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Treasure Mariee
Student
Meridian, Mississippi
1
Question
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Hi Everyone, Im a seventh grader taking pre-college teaching classes, but I don't know where to start..help please??
Im a seventh grader, from meridian ms..I know I want to be a teacher and I'm taking classes(yay me!) but, I don't know how to continue my studies if I don't know extra information.
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3 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1791
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Treasure Mariee It's helpful to know what type of teacher you want to be before beginning your education journey. This is because the degree you choose often closely relates to the subject you want to teach as a teacher. Consider your own strengths, weaknesses and interests when choosing a topic. You also might consider whether you want to pursue a special education certification or keep your studies more general.
🔷 ELEMENTARY TEACHERS GRADES K-5
For those who wish to become elementary school teachers, you'll need a multiple subject (elementary) teaching credential. For this, you must have a bachelor's degree in liberal studies or in any subject area that includes specific coursework in education, such as child development, teaching methods, and curriculum design.
• KINDERGARTEN/ELEMENTARY —Kindergarten and elementary school are where students learn basic skills in subjects such as in reading and math. You will find that many elementary schools incorporate select activities into the school day, such as art and music activities, to help young students begin to expand their minds and widen their knowledge base. Students also begin to learn personal skills such as study habits, as they start to do homework, and interpersonal communication skills, as they interact with others in a classroom setting. That being said, someone hoping to help develop a student’s basic study and life skills would be interested in pursuing a career in elementary education.
🔷 MIDDLE TEACHERS GRADES 6-8
For those who wish to become middle school teachers or teach a higher grade level, you'll need a single-subject (secondary) teaching credential. You must have a bachelor's degree in the subject area you wish to teach, such as English, math, science, social science, or a foreign language. You will also need to complete a teacher preparation program that includes specific coursework in education.
•MIDDLE SCHOOL — Sixth through eighth grades are considered middle school grades. Most schools hire teachers who have expertise in certain subjects, such as chemistry or mathematics. During this time in their lives, children are becoming more advanced learners and can be held to higher standards of educational performance.
🔷 HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS GRADES 9-12
Once you're confident in your decision regarding what kind of teacher you want to be, enroll in a state-accredited bachelor's program. Most high school teachers earn a bachelor's degree in education, which is a specific interest in a topic such as history or science. This is the minimum education requirement for high school teachers. The courses you take within your bachelor's degree program can depend on your specific major. For example, students who are completing their degree to become English teachers may take more literature and technical writing courses than a student who wants to become a biology teacher.
• HIGH SCHOOL — High school teachers teach a specific area of study, such as English or US history. Their main priority is expanding students’ knowledge and preparing them to pursue higher education at a university or to enter the workforce. A side responsibility of a high school teacher may be to mentor students for college admissions essays or standardized testing to achieve high scores.
🔷 ALL TEACHERS MUST BE CERTIFIED
Although some private or independent schools do not require a teaching license, all 50 states in the U.S. require public school teachers to obtain a teaching license. Requirements for certification vary by state, but they usually include passing one or more exams to be certified in a certain subject or grade level after earning a bachelor’s degree. The exams cover basic skills and subject competency. A certain number of continuing education credits are also usually required to maintain your certification.
CONCLUSION
College is foremost your academic pursuit—so it makes sense that academics figure importantly in admissions decisions. Mack sure your High School academic performance gets communicated on your application, starting with your Grade Point Average (GPA). The most important step you can take to make yourself a competitive candidate is, of course, to work hard in school. Your GPA is the single most influential factor that any college will consider. It reflects your performance as a student over almost four years of your life and offers insight into what sort of college student you will be. If possible, enroll in honors classes during your freshman and sophomore years, and then AP classes during your junior and senior years. These will help boost your weighted GPA (an A in an AP course is typically worth 5.0 points instead of the 4.0 points awarded to an A in a regular course). More importantly, challenging classes demonstrate to admissions committees that you have the interest and the ability to take on higher-level work. This aspect of your transcript is often referred to as academic rigor, something many students don’t realize is important in college admissions. Try to take AP classes in the subjects that you would like to study in college.
Hope this was helpful Treasure Mariee
🔷 ELEMENTARY TEACHERS GRADES K-5
For those who wish to become elementary school teachers, you'll need a multiple subject (elementary) teaching credential. For this, you must have a bachelor's degree in liberal studies or in any subject area that includes specific coursework in education, such as child development, teaching methods, and curriculum design.
• KINDERGARTEN/ELEMENTARY —Kindergarten and elementary school are where students learn basic skills in subjects such as in reading and math. You will find that many elementary schools incorporate select activities into the school day, such as art and music activities, to help young students begin to expand their minds and widen their knowledge base. Students also begin to learn personal skills such as study habits, as they start to do homework, and interpersonal communication skills, as they interact with others in a classroom setting. That being said, someone hoping to help develop a student’s basic study and life skills would be interested in pursuing a career in elementary education.
