Chemistry Teacher

Niacin. Thiamine mononitrate. Calcium phosphate. Monoglycerides. The ingredients in your average processed snack food read like a veritable “who’s who” of chemicals. If you’re the average snacker, the back of the box might as well be written in Chinese. If you’re a Chemistry Teacher, however, you know exactly what you’re reading — and you’re paid to teach it to others.

Not the snack part, of course, but the chemical part. A high school Science Teacher who specializes in chemistry — the branch of science that deals with the composition of physical substances, and with the interactions between them — your job as a Chemistry Teacher is teaching teenagers about chemicals. Among the concepts a Chemistry Teacher might teach, for instance, are atoms, including protons, neutrons and electrons; elements, such as hydrogen and oxygen; chemical properties, including solids, liquids and gases; and chemical reactions, like the fizzy eruption that occurs when you combine baking soda with vinegar.

Although your subject matter is scientific, your job description is more “ Teacher ” than “ Chemist. ” Like other Educators, for instance, your responsibilities include creating daily lesson plans, delivering lectures, assigning and grading homework, giving tests, meeting with parents and supervising students.

Still, because you’re a Science Teacher your job is a little more interesting than that of your peers in the English department. In addition to lectures, for instance, you get to oversee labs, designing and overseeing hands-on experiments with your students in order to illustrate the concepts you’re teaching them. The upside: Chemical volcanos are fun. The downside: They’re also messy — and you’re in charge of the cleanup!