Are you considering stepping into teaching but don’t know if you have the right qualifications? Maybe you dream of becoming a primary teacher but don’t know what course to study to reach your goal? We are here to help!
Our brief guide today outlines what course you need to become a teacher and whether a master’s in teaching primary is necessary to become a primary school teacher.
What is a master’s in teaching primary?
A master’s in teaching primary is a postgraduate course that allows you to become a qualified primary teacher. The course uses a mixture of theory and practical modules that allow you to learn about the pedagogical approach to teaching and how you can apply it to your practice. The course can be offered full-time, part-time, or online, allowing you to find the right option that works for you.
Do I need a master’s in teaching primary to become a primary school teacher?
Depending on your qualifications, you might not need a master’s in teaching primary to work as a primary teacher in Australia. To teach primary school children in Australia, you need a four-year teaching degree, like a Bachelor of Education (Primary). If you have this, you can start teaching! However, if you have an unrelated undergraduate degree, say English literature, you must gain a postgraduate qualification before you can start teaching.
The masters in teaching primary is designed for prospective teachers who do not yet have a formal teaching qualification. You can use this as your way into teaching primary, providing you with the experience and theory you need to create engaging lesson plans and foster the minds of the next generation.
What will I learn in a master’s in teaching primary?
What you learn in a master’s in teaching primary varies slightly depending on the course provider you choose. You can expect the course to look at the different approaches to teaching and learning, where you will learn about different pedagogical approaches and how you can put them into practice. You will also learn how to adjust your teaching to a variety of learners in one room, creating additional support materials and extra projects for those who need them.
You will focus on how to teach literacy and mathematics, providing children with the foundation of their education that they will build on as they grow. Attention is also given to the humanities, arts, and sciences, inspiring children to find their passion and understand more of the world around them.
Part of your master’s will focus on research methods, too, where you will learn about the current literature relating to a chosen area of interest, the common research methods used in education, and how you can analyse these methods to put them into practice in your research and teaching. A master’s in teaching also includes a research project, which can take place as part of your placement. Some course providers will give it a different title, but you can expect to choose an area to specialise in, where you will write a report based on your findings in the field, research you have completed using peer-reviewed journals, teaching books, and other sources.
While every course provider will give their modules slightly different names, you can expect to see titles like this in your course handbook:
- Approaches to teaching and learning
- Language and literacy in the primary years 1
- Teaching and Language Primary Mathematics 1
- Science in Primary Education
- Curriculum and multi-modal learning
- Primary health and physical education
- Humanities in Primary Education
- The arts and design in primary education
- Indigenous perspectives in learning and teaching
- Language and literacy in the primary years 2
- Teaching and Learning Primary Mathematics 2
- Research methods in education
- Engaging with the primary teaching profession
- Primary specialisation capstone
Will I have a placement on a master’s in teaching primary?
Yes, even with online masters in teaching primary, you will be required to have a placement where you will put the knowledge you are gaining into practice. As part of the course, you will be required to complete sixty-five days of placements, where you will be in primary school classrooms, gaining the practical experience you need.
During your placement, you will be paired with a mentor who will support you, offering guidance and feedback on your teaching to help you improve professionally.
Final thoughts
A master’s in primary teaching will provide you with the tools and skills you need to become a primary school teacher. Theory is paired with real-world teaching experience to help you become a competent and experienced teacher.
