What kind of teacher should I be?

To determine what kind of teacher you should be, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the subjects/topics that you have the most interest in?

To answer this question, you should reference your time as a student, which classes did you get excited to go to, and what subjects fascinated you and held your interest.

You need to make sure that whatever you are going to teach is something that interests you, so you will enjoy teaching this specific content to your students. It will also help to be enthusiastic when instructing, and this can have a profoundly positive effect on your pupils and how they learn.

For example, if you have always loved numbers, formulas, and equations, you are probably best suited to be a mathematics teacher. You could focus on basic math or choose a more specialized area, such as trigonometry, calculus, or geometry.

• Will I have long-term satisfaction and fulfillment from this specialty?

It is very important to consider your career in the long-term context, no matter what profession you are choosing. Do you think you will be able to teach this specific subject for years, possibly decades, without losing your interest and passion for it?

If you can answer "yes" to this question, it is likely you are choosing the perfect specialty for you as a teacher.

• What age range do I want to teach?

Determining the age group you want to educate is also a very important decision. You need to think about what age range you think you would be able to handle the best, and also interact well with.

Here are the most common education levels of teaching:

• Preschool

• Elementary

• Middle school or junior high school

• High school

• College

If you are short on patience, it is recommended you teach older students, maybe even at the college level. You could also become a tutor to many different types of students, and try to determine what ages you work best with.

Another facet of this question is the environment you want to teach in. Teaching in an elementary school is far different than teaching in a high school or college setting.

You should also look into different types of schools, as this can affect your teaching experience overall as well.

• Public schools

• Private schools

• Magnet schools

• Charter schools

• Special education schools (or departments)

• Boarding schools

• Colleges

• Universities