Choosing a Teaching Specialty
There's quite a difference between managing a classroom of 20 kindergartners, leading five high school algebra classes in a day or coaching a girl's varsity basketball team. To find out more about which age group and subject(s) you'd like to teach, talk to other teachers and volunteer in a classroom to clarify your plan. It's also a good idea to evaluate your strengths and past school experiences.
High School Math Teacher
There are several main routes to becoming a high school math teacher:
Major in Math - Earn your bachelor's degree in math and then get a secondary education or single subject teaching credential.
Earn a Post-bachelor's certificate - Earn your bachelor's in another subject, enter a secondary education credential program with an emphasis on math, then pass the PRAXIS II.
Earn a Master's in Math Education - Earn your master's degree in teaching math to elementary or secondary school students.
Obtain an Emergency Credential - Since math teachers are in high demand, you may be able to enter the profession directly via an emergency credential, if you have a bachelor's degree in math. Most states will also require that you complete some education courses to earn your full credential.
ESL Teacher
ESL teachers are generally certified to teach kindergarten through 12th grade. There are several main routes to becoming an ESL teacher:
Major in a Foreign Language - Earn your bachelor's degree in a foreign language such as Spanish or Chinese and then get an ESL teaching credential.
Earn a Post-Bachelor's Certificate - Earn your bachelor's in another subject, enter a teacher credential program with an emphasis on bilingual education, then pass the PRAXIS II.
Obtain an Emergency Credential - Since ESL teachers are in high demand, you may be able to enter the profession directly via an emergency credential, if you have a bachelor's degree in a foreign language such as Spanish. Most states will also require that you complete some education courses to earn your full credential.