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Elementary Education Career Article
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Elementary Education Careers
from: Kyle BesserAn elementary education career is the teaching of children from kindergarten to 5th or 6th grade. Elementary school teachers usually teach all of the basic subjects including math, reading, science and social studies to one group of students for one school year. In some areas, a classroom is shared by two teachers who work as a team and share the responsibility for the group of students with each other. Many elementary schools have teachers that instruct one subject, such as physical education, music, art or reading to many students. Teachers working in elementary education do more than teach. They also act as counselors and role models for their students.
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers play a vital role in the development of children. What children learn and experience during their early years helps shape their views of themselves and the world around them and can affect their later success or failure in school, work and personal lives. Kindergarten and elementary school teachers introduce children to mathematics, reading, science and social studies and use games, music, artwork, films, books, computers and many other tools to teach basic skills.
People who are interested in pursuing an elementary education career should have a lot of patience and a love of children. The elementary school teacher has to control a class of energetic and easily bored young children. The elementary school teacher will have to make learning enjoyable as well as challenging.
Good organizational skills are a great asset to elementary school teachers. Elementary school teachers are required to maintain grades for each student, monitor each student's progress, make lesson plans for each subject and be prepared for daily classes.
Elementary school teachers often work with students from varied ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. With growing minority populations in many parts of the country, it is important for elementary school teachers to be able to work effectively with diverse groups of students. Some schools offer training to help teachers enhance their awareness and understanding of different cultures. Elementary school teachers may also include multi-cultural activities in their classrooms to address the needs of all students, regardless of their cultural background.
Those seeking to pursue a career in elementary education in the public school system must complete a bachelor's degree in an approved teacher training program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits as well as supervised practice teaching to obtain certification to teach in all the states. Some states also require technology training and the attainment of a minimum grade point average. A number of states require that teachers obtain a master's degree in education within a specified period after they begin teaching.
Traditional education programs for kindergarten and elementary teachers include courses designed specifically for those preparing for a career in elementary education. These courses include mathematics, physical science, social science, music, art, and literature, as well as prescribed professional education courses, such as philosophy of education, psychology of learning, and teaching methods.
Teaching certification for public elementary teachers is required in every state and the District of Columbia. Teachers at private schools need not be certified but must have a bachelor's degree. The State Board of Education or a certification advisory committee typically awards certification. Certification to teach the early childhood grades applies to preschool though 3rd grade. Elementary certification includes grades 1 through 6 or 8. There is also certification for teaching special subjects, such as music, art or physical education, which usually applies to kindergarten though 12th grade.
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