Once someone decides to become a teacher and pursue a degree in education, there are still questions future teachers need to tackle, including:
- What grade do I want to teach?
- Where do I want to teach?
- What are the state’s licensing agreement?
At Faulkner University, based in Alabama, students who pursue an education degree will find help in narrowing down their specialty. Here, we talk about what future teachers should consider when picking what grade they want to teach.
Choosing a Grade Level
There isn’t a right or wrong choice about what grade a future teacher wants to teach. But there are some questions future teachers need to ask themselves to help narrow it down:
- What is the easiest grade to teach?
- What does a day in the life of a teacher look like?
- Do teachers in different grade levels have different academic backgrounds?
- Why do some teachers specialize in early childhood education?
- What are some pros and cons of teaching at the elementary level?
- Is working with older kids and adolescents more challenging?
- Can teachers switch between grade levels?
- How can someone figure out what age group they want to reach?
After some careful consideration of such questions, a future teacher should have a better understanding of what education level they want to teach.
What Interests You?
A teacher should love what they do so that their students will get the most out of their education. One of the questions teachers should ask themselves is what interests they have.
Elementary and some middle school teachers tend to teach multiple subjects throughout the day to one class. Does working with the same core group of students interest you? Do you like seeing the same students all day and watching them develop and grow in all areas?
Or are you interested in one subject, like science or music? Are you interested in teaching multiple groups of students and teaching the same material multiple times a day? Knowing what makes you happy will help you decide at what grade level you want to teach.
What Is Your Teaching Style?
Each grade level may need a different style of teaching. Here are some brief descriptions of what each level of education requires while teaching.
Elementary School
Many elementary classes involve short lessons that are activity-based. Repetition is necessary for learning, and an elementary teacher’s knowledge needs to be well-rounded because they will be teaching all core subjects. Elementary teachers also must teach social interaction skills, including how students manage emotions and relationships with others.
Middle School
As students progress in their education, they start to become more independent. Middle school is an adjustment period where education transitions from early learning skills to more independent projects and critical thinking lessons. Teachers at the middle school level become guides and mentors to their students as they learn to become more responsible for their assignments and learning processes.
High School
High school teachers are subject matter experts and serve as mentors to their students. Teachers at this level have more leniency in how they teach their subject matter, including more lecture-style classes and group work classes. High school teachers are there to challenge students and help them with critical thinking skills. High school teachers may also encourage students on a career path in the future.
Knowing how you prefer to teach can help narrow down the type of environment in which you want to teach.
Consider Your Future With Faulkner University
Future teachers have a lot to consider when choosing what grade to teach after graduation. No matter what grade they want to teach, Faulkner University has an academic program to help future teachers complete their education, including bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. We have programs at our campuses in Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville, AL, and online. Interested? Request information or apply today.