Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

Elementary school teachers play a critical role in developing young people to meet the challenges they will face in secondary school and throughout life. For those with the passion to impact the lives of children, an elementary education degree can provide the foundation for a successful teaching career.

Elementary School Teaching Requirements

The training involved in acquiring an elementary education degree revolves around preparatory coursework designed to develop sound teaching methods within the context of a proven educational philosophy. Although the specific courses vary by institution, the most common areas of study are English, mathematics, music, science, literature, history and art.

Basic requirements for obtaining an elementary school teaching job include:

* Licensing: All public school teachers must obtain a teaching certificate from the appropriate division of the state board of education. The essential prerequisite for obtaining a teaching certificate is a bachelor’s degree.

* Communication Skills: Teachers must have the ability to communicate effectively with students from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and varying levels of comprehension skill. Through the process of obtaining an elementary education degree, future teachers learn to communicate properly while instilling confidence and trust in their students.

* Internship: Although this requirement varies by state, internships are strongly encouraged as a means to obtain real world experience within the context of a controlled and supervised environment.

Type of Work

Elementary school teachers are involved with children during their most impressionable and formative years. Teachers create a safe and friendly environment where students feel comfortable absorbing vital foundational concepts while exploring and expanding their cognitive skills.

Teachers are responsible for preparing lessons and assigning homework in subjects such as math, English and science. They are skilled in maintaining classroom discipline, presenting lessons, promoting discussions, assigning homework and administering tests.

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It is important for the teacher to have enthusiasm in their job while advancing the child’s ability to comprehend abstract concepts and problem solving skills. Encouraging collaborative group efforts and teaching cooperative behavior is also a fundamental objective of the elementary school teacher. It is also important for teachers to have the ability to identify struggling students and design a specific agenda to address their needs.

The elementary school teacher’s efforts are considered successful if the student has advanced in their ability to interact with others, can solve increasingly difficult problems and is versed in age appropriate technology.

Work Environment

Common issues in elementary school teaching include frustration with unmotivated or unruly students. Stressed state and local government budgets have lead to larger class sizes and heavier workloads as well. Even the buildings themselves have suffered from budget cutbacks resulting in substandard working conditions in some areas.

Modern teachers also must cope with the responsibility of producing students capable of exceeding minimum state and federal testing standards. This can lead to frustration as the teacher feels they play a diminished role in developing their own curriculum.

Most teachers work a 40 hour week and are obligated to perform duties outside their own classroom. The calendar year includes 10 months teaching and a two month summer vacation.

Employment Outlook

The number of jobs available for those with an elementary education degree is expected to grow by 13% through 2018. Although overall enrollment may decline slightly in future years depending on national immigration policy, a large number of teachers will be retiring through 2020.

The current median income for elementary school teachers ranges from $47,000 to $51,000 annually. Teachers who are mobile will have the greatest opportunity to find employment in areas of high demand.

For those who are passionate, teaching can be a fulfilling lifelong profession.

Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

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