Math Teacher Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How to get my math teacher to give me extra credit? I need to have a 90 average to prevent getting in trouble from my parents and to stay in the AP program. My scores for math are: 76, 90, 90, 90, 76 I really would like some extra credit to help improve something from those scores. How can I convince a math teacher to give me extra credit? What are some ideas I can suggest to the teacher that I can do in return for extra credit? Thanks.

Answer: You could ask for a grade exchange. The teacher gives you the extra points you need now, but you pay them back next semester even if that results in your letter grade being lowered. I don't allow this often, but I have done this for students who have a demonstrated work ethic. Is your semester over? Don't you still have a final exam? Show some real improvement over the long term. Don't let your parents take you out of an AP program. College/University admissions want to see students take a challenging course load. Also, you need to prepare yourself for college by taking the classes you will learn the most from. One not so perfect grade in an AP class will not put you out of the running for admission (your GPA will barely change) because you took a challenging class instead of getting a higher letter grade in a non-AP class. I have had students with >4.0 GPAs be granted admission to top schools as often as the kids with <4.0. Challenge yourself and learn as much as you can. I have been an AP/Honors math teacher for 10+ years and your scores are good for an I'm assuming AP Calculus or Statistics class (I have taught both). I am currently teaching AP Calculus AB and BC classes.

Question: What can be a teacher's objectives in having the students make a math magazine? As a project, a math teacher requires the student to make a magazine about math. The magazine may contain articles about math, mathematicians, math comics, jokes and games. The articles may be copied from online sources or from printed materials. The students may also write their original articles. So what can be the rationale and the objectives for this kind of project? Teachers, please help. Thanks!

Answer: To get the students thinking about math in different dimensions - and to get them interested in the subject. There is a lot more to math than simply manipulating numbers and this is an excellent project to help students understand that concept. It also teaches them how to edit a magazine, how to manipulate space so all the articles fit together, to do the geometry of setting up a page, and a whole lot more. You have a great math teacher!

Question: In California/ what are the requirements to become a math teacher? English is my second language, but i have a BA already from a well known university here in California. I recently am thinking in continuing my education. I want to become a math teacher; i prefer to teach at college level, because i want to teach either at night or on Saturdays. But if you also have information on teaching math at High school level, that will also help. Please advise if you have any knowledge. Your answers are greatly appreciated. I placed my question under "teaching" and got no replies. No retired teachers at home?

Answer: If you want to teach K-12 you need "credentials", typically earned by passing the praxis exams for your subject. To teach at community college level you will need a Masters. To teach at a 4 year college or university you will need a PhD.

Question: What are the steps to becoming a math teacher? Either a middle school teacher or a high school teacher. What classes would I need to take? What degrees are required? And what could I expect becoming a teacher overall? Would love comments from math or other teachers? Would greatly appreciate it. :) please and thank you

Answer: you have to know that 2 + 2 = 4. and get some degrees and stuff .....

Question: What is the hardest math problem in algebra that my math teacher can't answer? My math teacher thinks that he solve any math problem i want to prove him wrong. Give me the problem and the answer. He won't get mad at me!

Answer: Try this one: http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=263816 It can be solved using brute force, but the solution by posted by Count Iblis is very elegant.

Question: What certification test does someone take to become a middle school math teacher? What certification test does someone take to become a middle school math teacher in Missouri? I know there is a C-BASE test that you have to take to be a high school math teacher but I didn't' know if you had to take the same test or a different one like elementary school does. Do you know?

Answer: http://www.moreap.net/teaching_jobs/classroom_teacher_mathematics.php The link above shows schools in MO hiring including several middle school Math teachers. It gives the qualifications needed too. Here's an example for you of one I clicked on. Very bottom are qualification education needed. Not sure if you needed anything else. Hope it helps! Good luck :) Classroom Teacher District: Kansas City 33 City, State Zip: Kansas City, MO 64106 Telephone: 816-418-7083 **** Position: Classroom Teacher Subject Area: Mathematics Beginning: Dec 05, 2008 Deadline: Jun 01, 2009** Certificate: Mathematics Job Description: PURPOSE OF JOB Teaches one or more subjects to students in public secondary schools by performing the following duties. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university Missouri State Certification in Math

Question: What is the average salary of a high school math teacher in Los Angeles? What is the starting salary of a high school math teacher in Los Angeles? and what is the hightest salary a high school math teacher can get paid? Do teachers teaching foreign languages get paid more?

Answer: This link will give you the base pay scale for Los Angeles Unified http://www.teachinla.com/whyteach/salary.html Language teachers do not get a higher wage usually. Can you coach a sport? This will increase your pay.

Question: What would you do if your math teacher quit? What would you do if your math teacher didn't show up a week and a half before the AP Caculus test without a reason, and you found out that he quit. There are 12 of us, that aside from being upset that he is gone, don't know how to finish preparing, or what concepts to quickly go over in the next 90 minute class. Any suggestions? To Hopefulmom: He quit. He gave his two weeks notice and was supposed to fill out his quiting papers and leave at the end of the year, but something happened and he walked out. Just to establish what a problem this is, there is no other math teacher in the school that can teach AP Calc and the principal isn't going to bring someone in. We are self-directed until the AP exam Wednesday.

Answer: Buy your self a Kaplan AP Calc. book. Our teacher recomended it. It helps you to go over all the things that you have leant in past year. I personally had bought Spark Notes one. Because it had flashcards in it. Those books helps you a lot if you have less time to prepare. P.S. if your school has AP Stat teacher or High school calc. teacher go ask them for some help. I am sure they won't deny. BEST LUCK for the exams.

