BinOne of the most rewarding aspects of having a career in science education involves inspiring students with science. As a science teacher, you will play an integral role in developing future leaders in the world of science and technology. You will love fuelling your students’ curiosity and encouraging them to explore the topics of interest further.
Science teachers are certified to teach elementary, middle and high school and much more. At the higher grades and at colleges or university level, science classes focus on specific areas such as earth science, biology, chemistry, animal science and physics. Teaching science involves experimenting, investigation and much more.
As a science teacher, you will also provide your students with opportunities to learn various concepts in science through field trips, multimedia materials and non-conventional teaching approaches. It is your job as a science teacher to implement the appropriate curriculum thereby fostering an active learning environment. You need to encourage student participation at every level for the best results.
Teaching science involves introducing basic science-related concepts in early education. You have the responsibility to teach students how to appreciate how everything works. You can do this by creating hands-on learning opportunities for your students. Here, they can rely on their senses to investigate, observe and discover new things.
Middle school is the best way to nurture young students and their interests in science. If you are teaching students at this level, you need to create a fun and engaging learning environment to allow your students to explore. At this level, earth and life science may be the most important classroom topics. You can introduce your students to laboratory settings for both personal and group experiences. You need to encourage your students to learn more about the development and execution of lyophilisation procedures.
At the high school, college or university level, you are required to take your students through complex scientific concepts in various investigational and instructional settings, especially involving the use of a science lab. Here, your students can investigate biology, chemistry and physics. Make sure your students understand lab safety rules and how to use lab equipment.
Your lesson plans should help your students understand complex systems, make predictions, generate new ideas and apply various scientific methods to solve problems. If you are planning to become a science teacher, here is a guide to take you through what you need to know including your job description, salary and outlook.
Job Description
Science teachers are part of STEM. It is an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and Computer Science. It refers to a set of disciplines often grouped together academically and careerwise. Over the last few years, there has been an increased emphasis on teaching STEM subjects. It is believed fluency in STEM is crucial to developing future leaders. As a science teacher, your job involves providing instruction and proper guidance to your students. You need to help them comprehend important science concepts such as problem-solving.
Additionally, you need to teach them how to gather evidence that supports decisions and ideas. You will create lesson plans, grade tests/assignments and present science demonstrations. Your job involves identifying students who need additional help and helping them overcome their challenges. You will also communicate with the school administration and parents on student progress.
Job Requirements And Common Tasks
You are responsible for preparing lesson plans according to school guidelines and the grade levels. You need to prepare daily instruction outlines, special projects, classroom assignments, tests and homework. You need to maintain student records to show attendance and grades in accordance with various policies set by the state, district and school in question.
You need to observe and evaluate the performance of every student. As a teacher, you must have excellent written and verbal skills to ensure effective communication with students, colleagues and parents. You need to be detail-oriented, a problem solver and have exceptional instructional skills. You must be prepared to participate in extracurricular activities such as school clubs and athletics.
