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What does a middle school teacher do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones
What does a middle school teacher do

A middle school teacher is responsible for teaching students in grades six to eight, following a curriculum that fits on their grade levels to prepare them for the next advancement. Middle school teachers strategize effective lesson plans, engaging activities, and assessments to test the students' knowledge and understanding of the learning materials. They also observe the personal and developmental behaviors of the students by conducting group activities and performance. A middle school teacher identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, adjusting the learning approach as needed to cater to each student's needs and difficulties.

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Middle school teacher responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real middle school teacher resumes:

  • Develop and implement inquiry-based/hands-on curriculum: physical science, earth science, chemistry, and life science.
  • Teach students about the structure and content of the English language, including proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
  • Assist the ELA teacher with writing charts that reinforce her teaching concepts.
  • Plan, deliver & evaluate instruction in history, geography, science & English
  • Create pacing guide, lesson and unit plans for CCGPS high school mathematics courses.
  • Create a geometry booklet to use in class as a supplemental aid to the textbook.
  • Content includes number theory, decimals, fractions, probability, geometry, graphing and algebra.
  • Instruct students on how to master the art of writing, with a strong emphasis on grammar.
  • Create multiple-intelligence inspire lesson plans in language arts to prepare 5th through 8th grade students for academic success.
  • Train and assist teachers to develop and provide ESL students with appropriate course work through curriculum modification, acceleration.
  • Work with an ELA teacher to assist 8th graders develop their skills in reading and writing in a summer school setting.
  • Assist department in establishing curriculum and ESL activities.
  • Develop methodology for placing students into their ability base math groups.
  • Aid and facilitate educational activities to enhance the literacy and math skills of students requiring additional assistance.
  • Tutor variety of science subjects including biology and chemistry

Middle school teacher skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Middle School Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Professional Development, and Math.

We break down the percentage of Middle School Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Classroom Management, 12%

    Contributed to diverse educational initiatives including lesson planning, curriculum development, effective classroom management, diversity and successful teaching strategies.

  • Professional Development, 10%

    Engaged in professional development seminars that included a multitude of professional strategies including team building, cultural sensitivity and community leadership.

  • Math, 8%

    Aided and facilitated educational activities to enhance the literacy and math skills of students requiring additional assistance.

  • Curriculum Development, 6%

    Volunteered to coordinate special activities that would help improve the curriculum development.

  • Student Learning, 5%

    Utilized ongoing informal and formal assessments to measure effectiveness of teaching and optimize student learning, adapting instruction when needed.

  • Language Arts, 5%

    Focused on Environmental Activism by integrating Language Arts and Geography into thematic units.

"classroom management," "professional development," and "math" are among the most common skills that middle school teachers use at work. You can find even more middle school teacher responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a middle school teacher to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teachers must share ideas with their students, other teachers, and school administrators and staff." Additionally, a middle school teacher resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "cultivated a classroom environment conducive to excellent student engagement with the philosophy of total communication. "

Physical stamina. Another essential skill to perform middle school teacher duties is physical stamina. Middle school teachers responsibilities require that "working with middle school students can be tiring." Middle school teachers also use physical stamina in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the physical, social, and emotional development of student. "

Most common middle school teacher skills

The three companies that hire the most middle school teachers are:

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Compare different middle school teachers

Middle school teacher vs. Teacher/tutor

A teacher/tutor is primarily in charge of facilitating discussions and other learning activities for students. Their duties typically revolve around developing lesson plans and teaching materials, assessing the progress of students through quizzes and examinations, assisting students in areas they find difficult, and helping them develop their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Furthermore, as a teacher/tutor, it is essential to monitor the progress and behavior of students, all while maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment for them.

The annual salary of teacher/tutors is $10,408 lower than the average salary of middle school teachers.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both middle school teacher and teacher/tutor positions are skilled in classroom management, professional development, and math.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, middle school teacher responsibilities require skills like "curriculum development," "student achievement," "instructional strategies," and "administrative regulations." Meanwhile a typical teacher/tutor has skills in areas such as "k-12," "kids," "mathematics," and "develop rapport." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Teacher/tutors earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $43,459. On the other hand, middle school teachers are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $53,168.teacher/tutors tend to reach similar levels of education than middle school teachers. In fact, teacher/tutors are 4.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Middle school teacher vs. Reading teacher

Reactor Engineers are responsible for designing and developing nuclear reactor programs. Their duties include presenting design reviews, overseeing operations of the reactor core, conducting nuclear material tracking and new fuel receipt, facilitating control room, and producing document safety analysis. They are responsible for setting technical specifications, participate in the peer review process, implement programmatic strategies, and undertake emergency response and mitigation initiatives. Reactor Engineers also help in facilitating projects between external and internal engineering companies.

A career as a reading teacher brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a middle school teacher. In fact, reading teachers salary is $2,089 higher than the salary of middle school teachers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Middle school teachers and reading teachers both require similar skills like "classroom management," "professional development," and "math" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real middle school teacher resumes. While middle school teacher responsibilities can utilize skills like "curriculum development," "english language," "classroom environment," and "administrative regulations," reading teachers use skills like "mathematics," "mentoring students," "learning process," and "learning styles."

Reading teachers may earn a higher salary than middle school teachers, but reading teachers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $51,003. On the other hand, middle school teachers receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $53,168.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Reading teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than middle school teachers. In fact, they're 3.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for middle school teachers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

Technology in the next 3-5 years -- That is a tough question because technology is continually changing. However, I would say whatever learning system their school provides (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), they should get to know. Also, the technology that involves making/editing videos of teaching would be necessary. The technique that includes exercise, fitness, sports such as heart rate monitors, Fitbits, etc. Finally, a technology that allows interactions between teachers and students and students and students.

Middle school teacher vs. Teacher

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

An average teacher eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of middle school teachers. The difference in salaries amounts to teachers earning a $5,374 lower average salary than middle school teachers.Using the responsibilities included on middle school teachers and teachers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "classroom management," "professional development," and "math.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, middle school teachers are more likely to have skills like "english language," "instructional strategies," "administrative regulations," and "k-8." But a teacher is more likely to have skills like "handle scheduling," "kids," "cpr," and "mathematics."

Teachers earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $49,700. Comparatively, middle school teachers have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $53,168.teachers typically earn lower educational levels compared to middle school teachers. Specifically, they're 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Middle school teacher vs. Pre-k teacher

Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.

Pre-k teachers tend to earn a lower pay than middle school teachers by an average of $13,062 per year.According to resumes from middle school teachers and pre-k teachers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "classroom management," "professional development," and "math. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A middle school teacher uses "curriculum development," "student learning," "student achievement," and "english language." Pre-k teachers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "kids," "help support," "bilingual education," and "pre-kindergarten. "pre-k teachers reach lower levels of education compared to middle school teachers, in general. The difference is that they're 10.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of middle school teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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