Question: What is the youngest age a math teacher can teach? My math teacher is fresh from college and refuses to explain her age. She is the younger of her class, and since this is her first year, what would be her age? Thanks :D

Answer: um, my english teacher was fresh out of college too. She told us that she's just turned 23, so maybe she's 22 or 23

Question: What should I major in to become a high school math teacher? I am trying to find out what college is the best choice for me. I need to know what you need to major in to become a math teacher. Should I major in education or in mathematics? I'll appreciate as many details as possible. Thanks.

Answer: For primary or elementary education, be an education major. For secondary education, major in the subject you want to teach. You also need a teaching license. You should find out what the req's for the license are and take the corresponding education courses along with your math major. You'll also have to take a test, most likely the Praxis. It basically tests you on your knowledge in the area you would like to teach. So: major in math, take corresponding education courses and gain licensure, and take the exam after graduation. The license program prolly requires you to overview/"teach" a class for a semester. The most important thing is to find out the requirements for the state you want to teach in. California and New York have the most/highest requirements for teaching (i think). Hope I made sense..good luck!

Question: How much does a math teacher make? I was just wondering, because I might become a math teacher one day (I'm in middle school at the moment) and I'm thinking about how much I'd get paid. So, how much would a math teacher with a bachelor's degree who lives in maryland make in one hour?

Answer: Great Question! I am a math teacher in middle school -- 8th grade. There are a few pretty easy ways to find your specific answer about what a math teacher earns in a school that you would be interested in teaching, and I will show you how. Go to your own school district's web site and look for the Human Resources webpage or the Personnel Webpage button. On that page there should be a link or button for Salary Information for the 2008-2009 school year. Click on that and Voila! you should have your local information about what your teachers make. Teacher's salaries are open to the public. My district starts brand new teachers off at $40,000 yearly. Plus they pay a yearly stipend (or bonus) of $3,500 to $5,000. The salary amount increases every year that you teach. It may go up to $65,000 yearly if you teach for enough years. The school district creates a chart with teacher's salaries each year that shows what the salary is. Plus, teachers get raises, To figure the hourly rate of pay, there are two things to think about. Most teachers get paid all year long, even though they only teach during school. So their REAL hourly earnings are based on what they earn while they are teaching, not while they are off. So let's do that. Say an average salary is $50,000 You will need to divide that number twice, once for the number of days taught, once for the number of hours per day taught. $50,000 divided by 187 days taught = $267.38 each day. Then that number divided by 8 hours daily = $33.42 per hour. I teach in the Houston, Texas area in a district that pays pretty well. Another thing to consider is the benefits you get. Time off, insurance, retirement account, not a terribly long workday. Good luck! This question sounds like a pretty good math assignment!

Question: Should i become a high school math teacher or a special education teacher? i have several years of experiance working with special needs adults. I just want to maximize my ability to inspire and do good as a teacher. i also like math, im not sure which would do more good, which of the two would help the most people.

Answer: When you're a special education teacher, you're helping students that are in need. There are students in need in English and those that are in need in math. More than likely as a SPED teacher, you'd need to provide service in more than one subject area. Now, even if you choose to be a regular math teacher, you'll always find those struggling students that aren't in SPED, but that still could use your help.

Question: What would a high school math teacher study in grad school? If I were to get a bachelor's degree in math and licensure for secondary math, what would be the next step if I wanted to become a more qualified high school math teacher? Would an employer prefer a master's degree in math or curriculum and instruction? I'm asking for a specific degree program, not examples of courses I would take.

Answer: In these times it is better to apply for a teaching job with a BS and credential. Once you are hired and get tenure you can continue your education and obtain a subject masters of PhD. Or you can obtain a Masters in Education MEd or a Doctorate in Education Ed.D these master or or doctorates have emphasis in in teaching or administration.

Question: Is my family allowed to sue a math teacher? Ok so here is the story: There is a math teacher at my high school Only about 3% out of every class pass He does not teach well at all Everyone is complaining because he makes us feel so stupid and we cant even pass alg.2. Anyways his grading system is: 30% homework 70% tests and quizzes personally i think that that is unfair and so does everyone else I have 4 class one is honors I have all A's and this math teacher gives me an F! I am ranked #11 out of 33!!!!!!!! the whole class is failing!!! Anyways here is my dilemma: I was paralyzed about 5 years ago. (im 15) For 6 whole months my face was paralyzed. Now its somewhat better. However, each time that i am under stress my paralyzation can become worse than it already is. I've already had to get more injections and botox done (i was only 14 when i had botox) it is very serious! Many people are breaking out because of this stress The principle wont do anything because he and that math teacher are best friends My dad already is about to prepare a case I (and the class) cannot take this anymore Each time that a parents goes and observes him, he completly changes... WHAT A FREAK!!!!! Please help me out on this!!

Answer: Is your father a lawyer? He could sue, but the most he could get would be your expenses, which would be very hard to prove. Sorry, but a lawsuit doesn't sound like the right approach. He would do better to write a letter to the Superintendent of Schools.

Question: What is the average pay for a middle school math teacher? I am interested in becoming a middle school math teacher and I just want some details.

Answer: I'm sure you know this depends on location and school. Here in SF Bay area, the average middle school teacher gets about $50K, which might sound like a lot until you realize the average 30year-old, 1600sq foot house in an average neighborhood still costs about $500,000 even after the recent decline in home values.

Question: What is a catchy headline for a math teacher? I'm in yearbook and our teacher of the year is a math teacher. Any ideas?

Answer: it is always plus.