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A
Job To Love
Imagine standing at the front of a classroom.
You’ve been teaching the physics
of water displacement, a rather difficult
subject to understand. Every textbook
method of teaching failed so you told
a story about a rocking canoe. Telling
this story helped your students understand
water displacement in their own lives—you
shared knowledge just like your Elders
did with you. You combined traditional
knowledge and western knowledge to teach—and
it worked. Your students understand
and are silent as they work through
their exercises. You’re thrilled
to see them as interested in science
and the world as you were when you were
their age.
High
school science teachers prepare
and teach courses to students. They
work an average of 50 hours a week
for nine or ten months a year. Teachers
usually teach classes on their own,
but also work in groups during meetings
and extra-curricular activities. Apart
from field trips, they work mainly
indoors. Many Aboriginal science teachers
teach in their home communities and
use a teaching style based on their
knowledge of the community.
Being
a high school science teacher is very
demanding and requires a lot of energy.
And when the school bell rings at
the end of the day, a teacher’s
work is rarely finished. Teachers
spend a lot of time outside the classroom
planning lessons and marking assignments
as well as attending staff and parent
meetings. Teachers work hard, but
they enjoy a good lifestyle, and they
get to influence the future by teaching
youth to be smart and hardworking.
Job
Description
High school science teachers plan and
teach science courses. Teachers in cities
often teach classes in only one or two
subject areas. In smaller, rural areas,
teachers often have to teach a broader
range of material. High school teachers
need to have a broad understanding of
the subjects they teach and should be
patient, enthusiastic, and creative
in their approaches. For example, you
could plan a lesson about the properties
of water and ice by having your students
design and build an igloo. Most teachers
work for public or private school boards.
Others work in vocational schools or
for the department of education.
Job
Duties
- Plan
lessons
- Teach
classes
- Tutor
students who need more help
- Volunteer
for extra-curricular and after-school
activities
- Attend
meetings, seminars, and in-service
training sessions
- Assign
and correct homework
- Prepare,
administer, and correct tests
- Advise
students on course selection and
career opportunities
Fact
There are154 universities and 24 colleges
in Canada that offer environmental
science programs.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for a job as a high school science teacher
include biology, math, chemistry, physics,
geography, and English. Aboriginal studies
and languages will prepare you for working
with multi-cultural students. Talk to
your career or academic counsellor about
options such as algebra, calculus, and
history.
Look into specific high school pre-requisites
set by the university you would like
to attend.
The minimum education requirement
for this job is a bachelor of education
degree. Most high school science teachers
get a bachelor of science degree first.
Then they complete an education degree
or master’s degree in education.
A master’s degree may make you
more competitive.
Before
entering the workforce, some high
school teachers require training in:
- Standard
First Aid
- Communications
- Computers
You
may be required to become a member
of a provincial teachers’ association.
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High
school science teachers with a bachelor’s
degree make an average of $46,000.00
per year.
High
school science teachers with a graduate
degree make an average of $58,000.00
per year.
High
school teachers with several years
experience and education make an average
of $63,000.00 per year.
Financial
Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to high school science teachers:
Jim Bourque Scholarship
One scholarship of $1,000.00 to
an Aboriginal student who intends
to take or is enrolled in, post-secondary
training in education, environmental
studies, traditional knowledge or
telecommunications.
Contact: Executive Director
Arctic Institute of North America
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
T2N 1N4
Telephone: (403) 220-7515
Fax: (403) 282-4609
Mary
and James Fyfe-Smith Memorial Bursary
One bursary of $1,700.00 to an
Aboriginal student entering or attending
the School of Social Work or Nursing,
the Faculty of Education or the Faculty
of Law.
Contact: Office of Student
Financial Assistance Enrolment Services
University of British Columbia
East Mall 1874
East Mall Office 1036
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6T 1Z1
Telephone: (604) 822-5111
Fax: (604) 822-6929
Poundmaker
Memorial Scholarship
One award of $750.00 to assist a Status
Indian born in Saskatchewan with expenses
associated with teacher education.
Contact: Financial Aid Office
University of Regina
University Centre Building
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4S 0A2
Telephone: (306) 585-4743
Gordon
McCormack Memorial Scholarship For
Native Students
One award of $400.00 offered to a
student entering his or her third
year in the Indian Teacher Education
Program.
Contact: Student Awards
University of Saskatchewan
105 Administration Place Saskatoon
Saskatchewan
S7N 5A2
Telephone: (306) 966-6748
Fax: (306) 966-6730
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders how they
have passed on traditional scientific
knowledge from generation to generation.
Understand the teaching style of your
community.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- University
professor
- Ecotourism
guide
- Science
camp co-ordinator
- Environmental
trainer
Relate
to and interact with high school science
teachers. Ask them what they like
about their jobs and how you should
get started.
Association québécoise
pour la promotion de l’éducation
relative à l’environnement
6400 16e Ave.
Montréal, QC
H1X 2S9
Telephone: (514) 376-1065
Fax: (514) 376-1905
email: aqpere@crosemont.qc.ca
website: www.aqpere.qc.ca
Ontario
Society for Environmental Education
website: www.osee.org
Canadian
Network for Environmental Education
and Communication / Réseau
Canadien d’éducation et
de communication relatives à
l'environnement.
Station B
PO Box 948
Ottawa,ON
K1P 5P9
website: www.eecom.org
Green
Teacher
www.greenteacher.com
95 Robert Street
Toronto, ON
M5S 2K5
Telephone: (416) 960-1244
Fax: (416) 925-3474
email: info@greenteacher.com
Relate
with other students. Most universities
have Aboriginal student associations
and resource centres. Visit these
centres to find out what they have
to offer. Also look into community
centres, friendship centres, and multi-cultural
centres.
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