachers of English
  • National Education Association
  • National Science Teachers Association.

 

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