If you have recently completed a degree program in chemistry, engineering, physics, mathematics, or even biology, you may find it a bit of a surprise when you are contacted by teacher training agencies looking to recruit you. This is not abnormal, as there is a real demand in the area of teaching at the moment for those who can teach STEM subjects. What are STEM subjects? Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Most middle schools are short on STEM teachers, meaning fewer children than ever are getting the education they deserve and may be being failed by the system overall. More worryingly, a lack of teachers in these areas means that children may not be reaching their full potential.
So, why should you train as a STEM teacher?
You’ll Be in High Demand
As you may have gathered, if you train in this area, you will be in high demand, as the majority of middle schools, high schools, and beyond are looking for teachers who are trained in these subjects. Depending on where you are located, you may be able to choose which of these subjects you want to specialize in. So, for example, if you have been hired to teach mathematics, you may only need to teach a specific area of this field, such as statistics or calculus. To transfer from a simple degree subject into a teacher’s, you will need to complete a STEM certification for teachers online first.
Transferable Skills
Teaching roles will always need people who have strong communication skills and organization. Many other valuable skills are crucial to STEM teaching, such as encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and being actively involved in teamwork with your other teachers. You need to also be flexible with your teaching methods and be open-minded to new information you may come into contact with via additional teacher training or your students.
Financial Support While Training
The majority of STEM certifications will also offer financial support while you are training or in placement, which means you will receive a loan or a grant to help you meet the needs of everyday life while you are learning how to educate. This will vary based on your state, so you should seek this information before choosing to work in a set school district.
Wider Range of Skills to Learn
STEM teaching is one of the hardest areas, and there is a wider scope for hands-on teaching overall. This means to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics successfully, you will need to develop a range of skills to not only get the information across to your students but to help them feel engaged in the lessons that you plan. This will mean you will need to learn a wider range of teaching skills, but these can be fun and very educational.
Make A Difference
As mentioned before, the area of STEM-based subjects is falling behind due to a lack of teachers and students finding it difficult. So, if you find your niche in one of these fields and want to become a teacher, you can make a real difference in the lives of children by teaching them effectively.