🔷 MIDDLE TEACHERS GRADES 6-8
For those who wish to become middle school teachers or teach a higher grade level, you'll need a single-subject (secondary) teaching credential. You must have a bachelor's degree in the subject area you wish to teach, such as English, math, science, social science, or a foreign language. You will also need to complete a teacher preparation program that includes specific coursework in education.
•MIDDLE SCHOOL — Sixth through eighth grades are considered middle school grades. Most schools hire teachers who have expertise in certain subjects, such as chemistry or mathematics. During this time in their lives, children are becoming more advanced learners and can be held to higher standards of educational performance.
🔷 HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS GRADES 9-12
Once you're confident in your decision regarding what kind of teacher you want to be, enroll in a state-accredited bachelor's program. Most high school teachers earn a bachelor's degree in education, which is a specific interest in a topic such as history or science. This is the minimum education requirement for high school teachers. The courses you take within your bachelor's degree program can depend on your specific major. For example, students who are completing their degree to become English teachers may take more literature and technical writing courses than a student who wants to become a biology teacher.
• HIGH SCHOOL — High school teachers teach a specific area of study, such as English or US history. Their main priority is expanding students’ knowledge and preparing them to pursue higher education at a university or to enter the workforce. A side responsibility of a high school teacher may be to mentor students for college admissions essays or standardized testing to achieve high scores.
🔷 ALL TEACHERS MUST BE CERTIFIED
Although some private or independent schools do not require a teaching license, all 50 states in the U.S. require public school teachers to obtain a teaching license. Requirements for certification vary by state, but they usually include passing one or more exams to be certified in a certain subject or grade level after earning a bachelor’s degree. The exams cover basic skills and subject competency. A certain number of continuing education credits are also usually required to maintain your certification.
CONCLUSION
College is foremost your academic pursuit—so it makes sense that academics figure importantly in admissions decisions. Mack sure your High School academic performance gets communicated on your application, starting with your Grade Point Average (GPA). The most important step you can take to make yourself a competitive candidate is, of course, to work hard in school. Your GPA is the single most influential factor that any college will consider. It reflects your performance as a student over almost four years of your life and offers insight into what sort of college student you will be. If possible, enroll in honors classes during your freshman and sophomore years, and then AP classes during your junior and senior years. These will help boost your weighted GPA (an A in an AP course is typically worth 5.0 points instead of the 4.0 points awarded to an A in a regular course). More importantly, challenging classes demonstrate to admissions committees that you have the interest and the ability to take on higher-level work. This aspect of your transcript is often referred to as academic rigor, something many students don’t realize is important in college admissions. Try to take AP classes in the subjects that you would like to study in college.
Hope this was helpful Treasure Mariee
Loved reading this, thanks!
Treasure Mariee
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Treasure Mariee, that's so awesome you're already exploring teaching at your age! It can feel a bit overwhelming not knowing where to start, but just remember that every great teacher began somewhere—just like you. The pre-college classes you're taking are a super cool way to get a taste of what it's like, and you can always ask your teachers for advice or even help out with younger kids at school. You might also enjoy checking out online resources or books about teaching to learn a bit more about what you might do in the future. It's totally okay not to have everything figured out right now—the fun part is learning as you go. Just keep being curious, ask questions, and remember that you're already on an amazing journey to becoming a teacher.
I Totally agree with what Doc Frick mentioned—figuring out what kind of teacher you want to be is a solid first step. You don’t have to know all the details right away, but it’s cool to start thinking about whether you see yourself working with little kiddos, middle schoolers, or high school students. Each level is super different, and your strengths and personality will definitely help guide you. If you don't know what level you want to teach just remember Most teachers love sharing their journey, and you might get some awesome advice straight from the source either from school or right here on careervillage.
Keep shining🌟, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need more questions answered or just want to chat about your dreams. You got this Mariee! 😊 Good luck!
I Totally agree with what Doc Frick mentioned—figuring out what kind of teacher you want to be is a solid first step. You don’t have to know all the details right away, but it’s cool to start thinking about whether you see yourself working with little kiddos, middle schoolers, or high school students. Each level is super different, and your strengths and personality will definitely help guide you. If you don't know what level you want to teach just remember Most teachers love sharing their journey, and you might get some awesome advice straight from the source either from school or right here on careervillage.
Keep shining🌟, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need more questions answered or just want to chat about your dreams. You got this Mariee! 😊 Good luck!
Thank you so much!
Treasure Mariee
Aww, Treasure Mariee, you’re so sweet! So happy to help—always welcome! ✨💖😊
Dr H
Ian Kincaid
Business Analyst / Vendor Management
3
Answers
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Updated
Ian’s Answer
It's great that you've decided to become a teacher! Start by finding volunteer opportunities to tutor younger kids or peers in the subjects you enjoy and excel in. Teaching requires strong subject knowledge and plenty of practice. Watch your favorite teachers closely and note what makes their lessons effective and engaging for you. Also, observe teachers whose methods don't work for you. Consider why that is and think about how you would approach it differently.
Loved reading this, thanks!
Treasure Mariee