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As an elementary school teacher you have the potential to influence how your young students will process the world for the rest of their lives and how successful they may be in school, work and even in their personal relationships. Therefore, choosing elementary teacher education as a career entails tremendous responsibility for the well-being of your students. The job, however, can also be enormously rewarding. Ask around and you'll see that almost everybody remembers fondly that elementary school teacher who inspired both respect and awe in them.
What Does an Elementary School Teacher Do?
As an elementary school teacher you may do more than just teach classes: you might also supervise activities and handle school administrative tasks. Teaching basic educational skills and then some, however, is a large part of what elementary teachers do. In 2008, 1.5 million elementary school teachers in the United States taught kids:
While teaching young children the basics of these subjects, you may use a variety of tools--games, music, movies and computers--to communicate knowledge successfully to your students in the classroom. After school you may supervise them during extracurricular activities. Student field trips may include admiring dinosaur remains in the science museum or learning about making confections in a candy factory. Nowadays, technology such as video chatting may even allow your students to chat with their counterparts in Estonia or China.
As an elementary school teacher, you may also face some challenging tasks. You may have to discuss the physical or mental problems of a student with administrators and parents or motivate a child to join others in classroom activities. In multicultural districts, you may need to make sure all students understand lessons and feel welcomed.
Elementary School Teacher Education Requirements: Degrees and Coursework
Education requirements for teachers in public elementary schools start with a four-year, bachelor's degree in education and a state or national teaching license. In addition to degree programs from brick-and-mortar colleges and universities, programs leading to teaching degrees are also available through online programs. Once you have a bachelor's degree, you may also get certified to teach a specific subject or pursue teaching jobs in private schools. A license from the State Board of Education of your state or from a licensure advisory committee may also be necessary, depending on where you plan to teach.
To obtain a teaching degree, coursework can include mathematics, science and social sciences, as well as music, art and literature classes. Philosophy of education, psychology of learning, teaching methods and technology courses may also be required. Prior to obtaining a degree, many elementary education majors complete a student-teaching internship at an elementary school.
Elementary School Teacher Careers
As an elementary school teacher, you may specialize in specific subjects, become a mentor teacher or move into administrative positions at your school. You could also serve as a special education teacher for kids with disabilities.
To learn more about elementary school teaching, try contacting the following organizations:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mathematics, science, bilingual education and foreign language teachers are in high demand, especially in urban and rural schools. Teachers should also be in demand in fast-growing southern and western states. Elementary school teacher employment is expected to grow 16 percent between 2008 and 2018. The mean annual wage for elementary school teachers was $53,150 in May 2009.
Resources for Elementary School Teachers:
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