Elementary School Teacher
Elementary School Teachers do more than present information at the front of the classroom. They facilitate group discussions and run hands-on learning activities. In addition to mastering academic skills, elementary school students learn how to work with others, use computers, think critically, and solve problems. Elementary school teachers plan and run classroom activities to help children meet all types of learning objectives.
In elementary schools, teachers usually teach a single classroom of children in math, language, science, and social studies. However, some teachers specialize in an area such as music, art, reading, or physical education. The responsibilities of elementary school teachers include:
- Planning lessons
- Conducting learning activities
- Maintaining an appropriate classroom environment
- Evaluating students' performance
- Communicating with parents and other staff members
All states require public school teachers to be licensed, but most states do not have this requirement for private school teachers. The licenses of teachers in elementary schools may cover the early childhood grades (usually kindergarten through grade 3) or the elementary grades (grades 1 through grade 6 or 8). Requirements for teaching licenses include a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved teaching program, and practice teaching. Some states have additional requirements, such as competency testing and graduate work.
Salary RangeBased on 2004 data, as a kindergarten, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher you can expect to earn between $26,730 and up to more than $66,240 per year, with a median earning potential of $45,920 per year.