Teacher: High School
I. JOB SUMMARY
Main Topic: Human Geography
Secondary Topic: Environment and Society
Overview: High school teachers help prepare students in 9th through 12th grade for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college or to enter the job market. They usually specialize in one area, with some teaching core subjects, such as math, science, or history. Others specialize in elective courses, such as art, music, or physical education. They may teach several different classes within their subject area. For example, a high school math teacher may teach algebra, calculus, and/or geometry. High school teachers may instruct students from different grades throughout the day. For example, one class may have mostly students from the 9th grade, and another may have 12th-grade students. In many schools, students are divided into classes based on their abilities, so teachers need to adapt their lessons based on students’ skills. Outside of their instructional time, teachers plan lessons, grade assignments, and meet with other teachers and staff. Teachers of English as a second language (ESL) or English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) work exclusively with students who are learning the English language. These teachers work with students individually or in groups to help them improve their English language skills and help them with assignments for other classes. Teachers must be comfortable with using and learning new technology, including web-based delivery of instruction. With parents, they may use text-messaging applications to communicate about students’ assignments and upcoming events. With students, teachers may create websites or discussion boards to present information, expand a lesson taught in class, or teach lessons entirely online. Some high school teachers take on additional responsibilities, such as coaching sports or advising academic clubs, activities that frequently take place before or after school. Geographic skills and knowledge are important for teachers across all subjects in order to have a broad understanding of the context for human activity.
Geographers at work: Human geographers, cultural geographers
Recommended College Courses: Human geography, physical geography, cultural geography, world regional geography, economic geography, environmental geography, political geography; geographic information systems
Skills: Web-based mapping applications; map reading and interpretation; GPS and geocaching; story maps; geographic information systems; computer and database systems; geographic thinking; problem-based learning models
Occupation Group: Education
Learn more about High School Teachers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm#tab-1
Written by Christopher Anderson
II. POWERFUL GEOGRAPHIC KNOWLEDGE
