Can You Go From Teaching Elementary to High School?

Many elementary school teachers might look for a new challenge or simply wish to change their work environment for a new experience. They might be tired because of the hectic schedule of elementary schools, or they want to teach students who are a bit more mature. Whatever the reason, there is always the question of whether it is possible to switch from teaching elementary to teaching high school.

You can go from teaching elementary to high school. However, the requirements for the transition will differ from state to state. You will often have to do some additional courses to get a certificate in a specialized subject such as math or English. Once you get the certificate, you can start looking for a high school job.

Making such a big step in your career can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep reading to learn more about how you can switch from being an elementary school teacher to a high school teacher and what you can expect when you make that switch.

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What You Need To Do To Go From Teaching Elementary to High School

It is difficult to make generalizations about education since the rules and requirements differ from state to state. However, the main issue in this situation is getting the right certificate.

There are different certificates for elementary and high school; without the right one, you can’t teach at your desired level. Thankfully, you can work towards getting a certificate for teaching high school if you’re already an elementary school teacher. The process may include:

Taking courses to earn certification in a specialized subject.

Going back to university to get a master’s degree.
Completing courses in teaching methodology for high school.
Taking exams to prove your proficiency.

A common route to becoming a high school teacher in most states is to complete an undergraduate degree in the subject that you are interested in teaching and then enroll in a master’s level teaching program.

If a teacher has a Bachelor of Elementary Education, for instance, this will not be enough for them to get a job in most public high schools. Instead, the teacher will have to obtain a master’s degree in a field of specialization, such as math or English, in order to teach at a high school.

In some locations, you may be required to have a BA in humanities or science, plus a two-year teaching degree to teach high school. Since these requirements vary widely, the best thing to do is check with your local school district and see what they require. Many school districts have advisors you can talk to. They can review your specific situation and tell you what the best course of action would be.

Another element to remember is that the nature of the job changes, particularly when it comes to the subjects you’ll be teaching. In elementary school, you’re teaching many different subjects to the same group of students, while in high school, a teacher teaches a small number of related subjects to different students. This means you’ll have to specialize and focus on a particular subject or group of subjects.

In some cases, you may be hired conditionally if you accept to take additional university courses to bring your skills and knowledge up to par with the requirements. And in some other cases, you may just be lucky enough that there’s a teacher shortage, and you get hired even if you don’t have all the credentials. Plus, there’s always the option of being a substitute, which can provide you with valuable experience.

Overall, moving from elementary to high school is possible, at least in most cases. Let’s see what you can do if you decide to take the plunge and successfully land in a high school.

What You Can Expect as a High School Teacher

Teaching small children and teaching teenagers can often feel like two completely different jobs. Students of those two age groups have different needs and behaviors, so you’ll certainly have to spend some time adjusting to the new work conditions.

You’ll need to adjust your expectations before you change careers. Even if you’ve had a very negative experience teaching elementary school and think you can’t bear it any longer, you might still be faced with an unpleasant surprise when you get to high school.

For example, many teachers grow tired of hand-holding in elementary school and want to switch to high school, only to find a different type of hand-holding, coupled with a lack of interest and rudeness. However, in some cases, switching from elementary to high school is a welcome change and a positive experience.

Let’s see what you can expect and how to prepare for it.

Different Behavior

While elementary school students often get very rowdy and sometimes even disrespectful, they rarely exhibit such behavior to the extent high school children do. Elementary school teachers tend to have better experiences when it comes to classroom discipline. Elementary school students typically display a lot of enthusiasm and willingness to work; they’ll be lively, active, and participate in class, even if their input is not the savviest.

High school teachers often complain that their students are hormonal, disrespectful, disinterested, and stubborn. While this is certainly a generalization, it does ring true for a large proportion of high school teachers. The teenage years are a very turbulent life period, and many, if not most, students feel they have much better things to do than listening to your lecture on the Civil War or Ernest Hemingway.

This behavior change is often a big shock to elementary school teachers, and you have to be prepared for it. Don’t be too surprised if you come into a classroom and feel like you’re talking to a wall. You must think of unique strategies that’ll interest and engage this age group of students if you want to be successful.

Bullying

Bullying is a common behavioral problem in schools. It is not unheard of in elementary schools, but it is far more common in high schools. It is not only directed toward other students but sometimes even toward teachers. Many high school teachers have complained about being bullied by students, and some have changed jobs because of that.

Bullying, of course, greatly increases stress, creates a toxic atmosphere in the classroom, and makes teachers disaffected with their profession and their students. While this is not something every high school teacher experiences, it may happen, so you have to consider it when thinking about making the switch.

You can check out this useful video on classroom management to help you avoid behavioral problems and unpleasant situations:

Independence

Teenagers are way more independent than elementary school kids for obvious reasons. However, they tend to grossly overestimate their independence and try acting as if they were fully independent adults. They often act like they do not need help and can even get withdrawn to preserve their independence.

However, sometimes even teachers overestimate the independence of high school students. It’s easy to overshoot when evaluating their maturity level because they look and act so much older than elementary school children. They are still kids, though, and will rely on you whether they like to admit it or not.

Yes, they know how to dress, pack their lunch, and go to the toilet on their own, but they will be faced with more complex emotional and developmental problems they are often not equipped to deal with. You’ll have to provide at least some help on that front and learn how to be available for them, so you can build rapport and gain their trust.

Greater Abilities

High school students have greater capabilities than their elementary school counterparts. This is a double-edged sword for you. On the one hand, you will (hopefully) not have to explain and analyze the simplest concepts, and instead, you will be able to discuss more complex matters, which is more engrossing for many teachers.

On the other hand, this means that you’ll have to invest more work in your teaching; you’ll need to have a secure subject knowledge, you’ll have to rethink your classroom strategies, and you’ll have to be much more attentive in class.

High schoolers are more likely to question you and spot any potential inaccuracies in what and how you teach. This is not to say that this sort of situation does not happen in elementary school, but it’s much rarer.

Due to their greater abilities, the quality and quantity of work produced by high school students will certainly be greater than that of elementary students. While reading such work should be more rewarding and engaging, it can be more demanding to grade. Therefore, high school teachers can expect to spend more time marking and providing feedback than their elementary school counterparts.

Better Schedule

Generally speaking, high school teachers have better schedules than elementary teachers. Most schools stick to 90-minute classes, have longer planning periods, and allow you to have more of your time before and after school free.

Elementary school schedules are more hectic, with shorter classes, but with shorter planning periods as well, more duties (such as monitoring the kids on the playground), and more emphasis on classroom decoration and display boards. So, switching to high school will probably be a welcome change for you.

You still might have to spend some of your precious time on disgruntled parents, so be ready for that, too. In some cases, they can be even more demanding than in elementary school, so you might have to upgrade your parent management skills.

Conclusion

It is possible to go from teaching elementary school to teaching high school. However, you’ll likely need to work on obtaining a certificate for that, and the process varies widely from state to state and district to district. The best thing to do is consult your district and see what they say.

You’ll also have to brace yourself for the many changes you’ll face in high school.

Sources

Western Governors University: 7 Tips for Teachers on Dealing with Difficult Parents