A great day as a teacher is seeing growth and a love for learning from my students. I want to see my students love what we are doing and make wonderful connections at the same time. In addition to my elementary classroom duties, I teach small groups of students with dyslexia and use my training as a language therapist to help give them the tools to succeed in school.
CAREER
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$61,400
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+4% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Do
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Other Job Titles Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education May Have
Classroom Teacher, Elementary School Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Teacher
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
No two days as a teacher are ever the same. In a single day, I plan and teach lessons, differentiate instruction, give students feedback, grade papers, answer emails, attend meetings, and more!
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (73%)
Bachelor's degree
Post-baccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Art/Art Studies, General
Graduate
Education, General
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education ,
Monte Vista Elementary School, Montclair, CA
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Graduate
Curriculum and Instruction
Doctorate
Educational Leadership and Administration, Ge...
Certification / License
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Think about things from a kids perspective and understand their world so that you can teach them better.
Empathy is incredibly important as a teacher. You need to be able to relate and connect with students, especially those who are going through difficult circumstances.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education ,
Monte Vista Elementary School, Montclair, CA
Look for opportunities to work with or mentor younger children. At church, in scouting or baby sitting you can get an idea of how children behave and need to have activities that challenge them to hold their interest. Volunteer at the local library to read at story time to learn about children's literature. Volunteer at a day camp or daycare center. The experiences you have will guide you to decide if teaching is the right profession for you.
The first step would be to get out there and volunteer your time in a classroom. Most schools welcome volunteers and elementary classrooms can always use the extra set of hands! I contacted some of my former teachers and asked if I could volunteer in their classrooms because I was interested in going into education. I was welcomed back into my former classrooms and working with young students solidified my desire to become a teacher.
Once you've found your passion for music make sure you allow that to grow! Being creative at an early age will allow you to excel later on.
Get experience in the profession you think you want. I think many people think they want to enter a particular field and then they go through so much effort only to find out that they don't feel right in that profession. Intern, shadow, interview others, etc.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
