I’m a senior in high school and I’ve know all my life that I want to be a teacher. More recently I’ve discovered my passion for middle school education. My question is, is a Middle Level Education major a good idea? In my area Elementary ed is 1-6 all subjects, Middle Ed is 5-8 or 6-9 and you get certification in two subjects (I would go for Math and English) and secondary is 8-12 with one subject. My dilemma is that a middle level education degree with two subjects may be less marketable than secondary with 1 subject, but I’m having a hard time choosing between Math and English if I went the secondary route. I guess what I’m looking for are a few ideas about how I can go about making myself a marketable middle school teacher.
Being dual-certified in math and english would be a very attractive trait in the job search. Your path should depend on the state you’re in, but it sounds like the middle school cert with 2 subjects is a great option. You might also want to see if you can spend some time in the classroom for both middle and high school and see if you prefer one over the other.
My suggestion is to get the secondary math teaching degree with an extension for middle school. Being a math teacher is much more marketable than English. With the middle grades extension (usually 5-8, or 6-8) you will also be qualified for AIS (Academic intervention services) positions. I would also suggest you get your initial certification in a state with a strong public education system that pays well (such as New York State). I would also ask about getting nationally certified. Math teachers also tutor (at their local libraries) earing $50 in cash an hour.
A lot of it will depend on where you’re planning to teach.
In terms of marketability, Math is far, far more marketable than English… lots of wannabe writers eventually turn to teaching.
Also, take a look at your state education website under “alternate certification.” See what other coursework you would need to pick up that English Certification once you had math. In many states, you’ll eventually need a Master’s-- it may be possible to get certified in math as an undergrad, then let your graduate work get you that English certification.
Oh, and to add on to what @Empireapple said: I tutored math from my dining room when my kids were young. At $80 an hour, I was the cheapest tutor I knew-- most of my friends were charging closer to $100 an hour.