The qualifications for becoming a high school math teacher vary from state to state and even from school district to school district. In addition, the job description for a math teacher at a private high school may be either more or less relaxed than for a public high school. Therefore, the following information is presented as a general idea of what becoming a high school math teacher may entail.
Education
The typical job description for a high school math teacher begins with educational qualifications. In most cases, a bachelor's degree is the absolute minimum requirement, usually math-related. Some states and districts with a lack of teachers may relax this requirement to a BA in any field with the understanding that the applicant will take classes and pass a certification exam in the field of mathematics within a certain period, usually 1 to 3 years. In almost all cases in the U.S., no experience is required for becoming a teacher with the caveat that you may be fired without reason for up to 3 years, or until tenure is acquired.
Instruction
The primary job required of a math teacher is classroom instruction. Instruction includes daily classes that adhere to an often strict curriculum. Most states today have in effect a statewide standardized testing system that grades the school and the district rather than the student, and these grades will affect funding as well as job security for teachers and administration. Although these states and districts take great pains to insist that teachers are not "teaching to the standardized test," the bulk of the high school math teacher's year will be spent teaching subjects that are guaranteed to appear on those tests. After all, math and language arts are the foundation of the bulk of these tests.
State Standards
Whether the high school teacher is in a state that requires standardized testing or not, he will be required to become familiar with state teaching standards. These are standards that have been codified and applied in a handbook that may be overwhelming the first time a new teacher is handed one. Essentially, state standards are simply a guidebook for what mathematical components must be learned in order for a student to graduate.
Assessment
In addition to classroom instruction, a high school math teacher must also assess student performance. This assessment is done through studying progress reports, giving tests, and general observation. Teachers must be prepared to give a comprehensive assessment to both the student as well as the student's parents or guardians, and also to school administrators. The elements included in assessment include expectations, progress and goals.
Preparation
The average public school math teacher officially works 190 days a year, including planning days and preparation before and after the school years. In addition, most are required to attend a certain number of workshops and teacher conferences throughout the year. The school day usually works out to roughly to 7 or 8 hours, but it is vitally important for new teachers to understand that they will be working at home and on the weekends as they plan for classes, review homework and grade tests. The average high school math teacher spends considerably more hours working than he receives credit for.
Student Monitoring
The bulk of the teacher's job takes place inside the classroom during instruction, but teachers must also expect to engage in extra-classroom responsibilities. Teachers may be called upon to act as hall monitors or may be called upon to monitor student behavior in the cafeteria. In addition, teachers must become acquainted with proper procedures for student fighting, student health problems, fire drills, extreme weather situations and even bomb threats.
Extracurricular Duties
Some high school math teachers may be called upon to gather their brightest students as a team to take part in math fairs or competitions. In addition, a teacher may be asked to act as the faculty overseer of a student club. Alternatively, all teachers can expect to be involved in group meetings with other members of the faculty and may even be elected to represent the other math teachers as faculty head. Teachers should be prepared to meet with parents who can range from collaborative to aggressive in the defense of their child against reprimands.
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