To all middle school teachers, I ask this question: What is it like being a teacher?

Question

I have to do a report on middle school teachers and I really need help, I am searching about it and everything, but I would like to hear your own personal thoughts and opinions on that. I would really like to know what are the requrements to be one? Is it only a Bachelor's Degree?
May you please help me on that.
Thank you

Answer 1

Most states require at least a Bachelor's Degree in Education.If the Middle School is grades 6 through 8 this will require a degree in Secondary Ed. If you will teach in an area where the middle school is grades 4, 5 and 6 then you will have to get a degree in Elementary Ed. It depends on which grades you want to teach. You will have to check with the adviser at your college to see what program you should take. Middle school can be different grades in different school districts. It could be strictly elementary or all secondary. It could even be a combination of both and depending on what degree and certification you have that will determine which grades you will be allowed to teach.
In New York state all teacher's must get a minimum of a Master's degree in any Education Field.
As far as what it is like to actually teach the 4th through 6th levels I can help you there. I taught grades 4 and 5 and I have to say it was quite interesting! I was primarily trained in Early Childhood Ed so it was different. However, I found this age group wonderful, challenging and full of surprises. They range in personalities. These children are basically still just that -children. They can be so mature some days and on other days they can be like a second grader. They like things that are still fun just like the little ones. They enjoy working together and helping one another. They are capable of starting and completing challenging academic tasks suited to their abilities. They have a sense of pride in their work and still want to please the teacher. In most states grades 7 and 8 require a Secondary License or Certification.
Socially they are not babies and their hormones are beginning to kick in. They are confused about their feelings for the most part. The boys come on like such tough guys at times and at other times will sit and listen to a story or enjoy singing a childhood song. The girls show interest in the opposite sex while the boys are not quite ready. However,they will befriend a girl if they have a buddy who is more mature to keep up with him.
As far as the 6th through 8th graders go they are really a handful. My husband taught Junior high school for a couple of years. Also we have 3 sons who of course went through this stage. They tend to be lazy and no longer interested in doing school work if they are average students. The brighter students tend to stay the same.

Check out any book by Arnold Gesell. Here is one that should be of great help--

"Youth: the years from ten to sixteen",
by Arnold Gesell

Here is a site with a list of questions you might want to find the answers to--

https://www.uky.edu/Classes/FAM/357/fam357/keyquestions1.htm

This link is an article about teaching middle school--

http://www.russelltexas.com/Newspaper/middleschoolchallenge.htm

http://www.uic.edu/educ/college/admissions/2ndlevel/middleschool.htm

http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/middlewriting/images/pdf/W1ReadAdLearn.pdf

Good luck with your report!:)

Answer 2

In Missouri, the minimum requirement is a Bachelor's degree. However, continuing education is also required. Every year you take one or two classes on teaching methods, child and/or adolescent psychology, etc. to stay current. Teaching is really tough but rewarding IF it is truly what you want to do. Some people get into teaching because they like the idea of having the summer off. These people burn out easily because they don't really love to teach. I love teaching (even difficult students) because I love it when a student "gets it". The look on their face and in their eyes when they understand make everything worth the effort. Sure there are difficulties (school politics, parents want a grade their child did not earn, funding, supplies, lack of resources) but seeing a student succeed and part of it was because of me....that is the best! Good luck with your report!

Answer 3

NO. They don't seem to be "meaner", you can not make generalizations like that. I myself am a long term instructor and I would not immediately make a decision to be "meaner" effectively on the grounds that I was once now instructing center institution instead than fundamental institution degree pupils. Middle institution lecturers might have got to be a bit of extra strict despite the fact that effectively on the grounds that center institution is usually a hard time for a few pupils, in view that they're going via puberty and youngsters have a tendency to be extra clique-y and superficial at that age. Just do not move into center institution considering all of your lecturers are immediately going to be imply to you, you must get to grasp each and every instructor and their person instructing patterns earlier than you pass judgement on them. Hope that is helping! :D