OVERVIEW
What is a Junior High Teacher?
Junior high school, sometimes referred to as middle school, is a marked transition from elementary school to high school. This is a time focused on developing a student’s cognitive, memory, and information-processing skills in preparation for the rigor of high school. Junior high teachers instruct students in sixth through eighth grade, spending most of their day presenting and facilitating individual lesson plans in one or more academic subjects. They utilize a variety of teaching techniques that appeal to various learning styles and methods. Outside of school hours, teachers spend their time preparing materials, grading assessments, working one-on-one with students, and communicating with parents about a student’s progress.
A commitment to constant learning and self-improvement is important to be a successful teacher. Most junior high teachers work collaboratively in planning their curriculum and often have a strong cross-curriculum focus in their assignments, demonstrated by the wave of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education happening in schools today.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Junior High Teacher Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of a junior high teacher can include:
Creating lesson plans to teach students a subject.
- Assessing students to evaluate their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Teaching lessons they have planned to an entire class or to smaller groups.
- Grading students’ assignments and exams.
- Communicating with parents or guardians about their child’s progress.
- Working with students individually to help them overcome specific learning challenges.
- Preparing students for standardized tests required by the state.
- Developing and enforcing classroom rules.
- Supervising students outside of the classroom—for example, during lunchtime or detention.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Junior High Teacher?
The first step in becoming a junior high teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach, such as mathematics or science. In your program of study, you’re often required to take education-focused courses to help you adapt your content knowledge to a teaching role. Additionally, you’ll be required to complete an in-person student teaching experience within a middle school classroom. Student teaching will help you develop your teaching, classroom management, curriculum planning, assessment, and time management skills.
Once you earn your degree, you must pass your state’s required exams for teaching certification and apply for your teaching license. Then, you can begin applying for open teaching positions. Most teaching licenses must be updated every five years. In order to keep your certification up-to-date, you must complete the necessary continuing education requirements of your state. Some teachers pursue additional certifications to enhance their careers. Earning a gifted and talented education (GATE) certification, a reading specialist certification, or a National Board certification will only further develop your knowledge, skills, and hiring potential. For teachers who want to increase their annual salary or advance into administration, a master’s degree is essential.
Best Degrees For Junior High Teachers
Education
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school chemistry teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 65% of students finish this online chemistry degree within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program (42 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Biochemistry
This chemistry teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Earn a chemistry degree online and be eligible for a teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school physics teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 62% of students earn this online physics degree within 49 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program (42 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Educational Psychology
- Physics: Waves and Optics
- Space, Time and Motion
- Conceptual Physics
- Physics: Mechanics
This physics teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Graduates of this online teaching degree program will be eligible for teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school biology teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 61% of students earned this online biology degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (43 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Zoology
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Health Sciences
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
This biology teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school earth science teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 63% of students earn this middle school teaching and high school teaching degree within 33 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (43 for Washington residents)
Concepts included in this program:
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- General Physics
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
This geosciences teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This high school teaching degree program prepares you for teaching licensure in any of the 50 states.
Education
Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
An online master's degree for current teachers who want to specialize in...
An online master's degree for current teachers who want to specialize in teaching science to middle school students.
Available in all states that offer a middle-grades general science endorsement.
- Time: 63% of students earned this degree within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 total courses in this program.
This program is for currently licensed teacher who want to add middle-grades science to their license.
Concepts included in this program:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Earth science
- Space science
Propel your career as a middle school or junior high science teacher with this M.A. degree.
Education
Teaching, Social Studies (Secondary) – M.A.
This online master's degree program prepares you to become a licensed...
This online master's degree program prepares you to become a licensed social studies teacher in your state.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 63% of students finish similar programs within 21 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 19 total courses in this program (21 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program include:
- US History
- World History
- Economics
- Classroom Instruction Strategies
- Technology for the Classroom
This online social studies degree prepares students for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
Education
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers and high school math teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 40 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (44 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Trigonometry and Precalculus
- Probability and Statistics I and II
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Abstract Algebra
- College Geometry
This online math teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This online math teaching degree program helps students become eligible for math teaching certification.
Education
Mathematics Education – Master's
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring...
