Middle school teachers are teachers in Grades 6 to 9. Placed between the elementary and high school levels, they play an important role in the formative years of the students who are aged from 12 to 15 years old. Building on the foundation of elementary education, the teacher begins to introduce higher concepts to effectively prepare the students for higher education. In this article, let’s look at the job description, potential roles, job responsibilities, and teaching requirements of middle school teachers.  

The basic guidelines for teaching middle school students are set by federal and state government agencies. All teachers are provided with a set of curriculum and teaching programs which have to be fulfilled in each educational cycle. The main task of a middle school teacher is to educate middle school students and equip them with the necessary skills in the subjects at this level.

As per the standards issued by government agencies, the roles of a middle school teacher include the following:

• Help students to solve problems and develop aptitude in various subjects.
• Introduce new concepts and help students to deeply understand the concepts learnt in the elementary level.
• Encourage group activities and group discussions.
• Teach classes in math, English, music, art, social science, science, and physical education.
• Design lesson plans, projects, field trips, and curriculum for each session.
• Help the school in selection of resources and instruction materials. Present the resources and instruction material to the students.
• Set goals and design assessments for the students.
• Motivate students to learn and experiment in the fields of computer, art, music etc.
• Teach about the community and the latest developments in the world. Discuss and motivate students to find ways to improve current situation.
• Expose students to the various career options. Help them to develop instincts to undertake further studies and get into the selected career option after completing the course.

Throughout the academic year, the middle school teacher is expected to take classes in the area of specialization such as math, physics, music, art, and so on. In this way, the teachers will be informed of the latest educational developments and improve their performance. In some schools, classes may be on a rotational basis so middle school teachers may be required to teach elementary classes as well. Generally, all teachers are encouraged to partake in some extracurricular activity according to their interest and background.

To qualify as a middle school teacher, the applicant should have a recognized bachelor degree in a specialized field. All institutions and schools require prospective teachers to complete specific training programs before they are considered. The teacher is expected to possess above normal capabilities in oral expression and comprehension as well as other relevant skills. For people who are interested in a career as a middle school teacher, it’s a good idea to look out for options in nearby schools while they are pursuing their degree. As in all other job applications, prior experience is always a plus.

Follow these links to learn more about middle school teachers.

• Occupational Outlook: Covers nature of work, training, employment, projections, earnings, and more.
• Schools & Careers: Provides a lot of information for middle school teachers.
• Resources: The website is dedicated to middle school teachers.
• NMSA: Official site of the National Middle School Association.
• Career & School: Excellent resource center for middle school teachers.
• Instructional Methods: Learn about the different instructional methods.
• Do’s & Don’ts: Find out what should be done and what shouldn’t be done.
• Curriculum Supplement: A series of supplements for middle school science teachers.
• Science Teacher: Job profile of a middle school science teacher.
• Teaching Degree: Find out how to earn a middle school teacher online degree.
• Summary Report: Overview of tasks, tools & technology, knowledge, skills, abilities, and more.
• Montessori: Discover the wonders of the Montessori teaching methods.
• Evolution: A resource page for public school teachers.
• Middle School Teacher: Outlines the duties, career outlook, and requirements for middle school teachers.
• Literacy: Use these resources to improve middle school literacy.
• Teacher Education: Start your search for an online middle school teacher program here.
• Teacher/Student Resources: A wealth of resources on various subjects.
• Being a Middle School Teacher: Discusses the challenges of a middle school teacher.
• Science Activities: Some science activities for middle school students.
• Middle School.net: A website for middle school teachers by middle school teachers.
• Science Education: Excellent resource for middle school science teachers.
• Science & Math: Science and math resources for middle school teachers.
• Preparation Program: A study into the preparation program of middle school math teachers.
• Jobs: The page posts jobs for middle school teachers.
• Teaching Jobs: Good place to search for middle school teaching jobs.
• Teachers: Overview of a career in teaching.
• Middle School Teaching Career: Discusses the responsibilities, requirements, and salary of middle school teachers.
• Degree Finder: Provides information on job description, average salary, educational requirements, and job outlook.
• Overview: Detailed description of a career in middle school education.
• Employment: Offers information on employment and requirements for middle school teachers.
• Duties & Responsibilities: Outlines the duties and responsibilities of middle school teachers.
• Qualifications: The paper examines the relationship between teacher qualifications and achievements of students in middle school.
• Salary Secrets: Learn about the secrets of teacher salaries.
• Teaching: Highlights some of the challenges of teaching middle school students.
• Interview: An example of the questions at the interview of a middle school teacher.