Pursuing a master’s degree in education in teaching math may help prepare hopeful instructors with popular instructional methods and teaching best practices that have proven effective with individual groups of students. Courses may introduce future teachers to fellow instructors who will be working in similar fields, allowing these professionals to share effective worksheets, lesson plans and top tactics for reaching math students.
Earning a graduate degree in teaching math means you'll likely be taking two main types of courses: those pertaining to teaching and student development, and those specific to the field of mathematics and the specialization you hope to work in. Math teachers can further specialize in the field by learning how to work in early childhood education, secondary education, post-secondary education, or adult education. Depending on the type of student an education master’s degree student hopes to teach, courses may include childhood development, the psychology of learning and teaching across the disciplines. It's likely that hopeful instructors will also spend degree time working with learners in real institutions to see firsthand how students behave in a classroom.
In addition to classes that instruct teachers how to behave inside and outside of the classroom, those pursuing a degree in teaching math are also likely to take courses specific to the subject they hope to teach, as well as many others needed to comprehend more complex subjects. For example, if you wish to teach calculus, you'll likely take courses in algebra, geometry and trigonometry that provide the building blocks for understanding calculus. More specialized mathematics courses may be necessary for instructors wishing to glean a greater picture of the subject.
Math Teacher Salary Potential and Job Outlook
Teaching math does not limit a person to working in a high school or college environment. Those who taught high school mathematics had a median annual salary of $55,050 in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1 Those who wish to work as college professors may earn slightly higher salaries, as the 2012 median annual salary for college professors was $68,970.2 Individuals more interested in the planning and instructional aspects of teaching may opt to pursue organizational or leadership roles. Elementary, middle and high school principals had a 2012 median annual salary of $87,760.3
Is Earning a Master’s Degree in Education for Teaching Math Right for You?
Teachers are as diverse as the student populations they serve on a daily basis. There are no set guidelines that mark what makes a good teacher, but there are a few characteristics that many of the top instructors have. A passion for learning and sharing knowledge with others is key, as is a desire to consistently develop and alter lesson plans for the most effective results.
References:
1.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers
2.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers
3.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals
