In recent times, teachers are called upon to do more than simply teach their students basic facts and prepare them for the next step in their education. Modern elementary education teachers are tasked with not only preparing their students academically, but also socially and emotionally. Ultimately, they must work with each individual student to ensure that they have the tools and resources they need to succeed, highlighting the critical role that they play in shaping the next generation.
Understanding Elementary Education
Elementary education is defined as the formative years of a child’s schooling and encompasses preschool through sixth grade. As the first stage of education, elementary education provides students with the foundation for their educational experience. Elementary teachers typically teach primary subjects, such as math, reading, writing, science and social studies. These years may be the earliest years of a child’s education, but they are some of the most important years of their lives, with many students discovering their interests, strengths and passions during this time.
Elementary Education Teachers’ Role and Responsibilities
Elementary teachers are responsible for providing students with differentiated instruction, ensuring that each child is able to develop the foundation needed to further their education. In addition to teaching students basic concepts and helping them develop their critical thinking skills, elementary teachers also must create a nurturing learning environment in which all of a child’s needs are met.
Instruction and Curriculum Delivery
One of the primary responsibilities of elementary teachers is to implement the curriculum for a given subject and provide students with differentiated instruction. This typically requires teachers to:
- Create engaging and interactive lesson plans based on the individual subject.
- Provide students with instruction using the latest teaching practices and methodologies. This may include large group and small group instruction, as well as individual instruction.
- Assessing students and evaluating their progress. Elementary teachers often have to partner with parents or guardians to help their students reach their targets.
Classroom Management
Effective classroom management is essential to creating a cohesive and nurturing learning environment. Elementary teachers can improve their classroom management techniques by:
- Implementing an effective behavior management plan rooted in positive reinforcement and personalized interventions.
- Providing students with an opportunity to establish norms and guidelines for their classroom.
- Starting the day with a classroom meeting to develop a sense of community within the learning environment.
- Assigning students classroom jobs so that they can contribute to the overall success of the classroom.
Supporting Individual Student Needs
Perhaps one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of becoming an elementary teacher is that teachers are charged with supporting the individual needs of each student. In today’s world, a number of students are managing social and emotional needs as well as physical and economic needs, requiring teachers to pursue all avenues of differentiated instruction and work with students with diverse learning needs who need additional resources and services.
Communication and Collaboration
Communication and collaboration are key components of any elementary teaching position. Teachers must work to develop communication plans that allow them to stay in contact with parents. In fact, some teachers rely on communication apps and email to provide parents with additional information about current lessons, classroom needs and ways parents can get involved in classroom life.
In addition, elementary teachers should actively work to collaborate with colleagues to share ideas, discuss available resources and develop engaging teaching plans that promote consistency throughout the school building.
Professional Development
Not only are teachers required to complete professional development programs to maintain their teaching licenses, but they also should participate in this type of programming to learn more about the latest technology in education, the best practices in teaching and emerging trends that will impact the education sector. Professional development promotes reflective practice, which allows teachers to consider their strengths, mistakes they have made and how they can grow in the future.
Extracurricular Involvement
Teachers play a vital role in the school community, with many elementary educators participating in extracurricular activities that enhance the school environment. They may be responsible for overseeing clubs or planning school events, with teachers choosing to lead activities that align with their personal interests.
Fostering a Positive Learning Environment
While plenty of teachers find joy in decorating their classrooms or developing creative lesson plans, they find that the most valuable aspect of their job is creating an inclusive classroom environment. By actively working to create a safe space where all students feel like they belong, teachers can effectively support social and emotional learning inside their classrooms.
Benefits of Earning an Elementary Education Degree
For most teachers, education is not a profession — it’s a calling. These are just a few of the benefits associated with earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education:
Personal Fulfillment
Being a teacher is not an easy job. In fact, many would say it is one of the most challenging jobs that exists. However, it is also an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding career. Teachers have a direct impact on the lives of the students they teach, and they find that nothing quite compares to the feeling of knowing that they have helped a young child learn something new, discover their own voice or build on their strengths. Teachers have opportunities each and every day to build meaningful and lasting relationships with their students as well as their families.
Job Stability and Demand
Due to the shifting nature of the educational landscape, there has never been a greater demand for qualified and passionate elementary education teachers. While the typical elementary education teacher requirements include a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, there are opportunities for career advancement in the field, particularly when teachers earn a master’s degree.
Opportunities for Professional Growth
The vast majority of students who graduate with an elementary education degree go on to teach in classrooms, but there are opportunities for professional growth. Some elementary teachers choose to specialize in niche areas, allowing them to pursue a career as a librarian, art teacher, music teacher or STEM teacher. In addition, they may go on to leadership positions within their building, such as a student behavior specialist or an interventionist.
How to Choose a Degree in Elementary Education
If you are interested in a career as an elementary teacher, the first thing you need to do is pursue a degree in elementary education. These are the steps you need to take to select the right online elementary education degree for you:
1. Assess Your Career Goals and Interests
As you begin your search for the right elementary education degree, you will want to reflect on your personal interests in the field of teaching and your goals for your career. This will help you identify a program that offers the curriculum you need to reach your goals.
2. Research Accreditation and Program Quality
It’s essential to select an accredited elementary education program, as most schools will only hire teachers who graduate with an elementary education degree from an accredited institution. Accreditation provides you with the reassurance you need to know that you are investing in a valuable, relevant education degree program.
3. Explore Curriculum and Coursework
Within each degree program, you will find a vast range of curriculum requirements and coursework. It’s crucial to select an elementary education degree program that offers relevant coursework, such as classes that introduce teachers to the realities of the field within the modern educational landscape and courses that focus specifically on developing a positive environment in the classroom. Additionally, you should prioritize degree programs that allow you to complete observational hours and educational internships, as these programs provide you with the hands-on experience needed to begin your career as an elementary teacher.
4. Consider Online vs. On-Campus Programs
With both online and on-campus programs available, you will want to consider your own availability and outside commitments as you choose your degree program. Both kinds of programs offer various benefits, including the flexibility to juggle online classwork and a full-time job, or receive the true on-campus college experience by engaging in a traditional classroom setting. The choice is yours.
5. Financial Considerations
Aspiring teachers may find that there are scholarships available as well as additional financial aid, and the financial support that you receive may impact the degree program that you choose.
6. Investigate Certification Requirements
All teachers must earn their teaching license after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, making it important to choose a degree program that aligns with the existing requirements and prepares you for certification.
7. Evaluate Support Services and Resources
Depending on the college you choose, you may find that there are different support services and resources available. Selecting a college with personalized support services and dynamic resources can help improve your chances of success within your degree program.
8. Visit Campuses and Talk to Faculty
Before you make your final decision, be sure to visit the campuses of the colleges you are considering and meet with faculty members within the elementary education program. This can help you select a school and degree program that aligns with your career goals and personal values.
Become an Elementary Education Teacher with Baker College
At Baker College, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that uniquely prepares students to take on the challenges of the modern educational landscape. With a curriculum program that prioritizes subject area, teaching methodologies and classroom management, our bachelor’s degree in elementary education allows aspiring teachers to enter their new classrooms with confidence. Request more information about our online elementary education degree today.