How to Become an Elementary School Teacher

If you are passionate about working with young students, then majoring in elementary education may be the right path for you. A rewarding career choice, working with young learners gives you the unique opportunity to assist in child development and make a lasting impact on your community. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading to discover an elementary school teacher's day-to-day responsibility, the necessary skills for the role, and the steps to becoming one. 

What is an Elementary School Teacher?

Before diving into the process of becoming an elementary school teacher, it is important to understand what an elementary school teacher is and the role's day-to-day responsibilities. Elementary school teachers are early childhood education providers who primarily teach children in kindergarten through the sixth grade (K-6). However, some school districts may classify pre-kindergarten and/or the seventh and eighth grades (K-8) as elementary. 

Since elementary school teachers may teach a wide range of grades, they should be aware of the different phases of child development. In most cases, elementary school teachers focus on one specific grade level, where they are the primary instructor. Since they lead a single classroom of the same students throughout the day, elementary school teachers can expect to provide instruction in all subject areas they are required to teach.

As an elementary school teacher, you can expect to teach subjects ranging from reading and writing to science and basic mathematics. Other topics may include history, social studies, and art. In addition to teaching these subjects to your class, additional responsibilities may include: 

• Creating an engaging and inclusive learning environment
• Developing and enforcing classroom rules and procedures
• Tailoring a curriculum and lesson plans for specific grade levels
• Supervising and leading students throughout the day as they participate in various activities
• Meeting with elementary school staff and administrators to ensure school policies are met
• Providing evaluations and grades for each student
• Stocking the classroom with learning materials
• Meeting with students' parents and/or guardians
• Staying up to date on teaching best practices, as well as classroom and curriculum standards

What are the skills needed?

As an elementary school teacher, there are several skills you will need to develop that will be crucial for you to become proficient in your career. Like most professional roles, being organized will be essential to your success. As a teacher, you will not only be responsible for keeping yourself organized but for all the materials and lesson plans your class will be following. From creating and meeting due dates to communicating classroom needs and expectations, having good organizational skills will set you and your students up for success. In addition to staying organized, being compassionate will go a long way. 

Interacting and teaching with empathy and compassion will be beneficial as it builds a positive classroom culture and can increase students' motivation for learning, both of which are crucial to the overall academic experience. Learning to be flexible and adaptable is another important trait for elementary teachers. At times, plans can change quickly and sometimes without notice. Throughout the day, expected and unexpected situations can arise. That is why it is crucial to be able to adapt and find the best solution for all involved. 

Other traits that will be advantageous to have on your teaching toolbelt include:

• Staying curious, including the will to keep learning and bettering yourself in the role.
• Collaborating with other teachers, families, and community members.
• Being passionate and a strong advocate for your students. 
• Not being afraid to ask for help. 

In addition to building on the soft skills stated above, developing and utilizing the hard skills you learn from your classes and student teaching will be just as important. "There are lots of skills and teaching methods we provide at North Central College, such as how to lesson plan and to be strong in different content areas," stated Lindsay Wexler, assistant professor of education. Learning from top professors, elementary education majors at North Central College learn what exemplary teaching means daily. Students will receive experience in classroom management, lesson planning, and teaching in all subject areas. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to complete at least 180 hours of classroom field experience before they start student teaching. By learning the necessary skills from your elementary education degree and teacher preparation, you will find yourself on the path to success.