Elementary School Teachers

Career summary

#match with 8455, check 3/3/15 lh

Elementary school teachers usually teach one class of about 25 children. Sometimes they teach combined grades or subjects. Younger elementary children study subjects such as:

• Writing
• Reading
• Counting

Older elementary children learn subjects like:

• History
• Math
• English

Elementary school teachers usually teach one class of about 25 children. Sometimes they teach combined grades or subjects. Younger elementary children study subjects such as:

• Writing
• Reading
• Counting

Older elementary children learn subjects like:

• History
• Math
• English

Elementary school teachers teach social skills to children in all grades.

Teachers use audio-visual aids, computers, and paper handouts to help children learn. Sometimes they show films or videos or take children on field trips. They may teach students one-on-one or in groups. They organize the desks, bulletin boards, and computer stations to assist learning.

Elementary school teachers record student attendance each day. They create daily lesson plans based on school or state requirements.

Teachers assign homework and grade assignments. They keep records of grades on tests and homework. They evaluate each child's performance and write progress reports for parents. They maintain records for school administrators. They also record information about behavior problems and disciplinary actions.

Teachers meet with parents to discuss student progress or problems. Sometimes teachers work with parents or other family members to make sure children complete their work.

Teachers supervise activities on playgrounds and in cafeterias. They develop rules for safety and classroom behavior and make sure children follow them.

Some elementary school teachers teach subjects such as art or music. Art teachers lead art projects, order supplies, and help children develop creative skills. Music teachers lead singing groups and teach music skills. Sometimes they lead bands.

Other teachers teach physical education to help children develop physical coordination. Often, these teachers work at several schools. Many teachers coordinate volunteer groups and oversee special projects in addition to their regular duties.

Teachers meet regularly with other staff members to discuss school issues. They work with parent volunteers in the classroom. Teachers also attend in-service trainings to update their skills.

Related careers

This career is part of the Education and Training cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Employee Training Specialists
• High School Teachers
• Librarians
• Middle School Teachers
• Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
• School Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Special Education Teachers
• Speech Pathologists and Audiologists
• Teacher Aides

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to elementary school teachers.

• Develop teaching outlines and lesson plans.
• Teach subjects to children, both individually and in groups. Observe how they react to material and their overall performance.
• Create rules for behavior and make sure children follow them.
• Keep records of student attendance and academic results.
• Assign homework.
• Grade tests and assignments.
• Supervise recess activities.
• Write progress reports and meet with parents.
• Organize classroom materials such as handouts, audio-visuals, and computer displays
• Organize desks, bulletin boards, and computer stations.
• Counsel children having difficulty. Work with families when necessary.
• Teach art, music, or physical education classes.
• Meet with other teachers and staff members.
• Coordinate parent volunteers in classroom.
• Attend in-service training.

Common work activities

Elementary school teachers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Get information needed to do the job
• Teach others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Coach others
• Think creatively
• Develop goals and strategies
• Assist and care for others
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Develop and build teams
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Document and record information
• Schedule work and activities
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Use computers
• Analyze data or information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Process information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Perform for or work with the public
• Explain the meaning of information to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, elementary school teachers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a very high level of social interaction. They work with children, parents, and other teachers.
• Communicate with people face-to-face on a daily basis. They also communicate by phone, e-mail, letters, and memos, usually on a weekly basis.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of the children in their school.
• Are placed in conflict situations where parents and students might become angry or unpleasant on a weekly basis.
• Usually work as part of a team of educators.

Physical work conditions

• Usually work indoors in classrooms. However, they sometimes teach outdoors or supervise playgrounds.
• Work very near others, within a few feet or less. Working with young children often entails close contact.
• Are exposed to diseases and infections, such as colds and influenza, on a weekly basis.
• Are exposed to loud sounds and high noise levels on a weekly basis.

Work performance

• Must be accurate and complete all details of the job. Errors or oversights may delay student learning.
• Often repeat the same activities.
• Make decisions that strongly impact the school's reputation. Parents often rely on word-of-mouth when making decisions about their children's education.
• Make decisions that affect parents and students on a weekly basis. They are able to make most of their decisions without consulting another first.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor.
• Operate by strict weekly and daily deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work nine months during the year and have summers off. Some teach summer school.
• May work part time or full time. Most work full time.

Physical demands

Elementary school teachers frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.

It is important for elementary school teachers to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for elementary school teachers to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.

Skills and abilities

Elementary school teachers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Elementary Education and Teaching

Other programs of study to consider

• Child Development
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Early Childhood Education and Teaching
• Education Administration
• Education of the Gifted
• Education, General
• Educational Psychology
• Middle School Education and Teaching
• Multilingual and Multicultural Education
• Special Education
• Teacher Assisting
• Teaching English as a Second Language

Training

To work as an elementary school teacher, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have at least a bachelor's degree;
• complete an approved teacher training program;
• complete a student teacher internship; and
• pass a state licensing exam.

Education after high school

To teach in a public elementary school, you must have at least a bachelor's degree from an approved teacher education program. Teaching programs include courses in early childhood development, reading and math instruction, and child guidance.

