5-6 Math & Science Teacher

Job Title: 5–6 Math & Science Teacher
Reports to: Head of School
General Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Salary: $65,000 - 85,000

Position Summary: Fayerweather seeks an energetic and committed educator to join our 5-6 classroom as a Math and Science Teacher and to serve as a co-teacher to the 5-6 Humanities Teacher. Teaching at Fayerweather means more than delivering content; it means holding the whole child at the center of the learning experience. Our philosophy is both progressive and liberatory, rooted in the constructivist belief that students learn best by doing, and in the conviction that identity, lived experience, and social-emotional connection are inseparable from academic growth. Fayerweather teachers serve as facilitators and thought partners, designing purposeful, hands-on learning experiences that move students from curiosity to deep understanding and mastery. When students feel seen, valued, and reflected in their learning, education becomes not just meaningful but transformative.

In mathematics, you will implement a curriculum grounded in the principles of Illustrative Mathematics, guiding students to develop deep conceptual understanding rather than procedural knowledge alone. Instruction emphasizes mathematical discourse, reasoning, and the use of multiple representations to make abstract ideas accessible and meaningful. In science, you will design and teach a program that builds foundational knowledge across life, physical, earth, and environmental sciences. Learning is driven by curiosity and grounded in hands-on, place-based, and project-based experiences that connect students to the world around them and make scientific thinking tangible and relevant.

Across both disciplines, you will foster a classroom culture centered on inquiry, collaboration, and real-world application, one that challenges students to think critically, ask good questions, and persevere through complex problems. The ideal candidate brings strong content knowledge in both math and science, a clear understanding of how middle school students learn, and a genuine passion for teaching in a progressive, student-centered environment where relationships and rigor go hand in hand.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Responsible for homeroom meetings, flex blocks, homework organization periods, field trips and other related work. 
  • Have enthusiasm, flexibility, and a desire to collaborate with colleagues in your grade level team and across disciplines.
  • Implement a math program aligned with Illustrative Mathematics principles, emphasizing:
    • Conceptual understanding over procedural memorization
    • Mathematical discourse and reasoning
    • Use of multiple strategies and representations
  • Teach key grade-level content, including:
    • Fractions, decimals, and ratios 
    • Ratios, rates, and proportional reasoning
    • Early algebraic thinking and expressions
    • Geometry, area, volume, and coordinate planes
    • Data analysis and statistics
  • Use formative assessment to guide instruction and differentiate learning
  • Support students in developing perseverance, confidence, and a positive math identity

Science Instruction (Grades 5–6)
  • Design and teach an inquiry-based science program aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), including:
    • Life Science: ecosystems, food webs, biodiversity, human body systems
    • Physical Science: matter and its properties, energy, forces, and motion
    • Earth & Space Science: Earth systems, weather and climate, natural resources
  • Engage students in:
    • Hands-on investigations and experiments
    • Data collection, analysis, and interpretation
    • Scientific argumentation and evidence-based reasoning
  • Integrate place-based learning, connecting science concepts to local environments and real-world issues

Other Essential Duties:
  • Performing various duties, including recess coverage, lunch duty, and creating curricular displays 
  • Responsible for the social-emotional and academic development of a 5-6 students
  • Document the curriculum as it evolves throughout the year
  • Narrative report writing and timely communication with parents
  • Attending weekly staff meetings
  • Participating in admissions programming as needed
  • Participating in subject-specific reviews and other curriculum work
  • and other duties as assigned
Fayerweather Street School has a rich and progressive history of successfully educating students for over 50 years. Fayerweather Street School (FSS) is a co-educational independent day school enrolling approximately 200 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Located in the Fresh Pond neighborhood in Cambridge, Fayerweather offers a progressive, hands-on experiential learning environment where the pace of childhood is respected, and where children develop a love of learning, know how they learn best, and have voice and agency in their school community. We help young people develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness to flourish in a complex, diverse, and increasingly interdependent world. We believe that truly knowing each child is the heart of a great education, and we are committed to building a diverse, welcoming, and equitable community in which compassion, humor, and respect are woven throughout the curriculum and spirit of the day. 

To Apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume to Employment@Fayerweather.org. Please be prepared to provide at least five references, and at least two of your references must be, or have been, someone you directly reported to.
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Fayerweather Street School | 765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617-876-4746
Fayerweather is a private PreK, kindergarten, elementary and middle school. We engage each child’s intellect.