Can a High School teacher teach multiple subjects?

Question

I'm pretty sure a teacher can teach two subjects that are closely related, like Calculus and Physics (right? correct me if I'm wrong), but can a teacher teach subjects that aren't related? AP Calc and AP Eng Language/Literature for example

Answer 1

They certainly can, but teachers are like anyone else, they have certain subjects that they prefer to teach.  And conversely, they have certain subjects they are less prepared to teach.  The school would obviously attempt to place all the teachers in their area of strength.

Answer 2

At my former High School, I had a teacher Who taught Music and Physical Ed. Another i knew taught math and Physical Ed. and another was Geography and Music. I guess here tho its because the person was qualified and there was a scarcity of teachers for the subject

Answer 3

i think it depends on the school and the demand for those classes. they might need more than one teacher to cover all of the students taking those classes.  if this is the case, they will probably only allow you to teach one of those two classes and they will probably choose.

Answer 4

Each Teacher is asked to SPECIALIZE...

But yeah...  I know several teacher who are CERTIFIED in several subjects.

Math, Physics, Computer-science are all very related and intertwined.

Answer 5

According to NCLB, a teacher must be certified in the area that they teach. As long as the teacher has certification in that area, they can teach it. I have certification in Media, Special Education and Elementary Education, so I could do El Ed, or library and Special ed K-12. A lot of teachers are getting multiple certification nowadays because so many schools are cutting programs. One of the reasons I got my El Ed license was because they cut library and they changed Special Ed.

Answer 6

I don't think so. Coz in our school, 1 teacher only teaches 1 subject.

Answer 7

at our school, many teachers teach multiple subjects - it just depends on their certification areas. i teach french, english, and gifted studies, but i am also certified in social studies. one of my good friends teaches english and math. if you would like to teach both, at least in my state, you should be certified in both.

Answer 8

Here's how it works:  Elementary school teachers are certified in general or elementary education.  They do not need certification in specific subjects.  High school teachers are supposed to be certified in specific subjects.  In theory, what is supposed to happen is that HS teachers teach the subject(s) for which they have certification.  If a teacher is certified in more than one subject then they can teach more than one subject.  I know teachers who are double certified in divergent subjects, like math and literature.  They can teach either or both.

The idea is that elementary school teachers need a broad knowledge of various subjects in a lower level and knowing education theory is more important.  In high school, teachers need a more expansive knowledge of specific subjects with a bit less educational theory.

However, because of shortages in certain subjects, like math and science, a lot of teachers are asked to teach these subjects, without being certified, if they are comfortable teaching that subject.

For example, years ago I was asked to teach biology to 10th/11th graders.  I was elementary school certified but they needed people in the high school.  I was comfortable teaching it because I was originally in nursing school before switching over to education and had a ton of credit in the sciences.

It happens all the time.