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring teachers who want to pursue licensure. These programs prepare you to teach math at the approved level in your state.
- Time: 64% of students finish these programs within 18 and 25 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 to 20 total courses in this program.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Trigonometry
- Calculus
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Statistics
Propel your career as a math teacher with a master's degree in mathematics education.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Chemistry – Master's
Online master's programs for both currently licensed teachers or for those...
Online master's programs for both currently licensed teachers or for those who want to pursue a teaching license. These programs prepare you to teach chemistry at the secondary level in your state.
- Time: (((percentcomplete.masesc))) of students finish their program within (((months.masesc))) to (((months.matsesc))) months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 to 20 courses for your degree, depending on which program you choose.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time for your program and the total number of courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- General Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Propel your career as a junior high or high school biology teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Physics – Master's
Online master's programs for aspring and currently licensed teachers....
Online master's programs for aspring and currently licensed teachers. These programs prepare you to teach chemistry at the secondary level in your state, and obtain licensure if needed.
- Time: (((percentcomplete.masesp))) of students finish their program within (((months.masesp))) to (((months.matsesp))) months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 to 20 courses for your degree, depending on which program you choose.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time for your program and the total number of courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- General Chemistry
- Mechanics
- Waves and optics
- Electricity and magnetism
- Space, time and motion
Propel your career as a junior high or high school physics teacher with the help of a master's degree in education.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Biology – Master's
Online master's programs for currently licensed teachers, or for those who...
Online master's programs for currently licensed teachers, or for those who want to pursue a teaching license. These programs prepare you to teach biology at the secondary level in your state.
- Time: (((percentcomplete.masesb))) of students finish these programs within (((months.masesb))) and (((months.matsesb))) months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 13 to 20 total courses in this program.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
Propel your career as a junior high or high school biology teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Earth Science - Master's
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring...
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring teachers who want to pursue licensure. These programs prepare you to teach earth science at the secondary level in your state.
- Time: (((percentcomplete.masese))) of students earn this degree within (((months.masese))) to (((months.matsese))) months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 to 20 total courses in this program.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
- Ocean Systems
- Chemistry
Propel your career as a geoscience teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Teaching, Special Education (K–12) – M.A.
An online master's degree for aspiring teachers looking to further their...
An online master's degree for aspiring teachers looking to further their careers with a focus on K–12 special education.
- Time: 64% of students finish similar programs in 22 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 30 total courses in this program.
This program is ideal for students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field and are looking to earn their initial teaching license.
Concepts included in this program:
- Professional, Ethical and Legal Guidelines in Special Education
- Management Strategies for Academic and Social Behavior
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Methods of Instruction and Intervention
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges and special learning abilities with this teaching master's degree.
Education
English Language Learning (PreK–12) – M.A.
An online master's degree for current teachers whose next career goal...
An online master's degree for current teachers whose next career goal includes a focus on teaching in ELL or ESL settings.
- Time: 62% of students earn this degree within 17 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program is for current teachers who are looking to add ELL or ESL to their license.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Assessment Theory and Practice
- Language Production, Theory and Acquisition
- Instruction Planning and Implementation
- Theories of Second Language Acquisition
Grow your teaching career on a commitment to ensuring language barriers don't become a barrier to learning with this education master's degree.
How Much Does a Junior High Teacher Make?
$61,320
Location, experience, and specialty have the largest impact on income for teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a junior high teacher in the U.S. is $61,320, with the top 10% earning more than $99,470 and the bottom 10% earning less than $45,510. Teachers are typically able to increase their income by furthering their education, gaining experience, or transitioning into administrative roles. On average, junior high teachers with a master’s degree earn $20,000 more per year than those with just a bachelor’s degree.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
4%
Currently, the job field for middle school or junior high teachers is projected to grow by 4% between 2021 and 2031, about as fast as the average occupation. Certification in a subject that is experiencing a shortage of teachers, such as STEM, may increase a teacher’s job security.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Junior High Teacher Need?
A junior high teacher requires a variety of professional and interpersonal skills, most notably:
- Communication
- Active Listening
- Persistence
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Patience
- Organization
- Tech-savvy
- Time management
- Empathy
- Self-reflection
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