If you’re contemplating becoming a teacher, you may be considering options in elementary and middle school. Perhaps you wonder how they differ and which might be better. While you may be aware of the requirements to teach in elementary and middle school, you may be unaware of other essential elements to consider when making your decision.
Teaching elementary school requires creativity, energy, general knowledge, and teamwork. Middle school requires a deeper understanding of a subject area, more independence, and a greater degree of patience and understanding with students. The two differ in their schedules and salaries. The better option depends on your personal needs and preferences.
This article will explore both elementary and middle schools to discover their different requirements, schedules, and pay scales. We’ll also discuss the benefits of teaching in each type of school to determine if one is better than the other.
Teaching in the Elementary School Setting
An elementary school typically refers to a school that houses students from Kindergarten to fifth grade. In some places, they extend until 6th grade. Elementary schools can range in size, with some elementary schools holding around 40 students per grade level or two classes. Other elementary schools may just have one class per grade. The average class size in elementary schools across the US is around 21 pupils per class. Take this into consideration when deciding whether or not you would like to teach in an elementary school setting.
Typically, a larger public school will have at least two classes per grade. A smaller private school will often only have one. If you are considering becoming a teacher in an elementary school, there are several factors you should consider. These factors include the following:
- Creativity
- Energy
- General knowledge
- Teamwork
- Schedule
Creativity
It is commonly recognized that elementary school teachers must be very creative. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that students need many different types of stimulation. Students learn in many different ways. In fact, education theorists have recognized seven different learning styles.
These are the common learning styles:
- Audio
- Visual
- Kinesthetic
- Reading and writing
These learning styles are important for elementary teachers to keep in mind because teachers are often required to vary how they present information. This involves a lot of creativity. Perhaps one day, they will present a topic in a way that stimulates visual learners.
The next time they loop back to this topic, they will need to present it in another way, perhaps for auditory or kinesthetic learners. It requires creativity to change the way they present the information to students.
Elementary school teachers also need to be creative regarding classroom decoration, students’ materials, and other activities. Elementary school is a time when students should have opportunities for both play and learning. Elementary school teachers capitalize on this by creating fun learning opportunities, including art, music, games, and hands-on activities.
Younger students also have shorter attention spans. With this in mind, they need to switch from one activity to the next more quickly than older students. Otherwise, students get bored and disengaged. If you are interested in teaching elementary school, make sure you are a creative person who can come up with new activities frequently.
Energy
Another essential characteristic you must have if you want to teach elementary school is energy! Younger kids have what may seem like endless energy. They are constantly active, playing, talking, and laughing. If you want to be an elementary school teacher, you should have the mental and physical stamina to keep up with lively students.
While their energy is often contagious, it can also be tiring. If you consider yourself a highly energetic person, then elementary school is a great fit.
General Knowledge
While some schools may work differently, most elementary schools use a system in which one teacher teaches a group of all subjects. This is because younger students are often most comfortable and successful when they have established routines. This includes having one teacher with whom they can build relationships.
As one person teaching all subjects such as reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, you must have a good general knowledge of all topics. Teachers must demonstrate this knowledge with a test that analyzes their math, reading, writing, and science knowledge. The name of this test varies by state. It is referred to as the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST
) in California.
If you enjoy teaching several subjects and do feel that you have good knowledge in all subject areas, then teaching in elementary school will be the perfect choice for you.
Teamwork
As mentioned above, public elementary schools often have two or even three classes per grade. This means that if you work at a larger school, you will work alongside another teacher who teaches the same grade level. This kind of environment requires a lot of teamwork and collaboration. You will need to constantly communicate with your grade-level partners to ensure consistency among the classes.
Your school will expect you and your grade-level partner to teach the same curriculum and stay at the same pace. This means you will need to plan lessons, complete activities, and even schedule activities such as field trips with the other teacher(s) in mind.
Schedule
Another critical factor to consider when you are thinking about teaching elementary school is the schedule you will have as a teacher. Since you are in charge of teaching all subjects, you will stay with your class for most of the day. You will have a break in your schedule when your students attend extracurricular or specialist classes, such as art, technology, or physical education.
Your planning time during school hours is limited as an elementary teacher. You will need to be prepared to do planning work before and after school.
Teaching in the Middle School Setting
If you are considering working in a middle school, you are thinking of teaching any grade from sixth through eighth grade. Teaching middle school is very different from teaching elementary school. For instance, the average class size is often smaller than in elementary school. Some other important factors to consider if you want to teach middle school include the following:
- Subject area knowledge
- Independence
- Scheduling
Subject Area Knowledge
Perhaps you are highly knowledgeable in a particular subject area. In that case, you may find that teaching middle school is the perfect fit. Suppose you are passionate about science and have a degree in a science-related field, such as biology. You may enjoy focusing specifically on this subject area with middle schoolers.
Most middle school teachers are in charge of teaching just one subject area. They receive a single-subject teaching credential demonstrating proficient knowledge of a subject. This is ideal if you prefer to concentrate your time and energy on developing your teaching skills in one subject area rather than having to teach all of them.
Independence
Contrary to elementary school, where you often work in a grade-level team, in middle school, you are often the only teacher teaching a specific subject. Your lesson planning, activities, and work will be done mostly independently.
If you prefer more independent work and spending less time collaborating with coworkers about plans and activities, then middle school teaching may be right for you.
Scheduling
Finally, another significant difference in middle school is the scheduling. Students in middle school usually travel from class to class and do not have just one teacher. This means you will work with several different groups of students each day. Some educators may prefer this because it allows them to work with many students. It also keeps an element of novelty in your teaching, as you will switch between students frequently.
As you will be teaching various groups of students, it might take you longer to build solid relationships with your students.
You should also consider the age of the students you will be working with. Middle schoolers are typically between the ages of 11-13, which is a time when most of them will start puberty. This means dealing with students who are experiencing physical and emotional changes, so a greater degree of patience and understanding will be required from you.
Your schedule in middle school will also typically allow for more planning time throughout the day. Since middle school teachers are only in charge of teaching one subject area, they often have a few breaks in the day. This gives you more time to prepare during school hours.
Something else to consider with the middle school schedule is that many middle schools offer after-school programs or activities for their students. These may be sports, leadership teams, clubs, or an art program. As a teacher at the school, you may be asked to participate in or lead an after-school program for the students. If you feel passionate about teaching an after-school program, working in a middle school will be an excellent fit for you.
Is Teaching Elementary School or Middle School Better?
If you prefer to teach one subject, middle school is likely the best fit for you. If you would rather teach many subjects, then elementary is the best choice. Ultimately, the decision rests entirely on the individual and their qualities as a person and teacher.
If you are looking for more information and comparisons between teaching in elementary and middle school, check out the following Youtube video:
Conclusion
Teaching at any level requires a lot of hard work and planning. If you are contemplating which level to teach, consider some of the above factors.
You will want to consider your creativity, energy, independence, subject preference, and scheduling. Regardless of what you choose, both levels of teaching can be immensely rewarding and have many benefits.
Sources
- Inspire Education: The Seven Learning Styles
- RaisingChildren.net.au: Family routines: How and Why They Work
- Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Basic Skills Requirement (CL-667)
- Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Single Subject Teaching Credential Requirements for Teachers Prepared in California (CL-560C)
- Phi Delta Kappan: Time for Teacher Learning, Planning Critical for School Reform
- Youtube: Teaching Middle vs. Elementary School| Which is Right for You?| Which Do I Prefer?