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Home > Teaching Specialties > Math education
Math education
 Math teachers are individuals with uniquely logical minds coupled with the patience and care needed to teach others such a valuable skill. Right now there is a demand for individuals with math skills and top educational backgrounds in mathematics to teach young people at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.
In elementary school, you will teach students the basics of mathematics including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and other basics. By middle school, you will be required to teach algebra and geometry, which will prepare your students for higher math and logic studies.
At the high school level, you'll teach a broader range of math studies, including advanced algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, trigonometry and pre-calculus. Other typical duties for higher-level math teachers include the following:
 Creating lessons and grading assignments for several classes at a time
Collecting notes and delivering interesting, clear lectures
Accumulating specialized materials for outside reading and homework
Teaching adolescents one-on-one and in groups
Knowing and implementing varied teaching styles for different types of learners
Promoting discussion of class content
Conducting research and publishing your findings
Working as a Math Teacher
As a middle school or high school math teacher, your daily routine may include engaging your students in conversations about algebraic equations or testing geometry proofs. Using different teaching methods to help your students absorb the information is key to successful teaching. You may have your students go outside to compute the cubic space of the quad or break into groups and use dice to demonstrate gambling odds. There are countless ways to engage your students and help them enjoy their math studies.
Many math teachers go the extra mile by making themselves available before or after school, or even during their lunch break, to answer questions from individual students or to oversee group study sessions. Group study is also very effective in the classroom during normal study time.
Educational Requirements
Like most other teacher requirements, math teachers must earn their teaching credential in addition to their bachelor’s degree (or higher) in mathematics. There is a very high demand for math teachers in the United States. Because of a shortfall of math teachers, there are hefty incentives being offered for those who seek this title. Many states are offering programs which help prospective math teachers still completing their schooling to enter the classroom and gain valuable experience for their future employment.
If you are looking into math teaching options and you already hold a bachelor’s degree in mathematical science, you are in a great position. You can choose to complete your master’s degree for increased earning potential and more employment opportunities. Some states require that you complete your master’s within a certain time frame, so be sure to check your state’s requirements before beginning a new program.
Obtaining Certification
Obtaining your teaching credential is something you will need to do regardless of which state you want to teach in. Again, requirements will vary depending on your state, so be sure to check with your Department of Education for details. Sometimes you will be required to complete supplemental coursework to satisfy your state’s teaching requirements. Refer to our teacher certification article for more information or complete a search using our complete database.
Becoming a math teacher is a career choice that will result in many rewarding years of teaching. You will have an impact on how students develop their logical thinking skills and how they implement those skills in their daily lives. Subsequently, you will help mold generation after generation of mathematical thinkers critical to the advancement of our nation.
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