Gym teachers, also referred to as physical education teachers, teach their students about health, physical fitness, nutrition, and sports activities. Their aim is to cultivate lifelong fitness and social skills among the students as they take part in different sports activities. You will work with different age groups, so you must be able to adapt accordingly.
In some cases, gym teachers might be required to work with special needs students. As such, you need to take the necessary training to know how to teach them best. Where you work might differ according to the kind of school or institution you are working for. You might be required to work in classrooms, sports fields, or even gymnasiums. You can also choose to either work full time or part-time.
If you are passionate about health and fitness, then you have come to the right place. In this post, we will figure out what it takes to become a school gym teacher, how to apply, and what the estimated salary is.
Educational Requirements
You will be required to have a bachelor’s degree in physical education for this position. In some cases, it might be necessary to have a master’s degree, but this is not always the case. You will also need a certificate or license which you can attain from the authorities in the state where you live. You might consider applying for internships to gain some experience in the field. It would help if you also worked on your monitoring, listening, speaking, and instructing skills, as these are vital components in your career.
If you are going to be teaching high school students, you might need a bachelors of science in Secondary Education with a major in physical education. You will also have to be well versed in swimming, health, nutrition, kinesiology, and weight training as this is what most students in this age group prefer. As you advance, you might consider pursuing courses in curriculum development, wellness science, physical education, and so on.
Expected Salary Of A School Gym Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school gym teachers earned a median salary of up to $60,340, as of May 2018. Of course, payment depends on the state you live in, your years of experience, and the responsibilities at hand. This means that if you have a master’s degree, your payment will be higher than that one who doesn’t have an advanced degree. Also, having exceptional skills and experience might help you earn higher pay.
Benefits Of Becoming A School Gym Teacher
This profession comes with many benefits that go beyond a paycheck; they include a great retirement package, health benefits, and a great working schedule, among others. There is also room for advancement in the fields of physical education, athletic directing, and so on.
Must-Have Skills For School Gym Teachers
For one to succeed in this profession, you must have certain traits that will make your work easy and manageable. Keep in mind that you will not only be working with students but their parents as well. As such, you need to have a balance. Some of the skills you will need include the following.
Excellent Teaching Skills
Whereas this skill might seem apparent, as an educator, you need to be able to educate and not just go in for the sake of the paycheck. You should be able to translate complex subjects into easy to understand tasks for your students. You should also be aware of students and know which of your students need additional explanations or encouragement.
Excellent Communication Skills
If you want to excel at what you do, learn how to communicate with both your students and colleagues effectively. As a school gym teacher, this will help your students better understand what you are talking about. Avoid complicated terminologies, and always move at the pace of your students. You need to make sure you are constantly improving your communication skills.
Practice Patience
Teaching is a skill that requires patience and adaptability. If your patience has never been tested and if you do not have self-control, you might end up losing it. As a teacher, you should be aware that not all students learn at the same pace. As such, you should be patient and also know how to approach each student individually. In case your lessons are a bit complicated, you should be able to switch to an easier-to-understand version.
Bottom Line
Being a school gym teacher is fun, rewarding, and beneficial in so many ways. Other than receiving a handsome check, you will also gain health benefits and even become fit. So, what are you waiting for? There has never been a better time to apply for such jobs as now. We wish you the best of luck!