Many states require that teachers have (or be in the process of working on) a master's degree. This usually involves one additional year of coursework after completing a bachelor's degree.

To renew your teaching license, you need to take additional courses in education. Many teachers do this during the summer months.

Private elementary schools may not require that teachers have a bachelor's degree in education.

On-the-job training

Before graduating from a teacher education program, you work as a student teacher. Student teachers work in elementary school classrooms with experienced teachers. In the beginning, you observe the teacher and classroom. Later, you teach on your own.

In your first year as a teacher you may receive additional on-the-job training. This generally takes the form of extra supervision by the principal or another teacher.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Teacher Assisting
• Public Speaking
• Psychology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Public schools require that teachers have a degree in education and a teaching license. Employers look for teachers who have patience and high standards of personal conduct. They also look for people who enjoy working with children.

Private schools may not require a degree or teaching license. If based on a religion, a school may require that teachers have a background in a particular faith. Other schools may require teachers to have some training in their philosophy of education.

Some employers look for teachers who are bilingual.

Tips

Special education courses may be helpful to teachers because many disabled students are included in regular classroom courses. Student teaching is also helpful and is required in many areas. Work as a volunteer or teacher assistant, or in a youth camp, day care center, church nursery, or school. Willingness to relocate improves your chances of finding employment. Working as a substitute teacher or joining a professional association is also helpful.

Experience or training in a specialty such as computer technology or early childhood education may be beneficial. Upon entering a teaching program, get into the classroom as soon, and as often, as possible. Teachers must enjoy the challenges of working with children and be prepared for long hours and relatively low pay.

Costs to workers

Some teachers may be required to join a union and pay quarterly dues. Teachers usually pay for their own continuing education classes.

Licensing/certification

All public and private school teachers must be certified by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The certification for a new teacher who is completing or has completed an in-state teacher training program is the residency first issue teacher certificate.

Requirements for a residency first issue certificate for entry-level teachers include:

• being age 18 or older;
• evidence of good moral character and personal fitness;
• a bachelor's degree from regionally accredited college or university;
• completion of an approved college/university teacher education program, which includes teaching methodology, content, and an internship;
• completion of a major (60-quarter hours or 40-semester hours) in one of six broad endorsement areas (the arts, English/language arts, health-fitness, mathematics, science, or social studies);
• passing a basic skills test;
• passing a content test on the subject matter for each endorsement; and
• submission of an application and paying a fee.

The first issue certificate is good for five years. Teaching must take place at a state approved public or private school.  To renew the residency certificate, 100 hours of approved continuing education, including 10 hours of STEM related training, must be completed every five years.

School districts may require a background check and fingerprinting for employment, even if the applicant has a certificate granted by the State. Fingerprinting is available at any of the nine regional Educational Service District (ESD) offices. Each ESD may add an additional processing fee.

For more information on certification, contact:

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction 

Professional Education and Certification 
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
360.725.6400

#Checked 3/26/18; changed ce hrs to 100 from 150, rest looks ok, cj. Modified licensing text content based on rewrite done spring 2018. If want to see/use prior content it is stored at W:\IA\Occupations\Pre Aug 2018 Licensing Content for Teachers, 8/22/18 cj. no changes here 1/27/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The average base salary paid to elementary teachers, working about 180 days per year in Washington public schools, is $54,372 per year.

#OSPI base elementary home room teacher 3/14/19

Because teachers usually work a ten-month year, their wages are reported annually.

Teachers who have advanced degrees earn the most money. Teachers can earn more money by teaching in the summer.

Teachers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health and life insurance, a retirement plan, and sick leave. Some teachers get sabbatical leave.

Over half of all public school teachers belong to unions -- mainly the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. These unions negotiate with employers regarding wages, hours, and conditions of employment.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

In Washington, the outlook depends on state and local funding for education and the growth in student enrollment.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Public and private elementary schools

National outlook

Demand will be good for elementary teachers as the overall student enrollment in elementary schools is expected to increase. However, the growth rate varies by area of the country. States in the South and West--particularly Arizona, Texas, Nevada, and Georgia--will have a large increase in the number of students. However, states in the Midwest are expected to hold steady, and states in the Northeast are projected to have declines.

Another reason that demand is growing is that teacher-student ratios are declining.

Many openings will occur as current teachers retire. Demand for teachers is high in inner city schools because crime is higher and wages are usually lower. Job opportunities will be best for teachers who are willing to relocate or who are bilingual.

Other resources

American Federation of Teachers 
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.879.4400

BLS 2018 Career Outlook for teachers 

Education World 

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 
1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
703.465.2700

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 
1906 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
800.235.7566
703.620.9840

National Education Association 
1201 - 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.833.4000

National Science Teachers Association 
1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
703.243.7100

Student Program Make It Happen - Teach 
(National Education Association resource)

Washington Education Association 
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063-9100
800.622.3393
253.941.6700

Washington Federation of Teachers 
625 Andover Park West, Suite 111
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.242.4777

References

Career cluster

• Education and Training

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (25-2021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Teacher, Elementary School (092.227-010) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Elementary School Teacher
• Physical Education Teacher

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Artistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Service Professional