Early Childhood Teachers
Early Childhood Teachers work with children under the age of eight (preschool through Grade 3). They plan and run activities that are appropriate to all areas of a young child's development, including:
- Physical
- Sensory
- Language
- Cognitive
- Emotional
- Social
Early childhood teachers plan activities that correspond to the age and academic needs of their students. Preschool teachers use play and other classroom interactions to enhance their students' development. More formal learning begins in kindergarten. Early childhood teachers in the primary grades typically teach one group of children in all academic subjects, although some specialize in subjects such as music, art, or physical education.
Licensing requirements vary for early childhood teachers. All states require that K-12 public school teachers be licensed. For these jobs, teachers must earn a bachelor's degree, complete an approved training program, and do practice teaching. Requirements for preschool teachers vary from state to state, and public schools are more stringent in their requirements than private schools.
Salary RangeBased on 2004 data, as an early childhood teacher you can expect to earn between $26,730 and up to more than $31,180 per year, with a median earning potential of $45,920 yearly.