What does a science teacher do?
A science teacher is responsible for teaching scientific concepts and disciplines, helping learners to understand systems, procedures, and generate ideas using scientific evidence and approaches. Science teachers create engaging lesson plans and activities for the learners, including laboratory works, group research, and field experiments. They also demonstrate methods and present scientific research to support their observations. A science teacher evaluates the students' learning by giving them written or practical exams, including problem-solving and scientific methods.
Science teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real science teacher resumes:
- Create single gender classes in 7th and 8th grade math and language classes to increase student achievement and decrease discipline referrals.
- Prepare and instruct biology, botany, chemistry, genetics, microbiology and zoology laboratories.
- Further students' education on math/science including general science and pre-algebra through curriculum development and hands on instruction.
- Create and implement appropriate science education programs for k-12 youth.
- Teach kids fun, invigorating science lessons in after school programming .!
- Challenge and support urban youth and ESL students with hands on projects and activities.
- Collaborate to develop and implement changes to a major earth science field trip lab.
- Participate in writing an earth science curriculum for use by all earth science teachers.
- Identify, counsele, and provide assistance for ESL students and students with learning disabilities.
- Facilitate after school tutoring program, helping students with biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Differentiate instruction through DDDM to honors, non-honors, and fully mainstream special education sophomores and freshman.
- Develop online assignment for students to prove mastery in content and to advance at their own pace.
- Instruct kids 3rd-12th grade in classes including plankton sampling, microscope lab, food chains, proper animal handling and biology.
- Develop and present lessons & activities; administer & report student assessments, contribute to IEP through team meetings and reports.
- Provide tutoring to students having difficulties understanding math concepts.
Science teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Science Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Professional Development, and Student Learning. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Science Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Classroom Management, 15%
Created classroom management plan, implementing academic goals for urban, low socioeconomic students who required significant structure and meaningful relationships.
- Professional Development, 7%
Researched professional development, best practices, models of district-wide implementation and program evaluation for reading integration into science class initiative.
- Student Learning, 6%
Collaborated with colleagues and administrators in Professional Learning Communities to develop and apply new methods for enabling student learning.
- Science Curriculum, 5%
Provide comprehensive, science based classroom instruction * Engaged students in learning through experimentation * Incorporated cross curriculum instruction in science curriculum
- Learning Environment, 4%
Developed strategies that created a positive, cooperative, and collaborative learning environment that allowed students to be academically successful.
- Public Schools, 4%
Integrated inquiry-based science curricula with local private and public schools curricula for seamless transfers.
"classroom management," "professional development," and "student learning" are among the most common skills that science teachers use at work. You can find even more science teacher responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a science teacher to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "teachers must share ideas with their students, other teachers, and school administrators and staff." Science teachers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "nurtured the classroom environment to facilitate open communications with students. "
Patience. Many science teacher duties rely on patience. "high school teachers must stay calm in difficult situations, such as when students struggle with material.," so a science teacher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways science teacher responsibilities rely on patience: "helped meet educational goals through clear expectations and patience in biology and life science. "
The three companies that hire the most science teachers are:
- C2 Education25 science teachers jobs
- Brave18 science teachers jobs
- Boston Public Schools10 science teachers jobs
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Compare different science teachers
Science teacher vs. English language arts teacher
English language teachers are in charge of establishing a classroom setting that advance in each student the skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. They assist in the development and recognition of fine literature of all types, inspire students to read extensively for information and recreation, and develop guidelines for analytical judgment of written and oral communication. Also, they attend to students' exceptional needs as well as find out and develop their special talents.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a science teacher are more likely to require skills like "professional development," "science curriculum," "classroom environment," and "physical science." On the other hand, a job as an english language arts teacher requires skills like "language arts," "language," "english language," and "literature." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
English language arts teachers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $47,098. Comparatively, science teachers tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $54,553.The education levels that english language arts teachers earn slightly differ from science teachers. In particular, english language arts teachers are 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a science teacher. Additionally, they're 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Science teacher vs. Learning support teacher
Learning support teachers focus on offering out-of-school education to pupils who need additional help. Their duties include planning and implementing constructive teaching policies as well as collaborating with parents, other relevant professionals, and personnel. They assist pupils in adapting and overcoming problems that emerge due to learning difficulties. Also, the design and foster suitable skills and social abilities as well as motivate students to develop independence, self-confidence, and to achieve their full potential. Additionally, they develop and deliver lessons as well as record and assess children's progress.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, science teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "science curriculum," "public schools," "physical science," and "learning styles." Meanwhile, a learning support teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "general education curriculum," "language arts," "academic support," and "study." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Learning support teachers earn a lower average salary than science teachers. But learning support teachers earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $35,976. Additionally, science teachers earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $54,553 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Learning support teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than science teachers. In fact, they're 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for science teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Science teacher vs. Elementary school teacher
Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, science teachers are more likely to have skills like "science curriculum," "physical science," "environmental science," and "general science." But a elementary school teacher is more likely to have skills like "language arts," "instructional strategies," "physical education," and "learning process."
Elementary school teachers earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $56,048. Science teachers earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $54,553.elementary school teachers typically earn similar educational levels compared to science teachers. Specifically, they're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Science teacher vs. Long term substitute teacher
A long term substitute teacher is responsible for covering the duties of a teacher who is away for a long time. Long term substitute teachers proceed with the lesson plan outlines and the regular teacher's curriculum depending on their expertise. They monitor and assess the students' behavior, create an engaging learning environment, evaluate the students' learning progress by conducting a series of tests, create reports of the students' performance, and help students struggling with the subject.
Types of science teacher
Updated January 8, 2025
