Elementary School Teacher

Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner; put yourself in his place so that you may understand . . . what he learns and the way he understands it. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

An elementary school teacher's job is not that elementary as it may sound. It takes much more than just imparting the primary or basic education to children from grades 1 - 6. The children are at their most receptive age (yes! kids tend to learn more quickly compared to even educated adults), but they can also be wavering and lacking in concentration. Here lies the challenge for an elementary school teacher! To make the kids understand whatever subject you are teaching, and specifically, without making it a burden for them. It is a skill which you need to develop. No post graduation or doctorate can help you to achieve that skill. It is developed only when you interact with children with patience. As Kierkegaard said in the quote above, you have to understand the learner's perspective and think from the learner's point of view, to impart effective knowledge to children. Let us see in detail all the necessary aspects related to an elementary school teacher's job.

How to Become an Elementary School Teacher

An elementary school teacher resume should include all the necessary qualifications like graduation from a recognized university in a specific subject you wish to teach, an overall knowledge of multiple subjects, certifications if necessary in a particular state, etc. Your resume and your attitude in the job interview should radiate the qualities like optimism, patience, effective communication and your hardworking skills. Many schools may demand a knowledge of multiple subjects, given the children's tendency to question every small thing. There may be a different criterion for different states or schools. For instance, in California, you have to pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CEST) to become an elementary school teacher, and the State Board of Education grants certification to all candidates fulfilling the professional and other requirements. The certifications may not be required in some of the private schools. Before the schools recruit you, you are also required to give 'live teaching tests', in which the senior teachers judge your overall teaching and class-management skills. Joining the associations like the 'American Federation of Teachers' can help you to be regularly updated about the various job openings in the teaching field.

Elementary School Teacher Job Description

It is said and I have often experienced that, "In recalling their school years, students mostly remember their teachers, and not the courses they took." Even you may remember your teacher more than the specific subject matter you learned from him / her. The learning material is a matter of a few pages or textbooks. But the actual learning process of any kid involves the observation of the teacher and the imagination which the teacher allows to develop in a kid. You have to be the person which you want your student to become. In the elementary years, you are responsible for the kid's overall educational and emotional development.

The most primary aspect of an elementary teaching involves making the kids understand the basics of all the subjects, so that they should not face the problems in higher grades. Elementary teachers teach social and motor skills to students with large emphasis on demonstrative teaching and audio-visual lectures. They need to prepare and complete the course objectives as outlined by the school management. They need to ensure that discipline and order is maintained in the classroom and playground. They give assignments and take tests, and ensure that the result is good, thus ensuring the learning abilities of the students remain immaculate. Their job also includes arranging field trips, workshops, and attending conferences and meetings. This job requires an exceptional ability to cope with stressful situations, and needs the teacher to have constantly impressive energy levels. Your classroom work strategies and techniques determine the effectiveness of your work, and as the great Albert Einstein had said, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." In a similar way, you should continuously thrive to awaken joy in the knowledge you impart, making it simple, yet having a deep impact on the children's understanding of any subject.

Elementary School Teacher Salary

The elementary school teacher salary depends on a number of factors like the kind of school you are teaching in, your job location, your experience, etc. The average salary of an elementary school teacher in USA is about $50,000 p.a. In urban locations, the salary is higher, given the fact that most of the bigger and famous schools are located in the big cities. Also, an experienced elementary school teacher can receive an annual salary of about $75,000 too. Nowadays, many institutions are facing a shortage of quality teachers, so there is great opportunity for you to get into teaching and make a difference to the young minds of our country.

This is all the information you need about an elementary school teacher. Remember, according to a Jewish proverb, "The bad teacher's words fall on his pupils like harsh rain; the good teacher's, as gently as dew." Make sure that your words do not just fall as dew, but also let your words and actions have an everlasting effect on the students, changing their lives for the better!