What can high schoolers interested in teaching do now?
If you think you might want to teach, you can start practicing in high school. Tutoring, camp counseling, coaching, after-school programs and future teacher clubs like Educators Rising all put you in front of learners.
There are fewer summer programs in education than in other fields, but libraries, museums and community centers often need teen helpers for youth programs. Some school districts run teaching academies where high schoolers assist in elementary classrooms. Peer tutoring at your own school counts too.
How should you choose a teaching or tutoring opportunity?
The best ones put you in front of learners with a mentor nearby who gives you feedback. Ask how many students you'll work with, what training you get first and how your time is supervised. Paid tutoring is fine, but volunteer roles with younger kids often teach more about patience and planning. Check the schedule carefully, since after-school roles need a steady weekly commitment.
How can you start teaching this month?
- Offer free homework help to a younger sibling, neighbor or school group once a week.
- Plan and teach a 20-minute workshop on something you're good at, then ask for feedback.
- Ask your local library about volunteering at story time or homework help.
- Ask a favorite teacher if you can see how they plan one unit from start to finish.
- Make a study guide for a class you've finished and share it with students taking it now.
Where Nextreks fits
Workshop plans, study guides and notes on what worked with real learners can go in your Nextreks portfolio, private until you share them. Teaching is communication and empathy in action, and changing course when a plan does not land is adaptability, all durable skills Nextreks helps you practice.
Programs in Explore are run by other organizations. Nextreks lists them but does not run or guarantee them.