When you are a history teacher, you hold tremendous power for informing students about the realities upon which civilizations were founded. Your lessons can inspire students to change the world through their knowledge of world events. You should have a passion for truth and conveying the true ways in which history has developed over the centuries. Part of your job may be breaking historical myths that are perpetuated through the political and media worlds. As a history teacher, you can also teach students about history in order to help greater society avoid repeating the past. If you have a genuine desire to help students understand the founding of civilizations, then you will be a very successful history teacher. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a history teacher?” If you want to become a history teacher, then you should think about the specific grades that you would like to teach.
What’s it like to be a history teacher?
When you are a history teacher, you do research in order to understand the development of past events in human history. You may need to read through historical documents in order to understand how countries have truly developed. It is your task to break away from myths that are perpetuated throughout society. You will also need to put together lesson plans that are accessible for students. It is your task to translate complex events in history and make them understandable for a general audience. If you decide to teach at the university level, then you will be able to hold a tremendous impact in developing the world view of your students. You may also decide to become a history teacher at the law school level in order to have an influence on the policies that are shaped by the future lawyers of the country.
Education Requirements
To become a history teacher, you should obtain a bachelor’s degree in history. It is also important for you to obtain a teaching certificate during your years in a college program. You should also research the state requirements for teachers. You may also want to think about specializing in a particular field of history. You may want to become a world history teacher, or you may want to teach American history. You may also decide to specialize in the history of a foreign country, such as Africa or Germany. If you specialize in one of these unique fields of history, then you may have more opportunities available for teaching at the university level.
Salary & How to Get a Job
The starting salary for a history teacher is about $40,000 to $72,000 a year. If you decide to teach at the university level, then you will earn a greater salary. You may earn $70,000 to $90,000 a year as a law school professor or university professor. If you teach at the high school level, then your salary will be about $50,000 to $60,000 a year. If you teach at the elementary school level, then your salary will be about $40,000 a year. It is essential for you to apply for positions at schools if you decide to become a history teacher. You should try to research all of the job openings that are available at the university and law school levels too.
References:
1. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251125.htm
2. http://www.ehow.com/how_4575828_become-history-teacher.html