Hi, I have a few questions regarding secondary math education major at colleges.
I do want to be a middle/ high school math teacher, and I really do like math. I am currently a junior taking precalc honors and I am planning on taking AP Calc BC next year. How hard is BC compared to math classes in college? My school is pretty tough, but I do have an A+ in precalc honors right now and the class is one of my easier classes this year. I do know that BC is much harder than precalc honors, but if I do decently in BC (nothing lower than a B-) would college math be not overwhelmingly difficult too? I did hear that college math is different from high school math, but I am not too sure.
Also, should I be concerned about majoring in secondary math if my SAT math score is not an 800? I have gotten an 800 once, but most of the times I score in the 700s (and a few 600s a couple months ago).
Thank you!
My bad, I meant to write a B minus but it got changed to a smiley face with sunglasses haha
I know lots of math teachers that were not outstanding at math. You have to be able to teach it, not breathe it. If you have an A+ in pre-calculus and keep up the hard work, you’ll be fine. Definitely shoot for B-) and above, but to me it sounds like you can score higher than that. There is no need to score an 800 on the SAT. It’s just a test that measures your ability on a few problems at one moment in time - not too defining of your potential as a math teacher, if you ask me. 
Good luck in your pursuit of teaching!
AP Calc BC is typically the equivalent of the first two calculus courses in college. If you do well in AP Calc BC, you will be more than prepared for college math (which typically begins with calculus).
I think when you talk about college math being different than high school math, they’re generally referring to advanced upper-division math courses that you would need to take if you major in math. You’ve got a long way to go until then. Don’t fret so much about it.
Thanks so much!
I’m a high school math teacher, and have been so since 1980.
I think the best teachers I’ve ever worked with have been the ones who understand what it’s like to make the occasional mistake. The ones who have struggled a little along the way to understanding the material. The ones who understand what it’s like to be in the position where you don’t even know exactly what to ask, but you know that something isn’t clicking. Those are the teachers who have empathy for the kid who simply doesn’t get Geometric proofs, or who can’t wrap his head around the recursive definition of a sequence.
Most college courses are different from high school ones; the entire manner of teaching is different. But know that every single kid who enters a college from high school faces that same change, and there’s no reason to think that you won’t find success. You’re obviously bright, you’re good at math… there’s every reason to assume that you’ll be able to get through the material just fine.
@bjkmom Hi, thank you so much! I read a lot of your other posts regarding secondary education and I feel like you really enjoy being a teacher. Thats what I want to be too; I cant imagine myself having a different career. Especially starting this year, I have been comparing and contrasting all my teachers teaching styles and trying to see which ones I want to use when I become a teacher. And I agree- I do want to be that empathetic teacher who understands the students.
But, even though Im still only in high school, Im worried about one thing. I do want to be the best teacher I can possibly be, but how do I do that without pressuring the students? I would like all the students to be fully engaged in class and like math, and for me to be supportive and helpful, but I do want to acknowledge the fact that everyone is different and has certain strengths and weaknesses. I dont want to push students who simply dont like math (since that could make them feel uncomfortable and dislike the subject even more), but at the same time, I still care about them and want them to succeed. How do I find a good balance?
Oh, that’s the $64,000 question!!!
And, to be honest, it’s a very fluid thing. We had Parent-Student-Teacher conferences the other night for kids who had less-than-stellar grades on their recent progress reports. And my message changed significantly from one kid to the next. One mom stopped by because her daughter had dropped from an A to a B… her daughter has a slight case of mid-year-freshman comfort level. Another boy had gotten a grade of 66 on that day’s geometry test, and I praised him to death… he has a lot going on at home, and we’ll be more than happy if he can just eke out a passing grade this year.
Kids will respect you if you do a few things: One, you’ve got to be fair. (That doesn’t mean equal-- there’s nothing equal about teaching math. Some kids get all the answers right by simply staying conscious in class, others eke out a 70 by working their tails off.) But kids have to know that the “good” kids don’t get good grades based on their behavior, and that the “bad” kids don’t automatically lose points for theirs. There are two types of penalites: one related to behavior and one related to academics. Detention is for the behavior, grades are for the academics.
Second, the kids have to know that you honestly enjoy them and your job. My own kids have had one or two teachers who had lost (or never had) that love for the job and the kids, and it shows instantly.
My best recommendation is that, even now, you speak to your math teachers about their jobs. Ask them what they love, what they find difficult, what changes they forsee in the years to come. And take notes. Have a word document just for things you notice. How does your teacher explain a particular topic, and could it have been done differently? How do your classmates react to things like the weather (Nope, not kidding) or a short period day, and how do your teacher react to that change in behavior? How do they structure homework, review, test prep, and how does it work?
Keep a list of those reactions and impressions. You’ll be amazed at the help it is when you find yourself in front of a classroom down the road/
Thank you so much again! Your students must be blessed to have you as their teacher
How kind, thank you.
Some are, some probably think not. But I do what I can