A math teacher not only teaches math, but also how to learn. The skills involved in learning to question, to retain information, to be selective, to order information, to record information, and to solve problems are hopefully a priority of every math teacher.
A good teacher also uses the class and the material to model good work and study habits as well. Its important and motivating for students when teachers share their personal enthusiasm for ideas in discussions of the material under study. Most of all, an instructor will, by example, develop the student s capacity for self evaluation through careful, caring feedback about the students work. The instructors own example of preparation, organization, evaluation standards, personal appearance, interest in students, and enthusiasm for the subject will remain an example long after the memory of the actual class content may have faded.
Teachers are very frequently cited as important factors in one's choice of a career. Very often teachers will remember one or two of their teachers who were strong influences on their decision to teach. Much of that influence was a result of their classroom persona. Those teachers served as models of people enjoying what they were doing and doing it skilfully. They were professional and correct, yet remained natural and approachable. We could watch and listen to them and think, "Maybe I could do that."
We'll look at two possible levels of teaching math: secondary school teaching with a bachelor s degree, and college teaching, possibly with a master's degree, but more frequently, requiring a doctoral degree as the essential credential.
If teaching at the middle or high school level is of interest to you, you'll need to major in math education so that, in addition to your math courses, you acquire the necessary education courses to meet state certification competencies. Following graduation, certified teachers apply for advertised positions in public middle and high schools that often look remarkably similar; Here one from the Pacific Northwest, but it just as easily could have been from any part of the United States:
Teaching positions are well advertised, and all certified teacher graduates are qualified for entry level math teaching assignments. Actually, in some situations the first year teacher's inexperience can be a plus. With school budgets under terrific strain, principals, superintendents, and other hiring officials may be more attracted to a new teacher who will earn a lower salary than a more experienced teacher with a higher degree who would take a larger proportion of salary funds.
Is it possible to teach math at the high school level without state certification and with a bachelor of arts in math? Maybe, In some public school districts that have had difficulty securing teachers because of location or pay scales, there have been provisions made to grant temporary certification to non credentialed teachers. This is, however, not very common and often occurs in geographic areas that, for reasons of locale or economic impact, do not otherwise attract a good supply of applicants. Consequently, those districts may not be attractive to you. Some private high schools might consider a non certified teacher, although that is not universally true. Schools often have needs for a long term substitute position for secondary math teachers due to illness or pregnancy and again, depending upon the pool of applicants, a non certified teacher might secure a long term substitute position in these cases.
Even if you secure a provisional situation or a long term substitute job, if you are not certified, you will eventually have to confront the issue of state certification. Further complicating the job search is the varying state licensing standards which can make it difficult for teachers to move from state to state. Although some states have reciprocity agreements, teachers often must undergo additional training to qualify for certification in a new state. Even private schools can, and increasingly do, require teaching credentials that equal or are very close to those which public schools require. In fact, at some private schools, it is not uncommon for a majority of the math teachers to have master s degrees, and there exist numerous large city high schools that have attracted Ph.D.s, as well. As you pursue your job search in a particular geographic locale, you'll naturally become aware of certification standards and requirements.
Teaching with a Master's Degree
A master's degree in math may be helpful in securing a private school teaching position at the high school level, especially if the master's work in math corresponds to the school's needs, i.e., trigonometry, algebra, geometry, etc. Advanced degree work in a master's degree program frequently offers the opportunity to assist a faculty member in teaching an undergraduate class and may include experience designing exams and grading tests as well as staffing math help clinics, etc. Those graduates with master's degrees and no certification at the bachelor's level may also find employment in junior and community college settings or special college programs for adult learners. These schools may welcome the teacher with a master s degree, again, especially if the specialty is one that would be useful in their curriculum. The following is an actual advertisement for a community college level math instructor with a master's degree working in an advising centre.
