You want to become a teacher? Great! It’s a rewarding career field, and the world is always in need of great teachers. Here are 10 opportunities you can enjoy as a teacher…
Job Stability
In the midst of the teacher shortage, the world is desperately in need of qualified and enthusiastic teachers. Jobs in teaching are readily available after graduation, and teachers will always be needed. Male teachers are specifically in high demand across all disciplines, but especially in preschools and elementary schools.
Improving Salary and Benefits
It’s no secret that teachers are underpaid, but something that hasn’t reached headlines as much is that teachers are beginning to be paid more. Further, teachers who pursue a master’s degree or add an endorsement to their undergraduate degree will qualify for higher pay.
Teaching What You Love
Another exciting part about being a teacher is that you get to teach something you truly love and pass your knowledge on to the next generation.
“I want to teach English because people who understand the human condition are better leaders, learners, teachers, coworkers, parents, children, politicians, bosses, physicians, the list goes on and on,” said Olivia, a senior English Education major. “Once a person understands the human condition, they better understand not only the world around them, but they better understand themselves. Literature is a key tool in this understanding.”
Working With Kiddos
Working with kids is one of the biggest parts of teaching. Working with youth is an exciting opportunity because they’re unpredictable! You never know what they’ll say or what they’ll do.
Different Days
One sure promise if you become a teacher is that no two days will be the same. Each day, you get to work with a variety of students on a variety of projects and topics.
Different Years
In addition to every day being different, every year is different as well! Your classes and some of your curriculum will change every year. This also offers flexibility; as a teacher, you can switch things up from year to year to find what works best for you, and for your demographic of students.
Getting a Say
You’re not your own boss when you’re a teacher, but you are the boss of your class. You have the freedom to decide how you manage your students, your classroom, your lessons, your curriculum, etc.
Although some paint a portrait of a teacher with little say about what texts he gets to share or what assignments he gets to create, the truth is most teachers have a great deal of freedom when it comes to curricular choices. Additionally, the way you organize and manage your classroom, instructional delivery, and pedagogical implementation are all up to you as a professional educator. If you have an issue with colleagues or administration, there are open avenues for discussion and the probability of real change. Few jobs provide as many opportunities to design your own work.
Influencing the Next Generation
The decisions teachers make for their classes will impact the future. The outcomes and atmosphere from your classroom will influence the next generation; what a great opportunity for teachers!
Nice Scheduling
Though teachers are notably overworked, they still do have great schedules. Teachers get all weekends, major holidays, and summers off (though some work might spillover). A teacher’s schedule is fantastic if you have kids because you essentially have the same schedule.
Challenging Profession
Teaching is a challenging occupation; standards, budgets, and classroom sizes are always changing. Only the bravest and toughest candidates will choose to enter such a dynamic career field.