Kindergarten Teacher
Why Is Kindergarten Teaching a Job of Tomorrow?
Education will always be resistant to volatile trends. No matter
if the economy is struggling or booming, or what the latest technological craze is, or which hot button issues have people impassioned, education will remain a steady constant in continuously changing times. The need for education will not diminish, as the population increases and more children are sent into kindergarten to learn important fundamental knowledge like counting skills, colors, and shapes. Enrollment rates for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are expected to increase ten percent from the 2005 figures for public schools by 2016, and six percent for private schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. More kindergarten teachers will be needed to teach the influx of new students. Employment opportunities for kindergarten teachers are expected to see a 16 percent increase by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Kindergarten teachers earn an average salary of $47,100 annually.
What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?
Kindergarten teachers are typically responsible for teaching children after pre-kindergarten and before they enter the first grade. They play an important role in developing a child’s intellect and work habits, as kindergarten is the first time they are exposed to learning basic skills like counting and recognizing letters, colors, and shapes. Kindergarten teachers impart on their students basic skills that the students will use throughout their entire lives, and upon which further education is built. Kindergarten teachers usually have a single class that they work with for the entire school year, developing a bond with every student so that each individual student receives the best educational experience possible. As kindergarten is the first time when education begins to take precedence over play time, teachers are charged with the duty to make the educational experience a positive one so that students equate school with a positive image and will enjoy the learning process.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
Kindergarten teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from an early childhood education program, though some states now offer alternative methods of obtaining a teaching license for those who did not earn their degree in teaching. A bachelor’s degree program takes about four years to complete, and the teaching program for kindergarten educators covers the courses the teacher will instruct, such as phonetics and writing, as well as teaching methods, the psychology of learning, and other relevant topics. Public school teachers must be licensed to teach, and the requirements for licensure vary between states. Private school teachers must adhere to the specific requirements set down by the school in which they teach.
