How to Become an Elementary School Teacher
Are you passionate about teaching and love working with kids? A job as an elementary school teacher could be the perfect career for you. In this challenging yet rewarding job, you’ll be responsible for educating and guiding young children through their first years of education and social development. In this guide on how to become an elementary school teacher, we explain all the requirements, necessary skills, and salary for this role.
What Is Elementary School?
Elementary school is the first stage of free mandatory formal education in the U.S. It’s also known as primary school and educates students aged five or six until middle school around age eleven to thirteen.
During elementary school, pupils learn the foundations of reading, writing, math, science and other key subjects as well as crucial social skills that they’ll need for the rest of their lives. A teacher’s role here is to instruct, guide and motivate them throughout the entire learning process.
What Does an Elementary School Teacher Do?
An elementary school teacher’s job is to prepare pupils in their assigned subjects so that they’ll be ready to face the next step in the education system. In this role, your most important responsibilities include:
- planning lessons based on classroom level
- monitoring student behavior in and outside the classroom while on school property
- establishing and enforcing rules in the classroom
- educating students on appropriate civic and social behavior
- preparing assignments and grading them
- communicating periodically with parents about their kids’ progress
- preparing pupils for standardized tests
How to Become an Elementary School Teacher
The exact elementary school teacher requirements vary from state to state. For example, if you’re looking for how to become an elementary school teacher in California, you’ll need at least five years of higher education. These can be fulfilled with a four-year undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in the subject you want to teach. Alternatively, you might pick a five-year undergraduate teaching preparation program with one of the institutions certified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
On the other hand, if you wanted to start the same career in Utah you would only be required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Wherever you want to work, always refer to your specific state Department of Education for more information. However, in all locations becoming an elementary school teacher generally involves most of the following steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree and in some states also a master’s degree. The elementary school teacher degree you need depends on the subject you want to teach.
- Complete a student teaching program. In your elementary teacher schooling This will be included as a period in the classroom shadowing a mentor teacher.
- Undergo a background check.
- Pass a teaching certification test to prove you possess the necessary knowledge of teaching methods and subjects.
Qualities you’ll need to prove yourself as a good teacher include:
- patience and empathy
- communication skills
- active listening
- adaptability
- creativity
- time management
- organization
How Much Does an Elementary School Teacher Make?
The average elementary school teacher salary sits at $61,400 per year. However, based on various factors such as your education, level of experience, specific school district and state you could be making more or less than that. For instance, look at the median wage for teachers in these top-paying states:
- elementary school teacher salary in New York: $87,700 per year.
- elementary school teacher salary in California: $86,470 per year.
- elementary school teacher salary in Massachusetts: $83,790 per year.
- elementary school teacher salary in Washington: $83,010 per year.
- elementary school teacher salary in Connecticut: $82,140 per year.
During the process of learning how to become an elementary school teacher, you’ll surely want to check how much this job could earn you in your area. To get a clear answer, save yourself scrolling through half of the internet and simply use Monster's Salary Calculator.
We did the hard work for you and collected every profession’s salary data for every city. On top of that, this tool also provides you with helpful insights into similar role salaries and potential next steps to progress in your field.
How to Find Elementary School Teacher Jobs
Did you learn all the ins and outs of how to become an elementary school teacher, but you’re not sure where to start to land that job you want? Hold on, we’re here to help. Download our elementary school teacher resume template to help you build strong foundations for your own and save some time.
Try and include as many numbers as possible including your successes in percentages, and any relevant metrics that show your past achievements and responsibilities. This will help recruiters understand what you’re capable of and that you’re goal-oriented. Remember also to tailor your resume to each job you apply for by making sure that it shares the same keywords as the job ad. Finally, take advantage of the power of a well-written cover letter. Use it to explain what motivated you to apply and why you would you be the right fit.
Where Does an Elementary School Teacher Work?
One of the most common misconceptions about elementary school teachers is that these professionals can only work in public or private schools. While those are indeed the most popular places to start, they’re not the only options available. Teachers can also work for individuals and families that homeschool their children. The following lists the industries offering the highest levels of employment for elementary school teachers:
- elementary and secondary schools
- religious organizations
- colleges, universities, and professional schools
- child day care services
- educational support services
As far as locations go, you’ll find the highest number of elementary school teacher jobs in:
More specifically, considering the level of employment, becoming an elementary school teacher might be easier in the following metro areas:
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