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Career Profile: Kindergarten Teacher

Why Is Kindergarten Teaching a Job of Tomorrow?
The need to start children's schooling off with a strong foundation, teaching them their shapes, colors, letters and numbers, will never diminish. Because of their crucial role, kindergarten teachers will remain in demand. Employment opportunities for kindergarten teachers are expected to rise 16 percent, 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 such as counting and recognizing letters, colors and shapes. Kindergarten teachers usually have a single class that they work with for the entire school year. As kindergarten is the first time when education begins to take precedence over play time, teachers are charged with the duty of making the educational experience a positive one that students enjoy.

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 student will teach such as phonetics and writing, as well as classroom methods and the psychology of learning. Public school teachers must be licensed to teach, but the requirements vary among states. Individual private schools set their own teacher requirements.