If you love science, then one of the best ways to stay on in this field is to become a science teacher.
Of course, there are other jobs that are based on science and research, but teaching science at the
school level allows you to rediscover the joys of this subject through the eyes of a fresh set of
students every year. You get to make a difference in their lives by sharing with them the wonders
and mysteries of science, and you have myriad opportunities to further your knowledge and push
the boundaries of scientific knowledge.
Becoming a science teacher is easy if you lay the proper foundation and start planning ahead:
It helps if you have a passion for science when you're in school and go in for a science-based major in college.
The basic requirement is a 4-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college in a science subject.
Once you graduate, apply to take
the Praxis Series of tests to qualify
for the teacher certification process.
Based on the requirements of the state where you live and where you intend to teach, you must acquire
certification from your state or the county Board of Education.
Some states may require that you enroll in programs for a year or more to receive extra credentials
that prepare you for the practice of teaching and help you cope with tasks that lie ahead,
like designing classes, managing students, and evaluating performance.
Once you have all the necessary qualifications and credentials, it's time to start
applying to schools in your vicinity for teaching positions.
Some people find that it's easier to find jobs at rural locations or in districts where
not many experienced teachers are willing to go. Most good teaching jobs require experience,
so if you're willing to take any job you get initially, you could add to your experience
before you move forward to find a better position.
Once you start to teach science at a school, get to know your students before you begin to explain science to them.
Students are always wary of a new face, so bond with them subtly by using a mix of humor and creativity to conduct classes.
Science is an interesting subject, one that lends itself to innovation in ideas and teaching;
so adopt new and interesting ways to demonstrate facts and share information with your students.
Hold lessons outside the classroom and in a variety of settings and conduct experiments to demonstrate theories
to boost students' interest in science.
Plan your classes ahead and take special care to prepare for each lesson when you're a
new teacher — as the days go by, designing and handling classes become second nature.
The key to achieving success as a teacher is to know how to find the right balance between authority
and accessibility in the classroom — your students must respect your authority and command and also find
you easily accessible to discuss lessons and other school-related issues.
As with any job, there are both pros and cons associated with teaching science — among the pros
are the satisfaction you gain in working at a job you love and in helping young minds develop, a decent
salary with enough time off from work, and a stress-free working environment; and among the cons are
the troubles that come when you work amongst teens and pre-teens, the issues you may with fellow teachers
and the administration, and having to teach at a school in a bad location.
Science is a vast subject, so you must work on improving your knowledge every day if you want to find success at a teaching job.
Byline:
This guest post is contributed by Beatrice Owen, she writes on the topic of bachelor of science.
She welcomes your comments at her email id: owen1.beatrice(@)gmail(.)com.
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