Environmental, Physical & Other Requirements for Teaching Jobs
While the education, certification and licensure requirements of teachers are well known, other requirements are often overlooked. Depending on the subject, the grade or the number of students being taught, teachers must be comfortable with a varying degree of demands. Understanding the working conditions of teaching jobs will help you to better evaluate the profession and the rigors associated with teaching at any level.
Adapting to a variety of different environments is necessary for teachers of any grade. While most teachers work in climate-controlled, indoor environments, there are several circumstances in which a teacher might work outdoors or outside of the school grounds. Physical education teachers may work outside frequently, while elementary school teachers will supervise outdoor recess. Field trips require teachers to supervise students on buses, in addition to the trip destination. Some schools simply do not have the funding for air conditioning, and densely populated school districts or schools undergoing construction will move classes to outdoor trailers.
The physical requirements for teaching positions vary greatly. Physical education teachers are required to be somewhat fit and capable of instructing students on the proper methods to exercise and play games. Elementary, kindergarten and preschool teachers are required to escort the class throughout lunchtimes, to different classrooms, to recess and to field trips, in addition to managing the activity level of the children. High school teachers rely on lectures for their lessons, which can be taxing on the back and feet. All teachers might be required to stand for several hours at a time.
Resource Knowledge Requirements
Technology is important to the teaching process. As most students use computers, own smartphones, watch movies and play with gaming consoles daily, teachers must be able to incorporate these into their lesson plans. Teachers also should be aware of the various applications and programs that children and young adults will encounter in the workforce. Computers are especially helpful for teachers when recording grades and lesson progress, communicating with colleagues and supervisors and sending alerts to parents.
Social Skills Requirements
Most teachers know the importance of developing trusting relationships with all of their students, while maintaining control of the classroom. Some students, however, require unique attention. Special education teachers, for example, must present lesson plans in a way that students in individualized education programs, or IEPs, can understand. Special education teachers must also be available throughout the school day to provide extra instruction to the students who need it. Teachers also work with children of other cultures, so cultural sensitivity is extremely important to a fully integrated classroom. When English is a second language for students, teachers must be bilingual or very knowledgeable of other languages.
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