Term paper on Secondary Science Teacher Career Analyis

Secondary Science Teacher Career Analyis Essays

While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (secondary science teacher career analyis)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!

Secondary Science Teacher Career Analysis


Introduction

After obtaining a bachelors degree in science, most people begin to scour the job market. Many people may find difficulty obtaining a job pertaining to science without a master’s degree. Rather than give up people tend to explore their options. Some people continue their education to ensure their success in the science industry. Others explore alternative careers which interest them. Another option is to share the knowledge obtained in four years of college by teaching in a middle or high school setting.

Each option is better suited for different individuals. Many people cannot go to graduate school for one reason or another. Maybe they do not have the financial means, or they lack the time needed to complete the program. Others choose not to change career fields because science is their main interest and prefer to stick with it. Some choose not to teach because it does not interest them or because they do not know enough about it.

Due to the high demand of secondary education teachers, often people choose this option. In the late 1990’s, the majority of high school students were not taught science by science teachers. The students were instead taught science by teachers who normally taught other subjects (“20 Hot”). That has not changed much in the new millennium. The need for secondary school teachers continues to rise and is not expected to decline in the near future. It is currently listed in the top five for occupations with the most job openings. Many states are also expecting a significant rise in

the number of teachers they are going to employ.


The average salary for a secondary educator ranges from $19,700 to $70,030 a year (United States). $35,750 is the customary income for first year secondary teachers

according to the Economic Research Institute. However, the Bureau of Labor statistics claims that the usual starting salary is $36,600 (“Secondary”). Conversely, $25,700 is the national standard for beginning secondary teachers according to the American Federation of Teachers (United States). And the income for private school secondary educators varies greatly. Some private schools offer free room and board and other offers included as the salary so a comparison is often difficult. Teachers are more likely to receive raises after they have been teaching at the same school district for more than a year. Coaching athletic teams and teaching extracurricular activities also increases pay. Obtaining a master’s degree or Ph.D also increase a secondary school science teacher’s salary. On average, a public school teacher with a master’s degree earns $44,525, and with a Ph.D it is increased even more to $49,125 for a beginning teacher (“Secondary”). But those are not the only reasons science majors decide to teach secondary education. Through the exploration of the definition of a science teacher and the job description, the skills needed to be successful, interests and values desired, future trends, advantages, and drawbacks of the profession you will see why teaching science is a feasible possibility many people majoring in science are beginning to choose.


COLLECTED DATA


DEFINITION OF A SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHER

The first aspect of a teaching profession a person interested in teaching science in a middle or high school setting must do is examine the definition of not only a science

teacher but also secondary teacher in general. It is also necessary to assess the daily tasks and duties involved in secondary teaching.


Job Description

A secondary school teacher can teach seventh through twelfth grades. Many educators teach either middle or high school but it is not limited to a specific grade level. Secondary teachers must present course materials by providing a lecture, using audio-visual aids, and assigning homework. In addition to actually teaching material, a secondary teacher must also evaluate students through observation and discuss the findings with the student, the student’s parents, and other involved teachers or administrators. Teachers must also supervise the students at all times and maintain proper behavior in the classroom through the use of guidance and discipline (“Secondary”). Most states also require teachers to hold a certification from the state.


Daily Tasks and Duties

There are a variety of tasks and duties that must be performed by a secondary teacher. Some of the duties are daily activities. Others are weekly, monthly, or as needed. The main objective for an educator is, through the use of multiple teaching

methods, to instruct students. A secondary science teacher must also prepare curriculums for each class they teach, including a course outline and the objectives of the lesson according to state regulations. Recording students’ progress through the use of evaluations and reports is an additional duty of a high school or middle school science teacher. Educators must also cooperatively work with parents, students, and counselors to help resolve behavior and academic problems. Through the use of discipline and

guidance, secondary teachers are required to maintain order in the classroom. Instructing students using a variety of teaching strategies including small group, modeling, projects, intergraded discipline and interactive teaching is an added task for science teachers at the secondary level (“Tasks”). Additional tasks include the following:

· Assign and grade homework

· Develop, administer, and grade tests

· Attend meetings, conferences, and training workshops

· Maintain attendance records (“Tasks”)



SKILLS AND INTRESTED NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFULL

As with every profession, there are certain skills, interests and abilities needed to be successful. Teaching science at the secondary level is no exception. Many people

may find teaching difficult and unrewarding if they do not possess certain skills and interests.


Skills Needed

There are a variety of skills and abilities needed for the field of secondary education. Teaching is much more than just relaying information. It is a process of sharing knowledge in such a way that students’ not only want but are able to comprehend what is being taught. The ability to present information in a clear and organized fashion is of the up-most importance when teaching high school or middle school students (“Secondary”). In order to present information in such a way, a teacher must have the

capability to communicate oral and written ideas in a way others will understand (“Knowledge”). Another challenge for secondary teachers is keeping the interest of the students. The first step in engaging students’ attention is the ability to not only teach but also learn new things using a variety of approaches (“Knowledge”). Other skills needed to be successful include

· High reading comprehension

· Oral and written comprehension

· Using experience and knowledge to make decisions

· Ability to evaluate objectively

Interests Desired

Not only does a person need to possess the skills and abilities of a secondary educator but he or she must also have particular interests. In order for teaching to be a rewarding career, a secondary education teacher must have the desire to share information. The fascination to share knowledge is a key factor in becoming a successful high school or middle school teacher. While teaching, a person will encounter many different types of people and many types of situations. The ability, along...

The rest of the paper is available free of charge to our registered users. The registration process just couldn't be easier. Log in or register now. It is all free!
Borowiec, B. Jonathan, James, K. Robert. “Science Teacher Preparation.” The Clearing House 73 (2000): Infotrac. Pueblo McClelland Library. 5 September 2000.

"Detailed Trends - Ranked List.” America’s Career Infonet. 31 August 2000. .

“Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities.” America’s Career Infonet. 31 August 2000. .

“Occupations with the Most Job Openings.” America’s Career Infonet. 31 August 2000.

“Secondary School Teachers.” Colorado Career Information System. CD-ROM. Denver: COIS/EDG, 2000.

“Tasks and Activities.” America’s Career Infonet. 31 August 2000.
.

“Teacher (Secondary).” Discover. CD-ROM. Iowa City, IO: ACT, ING. 2000.

“20 Hot Job Tracks.” U.S. News and World Report. 123 (1998): online. Infotrac. 5 September 2000.

United States. US Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Teacher, Secondary School.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington: GPO, 2000-01 Edition. 19 September 2000.

“Wages and Trends – Occupational Report.” America’s Career Infonet. 31 August 2000. .

White, Cindy. “RE: Questions.” Email. 21 September 2000.
You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 12 Feb, 2012 from
    <http://essaymania.com/21413/secondary-science-teacher-career-analyis>

More College Papers

Sex Ed
There are many reasons why people argue for and against sex education being a set curriculum in our school systems, but not many people look at the facts of the issue before deciding that sex education is not right. The plain truth is that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of teenage

Sex Education in the Classroom
Sean Marino November 6, 1999 Contemporary Moral Problems T/TR 11:30-12:45 Final paper Sex Education and the Classroom In today's society there is an on going debate over sex education and its influence on our children. "The question is no longer should sex education be taught, but rather ho

Should We Privatize Our Schools
Our society, as a whole, has been heading toward a decentralized system of conducting its affairs. Large corporations have been getting larger , meanwhile governments have been giving up increasing amounts of their control. This decentralization has affected even former mainstays of government co