How many different classes do most high school teachers teach?

Most teachers at my school have at least 2 different subjects but some up to four.

I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple subjects (eg bio and chemistry). Teachers at my school would sometimes teach different courses within their subject, though. An English teacher might teach both regular and advanced 10th grade English, or a bio teacher might teach standard bio along with an elective like botany or zoology. But I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple courses in different disciplines.

At most small high schools teachers do teach multiple subjects. At bigger high schools teachers typically just teach within their subject. For example teaching Spanish level 1 for 3 periods and Advanced Spanish for 2 periods.

I went to a small high school and I had a teacher who taught English, Spanish and History. She must have been endorsed in all 3, although she wasn't very good in Spanish. She often used a dictionary to clarify certain meanings for words.

I have three different preps in Social Studies. It's hard.

usually up to 3 preps

Last year I had four preps, two of them brand new to me, not fun. This year I have only two, but one is brand new to me. By the way, I teach English. Our science department usually has two or three preps. I do know our freshmen biology teacher also teaches chemistry. Smaller the school is, the more likely it is for a teacher to have multiple and varied preps.

never heard of that wrote:

I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple subjects (eg bio and chemistry). Teachers at my school would sometimes teach different courses within their subject, though. An English teacher might teach both regular and advanced 10th grade English, or a bio teacher might teach standard bio along with an elective like botany or zoology. But I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple courses in different disciplines.

Uh, Chem and Bio are both sciences and therefore the same discipline. It's no different than a math teacher teaching Algebra and Geometry.

it matters not... wrote:

At most small high schools teachers do teach multiple subjects. At bigger high schools teachers typically just teach within their subject. For example teaching Spanish level 1 for 3 periods and Advanced Spanish for 2 periods.

I went to a small high school and I had a teacher who taught English, Spanish and History. She must have been endorsed in all 3, although she wasn't very good in Spanish. She often used a dictionary to clarify certain meanings for words.

This.

The local high schools in my area (enrollments of 200-400 per class) are big enough that each teacher only teaches 1-2 subject groups (English teachers teach English classes; Science teachers teach up to two of the sciences (Chem+Bio or Physics+whatever the Freshmen class is), P.E. teacher that also teaches a Math class, there is a teacher that does both Business English and computer classes, shop teacher for wood shop and metal shop, etc.).

I typically taught 3 subjects. Earlier in my career I was at the junior high teaching 6 different classes in addition to being a double department head. No fun.

Blount wrote:

never heard of that wrote:

I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple subjects (eg bio and chemistry). Teachers at my school would sometimes teach different courses within their subject, though. An English teacher might teach both regular and advanced 10th grade English, or a bio teacher might teach standard bio along with an elective like botany or zoology. But I've never heard of a teacher teaching multiple courses in different disciplines.

Uh, Chem and Bio are both sciences and therefore the same discipline. It's no different than a math teacher teaching Algebra and Geometry.

Agreed. This is high school. Any high school bio teacher with a major from a decent university should have taken general chem and organic and be able to handle any high school chem course. Should be able to handle at least a regular level course in physics, too.

I teach only one, biology. The ones who teach more burn out and either quit or move to another teaching job.

2-3 different classes is average, prob 2-3 sections of each. With 1-2 preps and a study hall over each 2 day period. Teachers can't go out and run like Bill Rodgers did on his prep/lunch break, they are required to be in the building and available, even if all they have to fill their time is thumb twiddling.

I teach 2 algebra, 2 bio and a math intervention class. It is kinda hectic with the 2 different subject areas, but the math intervention is super easy. It's basically tutoring 6-10 kids for a period. Not much prep needed.

The Animal Within,

Actually I would think preparing two different subjects would be ideal. Just teaching the same level of say biology 4 or 5 times a day year after year would quickly get old. Maybe if you taught all biology one year and all chemistry the next...

Then why does the state require a separate license for each? The purpose of the license is to ensure competence in a subject area.

Right now, I teach 4 different subjects.

Anatomy/Physiology

AP Environmental Science

Environmental Science

Interdisciplinary Science / Special Projects - (This basically a research design course modeled after the AP research course).

7th period I have "sports P.E." which is basically the start of CC or Track practice (except for in between seasons, when it is sort of a general conditioning class for athletes who are not currently in their CIF sanctioned season.

I currently teach 7th grade government, 8th grade world geography and 2 pud electives where everyone gets an A as long as they don't procreate in class or set the building on fire.

My town's high school has about 2000 students. It's one of the top-ranked schools in one of the top-ranked states. Teachers generally teach one or two different courses in their area of their license (e.g. Math, Science, English, Social studies)

Most of my teachers didn’t teach outside their subject, except for some of those crappy fake AP classes like Psych and Econ. Anyone was allowed to teach those.