You might be wondering “Is Teaching a good career?”. Well, that depends on what you mean by “good” and what you mean by a “career”. I can tell you this; teaching is a fantastic and rewarding career.
If you are thinking about teaching as a career option, then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll talk about what teaching is and what it involves so that you’re informed enough to make the right decision on choosing teaching as a career.
In addition, I’ll be answering questions like what makes good a teacher, does becoming a teacher pays well, what do you need to become a teacher, and many other similar questions.
So read on to learn more.
Who is a Teacher?
Teachers are the backbone of every society. These are committed individuals who help shape our future.
Teachers are the ones responsible for helping students develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential for success in a rapidly changing world.
Teachers are the people who have taught you all the important things in life. They are the ones who have helped you to learn about the world and made sure that you knew how to do things when you were a kid.
Teachers are also the people who help us learn more about ourselves and our abilities. They guide us through life and give us direction when we don’t know what to do next.
Without teachers, we wouldn’t be able to get an education or learn anything at all.
Choosing Teaching as a Career
Teaching as a career choice is an interesting one. It’s an industry that is both loved and hated by the people who are part of it.
Teachers are seen as guardians and caretakers of tomorrow’s leaders, while they’re also seen as outdated educators stuck in a day gone by.
While the image of teachers can be mixed, there’s no denying that there are some great opportunities to make a living through teaching.
Many job prospects are looking up which makes this a great time to consider making teaching your career. And it’s an industry that will be in existence as much as there’s planet Earth.
But should you choose teaching as a career or why would anyone want to become a teacher? Well, to answer that question, let’s see why teaching is a good career.
10 Reasons Why Teaching is a Good Career
1. Teaching is stable work, you are a teacher all year round
Teaching is a great career for many people. It’s a stable job and one that you can do all year round. No fear of being laid off when you least expect it.
You can choose to teach in public or private schools, or even work as an online teacher.
2. Teachers in some countries get free housing and healthcare
Teaching also offers a number of perks that some other careers do not, such as free accommodation and healthcare. This allows you to save money for the future and enjoy your time off when you choose to take vacations.
3. Teaching as a career offer you the platform to make a difference in individual lives
Teaching allows one to make a positive impact on individuals’ lives by imparting knowledge, skills, and values that would help them become successful in life and society at large.
This makes teaching an honorable profession and something worth pursuing as a career path for anyone who wants to make the world a better place.
4. Choosing to teach as a career builds on your empathy and creativity
Choosing to teach as a career builds on your empathy and creativity because you will have to teach children with different abilities and personalities.
If you are creative, then this career choice is for you. You get to learn about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, how others see you, etc.
5. Teaching as a career offers flexible working hours
In most cases, teachers have more free time than other people who work full-time jobs, so they have plenty of opportunities to spend their time doing something they enjoy and make extra money while doing it.
You can even get a part-time job in addition to teaching, which means that you will have multiple sources of income at your disposal.
6. Teachers enjoy flexible retirement options
Teaching gives you flexibility in your retirement options.
Teachers can retire at any time between the ages of 55 and 60, depending on their state’s guidelines for retirement age.
This allows teachers to retire early if they want more free time during their golden years, or they can keep working if they want more income during that period of life.
7. It gives you the satisfaction of helping others
As a teacher, you’re working with young minds who are eager to learn and better themselves. You’ll see them grow as they learn new things and develop new skills throughout their education process.
You’ll also see them develop socially through interactions with each other within the classroom environment, which means being able to help someone else is very rewarding.
8. Teaching as a career will help you grow personally and professionally
Teaching requires patience and tolerance, two important characteristics that will affect your personal life as well as your professional life when dealing with students or colleagues at work who may not share your beliefs or values.
9. Choosing to Teach as a career helps build a healthy work-life balance
Teachers usually get summers off and have plenty of holidays throughout the year. This means that they can spend time with their families and friends during those times.
Teachers also tend to work fewer hours than other professionals due to the long school days and weekends spent planning lessons or grading papers instead of teaching them.
10. Teaching makes you become a respected member of your community
Teachers have long been viewed as pillars of their communities who work hard to help shape young minds into successful students and future leaders.
As such, they’re often looked up to by parents, administrators, and fellow educators alike.
What Do You Need to Become a Teacher?
Some teachers were born to teach, while others had to hustle to figure out how to improve their careers.
Whether you’re thinking of teaching “part-time” or deciding to make a go of it as a career, highlighted below are what you need to improve your chances of success and reach new heights so that you can be among the best and brightest of teachers.
- Have a bachelor’s degree
- Pass a criminal background check
- Complete a district- or state-approved teacher preparation program
- Pass required exams in the school district and/or state
What Makes a Good Teacher?
Good teachers:
- Have a passion for the subject they teach
- Have good organization and communication skills
- Create a supportive environment for students to grow and succeed
- Create a classroom structure that focuses on specific areas of need
- Know how to motivate students during stressful times
- Keep track of all the students’ progress and specific goals
- Are patient and have nurturing personalities
- Have a positive attitude and are committed to helping others
- Know how to handle different personalities and teach each student accordingly
FAQs
How many years does it take to become a teacher?
In most cases, it will take you a minimum of four (4) years to become a qualified and certified teacher. This includes the time it takes to earn the minimum degree and certification requirements.
How much is the teachers’ salary?
The salary of teachers varies even more than the levels of education. Salary varies depending on their age, education, school district, length of service, subject matter, and other things.
But according to Business Insider, the average salary for a teacher in the US is $60,477, and starting salaries are often below $40,000.
Do you need a degree to be a teacher?
Yes, at least, you must earn an accredited bachelor’s degree before you can qualify to teach.
Is Teaching As a Career Worth It?
No doubt, teaching is a good career and it’s worth it. It plays a pivotal role in the lives of our students, and it enriches the communities that it serves.
Teaching has historically been viewed as a noble profession with plenty of benefits and opportunities. While this may be true in some cases, it should not be viewed as a default career choice.
However, the truth is that every profession/career has its own drawbacks and teaching is not an exception.
Therefore, if you’re thinking about choosing teaching as your career, remember to think about the whole package—including the potential problems that come along with it.
If your heart is set on teaching but you’re still unsure whether or not it’s right for you, why not start by working as a tutor?
Taking care of other people’s children will give you an opportunity to apply your skills and learn about the teaching job market without committing to a career path that may not ultimately fit you.
I hope you found this guide helpful. You should also check out why teachers should be paid more.
Thanks for reading.
