Middle School Teacher: Degree Requirements, Salary and Career Info

• What middle school language arts/social studies teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a middle school language arts/social studies teacher

What middle school language arts/social studies teachers do

In middle school, language arts and social studies teachers guide their preteen students through subjects like history, geography and English language literature. They usually instruct two to four classes a day that last 45 to 90 minutes. In between classes, they often have prep periods to plan lessons, grade assignments or meet with other teachers and staff.

Some teach both language arts and social studies in an integrated classroom. Others work in teams that teach language arts and social studies to the same group of students.

Typical duties of a language arts and social studies middle school teacher include:

• Teaching students through classroom discussions and activities
• Frequently checking in on student progress and ability
• Preparing, administering and grading tests to evaluate students’ progress
• Communicating with parents about their child’s progress
• Tutoring students and preparing and implementing remedial programs
• Developing and enforcing classroom rules
• Mentoring students and teaching them how to reason, argue and persuade effectively
• Supervising students outside of the classroom — for example, at lunchtime or during detention

In addition to classroom teaching, they may also instruct students one-on-one or in smaller groups outside of class. Sometimes they must set aside time outside of the school day to develop lesson content and to grade student work and tests.

Middle school language arts and social studies curriculum

The academic curriculum gets more subject-specific as children move up to middle school. In grades six to eight, middle school social studies teachers instruct their students on subjects such as U.S. history, world history, geography and civics.

• U.S. history covers topics like the American Revolution, Manifest Destiny and the Civil War.
• World history topics may include the ancient world, the medieval age and the world wars.
• Geography covers the physical features of the earth and the political boundaries and formations of human society.
• Civics studies the U.S. Constitution, the American political system and self-government.

Middle school language arts curriculum focuses on:

• Critical thinking and analysis: Challenging students to analyze and comprehend literary and informational texts (books, articles, digital sources)
• Research, writing and technology: Letting students use technology to complete research projects
• Developing language skills: Teaching students to understand and use literary devices such as personification, allusions and verbal irony

Education and certification requirements

A bachelor’s degree and a state-certified teaching credential qualifies you to teach language arts or social studies in most U.S. middle schools. A bachelor’s degree in English, geography, sociology, anthropology, history, comparative literature or another relevant subject may give you an extra advantage in hiring since many schools prefer a teacher with advanced knowledge of the subject matter they are teaching.

Private schools may not require middle school teachers to have a state teaching certificate. However, most private schools will still seek teachers with a bachelor’s degree at minimum.

If you want a higher salary and better job opportunities, pursue a master’s degree in a humanities- or education-related subject.

Income projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average annual salary for all middle school teachers, and career-related websites offer average salaries for middle school language arts and social studies teachers:

• BLS: $55,860
• Glassdoor.com: $49,275
• PayScale.com: $45,392

Pros and cons of being a middle school language arts/social studies teacher

As you consider this career, make sure to think about the upsides and downsides of becoming a middle school teacher.

Pros

• Inspire the curiosity of young students on important subjects
• Many full-time jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• You may need only a bachelor’s degree
• Focus exclusively on teaching and students

Cons

• Frustrating when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students
• Can be difficult to find a great full-time job at a good school
• Not as prestigious as a professorship in history or a social science

• What middle school science/math teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a middle school science/math teacher

What middle school science/math teachers do

Middle school science and math teachers typically see several classes of students throughout the day. When they don’t have classes, they plan lessons, grade assignments and meet with other teachers and staff.

Typical duties include:

• Instructing students through lectures, discussions and demonstrations.
• Assessing students to evaluate their abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
• Preparing, administering and grading tests to evaluate students’ progress.
• Communicating with parents about their child’s progress.
• Developing and enforcing classroom rules.
• Supervising students outside of the classroom — for example, at lunchtime or during detention.

In middle school, science and math are usually taught separately by different teachers. In addition to the duties listed above, math teachers are also responsible for assisting students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.

Science teachers usually have double-period classes to allow time for lab work. Many students fall behind in math during middle school, so math teachers at this level must be vigilant for students having trouble keeping up.

Middle school science teachers have a few additional duties particular to their subject:

• Staying current on the latest technology and scientific discoveries.
• Coordinating school science fairs.
• Mentoring students and preparing them for science competitions.

Some middle school science and math teachers work in teams that teach the same group of students. These teachers meet to discuss students’ progress and to plan lessons.

Middle school science and math curriculum

The academic curriculum in middle school is more targeted to specific subject areas than in elementary school. Teachers are more likely to be experts in their field, and curriculum often reflects the content of state tests students must take to graduate. During grades six through eight, the science curriculum focuses on three primary divisions of scientific inquiry:

• Earth science covers geologic processes, oceans and the water cycle, Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate, and an introduction to astronomy.
• Life science focuses on the characteristics of living things, including plant and animal cell structures, genetics, human anatomy and the structure and function of plants.
• Physical science encompasses chemistry and physics, including atoms and elements, the periodic table, states of matter, motion, gravity, density and buoyancy, energy, heat and the properties of waves and light.

The math curriculum is often divided by grade:

• Sixth grade: Ratios and proportional relationships; early expressions and equations
• Seventh grade: Advanced ratios and proportional relationships; arithmetic of rational numbers
• Eighth grade: Linear algebra and linear functions

Educational and certification requirements

All states require public school teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many states require middle school teachers to major in a subject area relevant to what they’ll be teaching. So if you’re seeking to become a middle school science or math teacher, you should major in math or a scientific discipline like chemistry or biology. Some training in adolescent psychology is also recommended. Some schools require public school teachers to earn a master’s degree after earning their teaching certification.

Most teachers-to-be intern in a classroom as a student teacher. Working alongside a veteran teacher, the student teacher plans lessons, delivers instruction, grades assignments and communicates with parents.

Although not required by law, private schools typically seek middle school math/science teachers who have a bachelor’s degree in math or an area of science.

Income projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates the average annual salary for all middle school teachers, and career-related websites offer average salaries for middle school science and math teachers:

• BLS: $55,860
• Glassdoor.com: $49,275
• Salary.com: $45,392

The employment outlook for middle school science and math teachers looks favorable. According to the BLS, job openings are expected to grow by 12 percent through 2022.

Pros and cons of being a middle school science/math teacher

It will help to think through the positive and negative aspects of becoming a middle school science/math teacher.

Pros

• Helping students solve problems and think critically
• Seeing the lights go on when students discover answers on their own
• The ability to be creative in planning lessons and activities
• Most middle school teachers have two months off in summer
• Many full-time jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• Serving as a positive role model for youth

Cons

• Teaching middle school students science and math isn’t easy, and teachers need to be able to deal with disruptive or disrespectful students
• Math and science teachers often spend significant time planning and preparing engaging activities before the students arrive in the morning, after school and on weekends
• Turnover for first-year middle school teachers is high. For example, in Philadelphia, 34 percent of new middle school teachers quit after their first year, compared with 21 percent of elementary school teachers and 26 percent of high school teachers

• What middle school art/music teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a middle school art/music teacher

What middle school art/music teachers do

Art and music classes give middle school students a special outlet to explore their imaginations and express themselves creatively.

As an art or music teacher, you will guide your students through practice of the artistic process and instill in them a lifelong love of art, music and culture. Arts education often includes a theoretical as well as practical approach to art and music. Therefore, you may teach your students color theory, design, musical notation, art history and other academic aspects of art.

Educational and certification requirements

Public school districts usually require middle school art and music teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued teaching certification. Having a bachelor of fine art (BFA) degree is acceptable or even advantageous for prospective middle school art and music teachers.

Private schools typically seek middle school teachers with a BFA or a strong fine-arts background. They do not usually require a state-issued teaching certificate.

It can be useful to learn about adolescent psychology and pedagogy before becoming a middle school art teacher. You should also consider an internship in arts/music education and other student teaching opportunities.

Finally, if you want to boost your job prospects and income potential, consider pursuing a master’s degree. For a middle school art or music teacher, you should consider a master of fine art (MFA) degree in your field or an advanced degree in an education-related field.

Income projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the average annual salary for all middle school teachers, and career-related websites offer average salaries for art and music teachers:

• BLS: $55,860
• Glassdoor.com: $47,938
• PayScale.com: $41,603
• Indeed.com: $55,000

Pros and cons of being a middle school art/music teacher

It will help to think through the positive and negative aspects of becoming a middle school art/music teacher.

Pros

• Many full-time jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• School year provides flexibility with lots of time off
• Serve as a positive role model for youth
• Art and music courses are electives so students have chosen to commit their time to the subject
• More job opportunity and security than many other arts- and music-related jobs

Cons

• Frustrating when dealing with disruptive or delinquent students
• Lower pay than other jobs requiring college education
• Can be demanding to keep students engaged and focused
• Most states don’t mandate music and art education in public schools, so there will be less demand for your services
• Low job growth projected over next decade