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Elementary Teacher Career Research Paper

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Elementary School Teacher Research Paper

An Elementary teacher is responsible for instructing students in school from grades K-5. They create lesson plans, administer praise and constructive criticism, instruct students on subjects such as science, literature, and math, and create a well-rounded, comprehensive instructional program.
Tasks:
The primary responsibilities consist of a large list. They must create instructional for use in the classroom. They have to plan, prepare, and distribute instructional activities. Create a positive climate for the students to learn in. Meet the course and student-wide performance goals. Participate in on-going training sessions. Create lesson plans and modify accordingly throughout the year. Maintain the grade books. Grade papers and perform other administrative duties as needed. Create projects in order to enhance lectures. Read and stay abreast of current topics in education. Create lesson plans. Utilize various curriculum resources. Utilize curricula that reflect the diverse educational, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of the students served. Observe and evaluate student’s performance. Manage student behavior in the classroom by invoking approved disciplinary procedures.
Conditions:
The general working conditions can be quite ideal depending on certain circumstances. You get summer off, and always are out of the school building around 5pm, depending on how late you plan to stay at the school after class session has ended for the day. It is always nice to have summers off as well. But there are a few downsides to being a teacher that each person must consider before entering the field of teaching.

Being a teacher can be very stressful at times. Teachers spend a large portion of their teaching time trying to cultivate their students. Teachers try to create good study habits, healthy attitudes, and the motivation to want to succeed in school. These factors are greatly controlled by the atmosphere outside of school, such as; parental factors, economic factors, and stress at home.

Teaching can also be a physical strain on the body. Teachers spend most of their time standing and lecturing students in the front of the class. The only real break a teacher gets is when the kids go for lunch and out for recess.

Teachers spend a lot of their time outside of the classroom performing their job as well. They are grading papers or projects at home or late at the school. Depending on the number of students and the effort the teacher puts in to fully grade an assignment, they could be looking at hours of grading. Not only that but they also have to plan lessons, and plan projects.

Requirements: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a bachelor's degree in elementary education is the benchmark requirement for employment at public and private schools. This degree must be obtained from an accredited teaching college or university as defined by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

Future elementary education teachers gain theoretical and practical teaching expertise by completing undergraduate degree programs in elementary education. Bachelor's degree programs lay a strong educational foundation and prepare graduates to sit for licensing examinations upon graduation.

All teachers, including elementary, require state licensure in order to teach at public schools in the U.S. Requirements vary in all 50 states, but most licenses are contingent upon completion of an accredited bachelor's degree program and an approved student-teacher experience as well as successful passage of any state-mandated teaching examinations.

Elementary teachers may seek licensure for grades K-3 or grades 1-6. Additional certification is necessary if elementary teachers specialize in literacy, speech or special education. Licensed teachers are required to complete continuing education credits each renewal cycle in order to maintain certification. Additionally, the BLS reports that many states require teachers to obtain a master's degree in education within a limited timeframe.

Voluntary national certification is also available through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. According to the BLS, all states recognize this certification and may offer salary and benefit incentives for those who certify nationally. This certification also allows teachers to carry their state license from one state to another.

An example in Minnesota where a person could go to get their certification is North Central University. There they can get their bachelor’s degree in elementary teaching or a major in elementary teaching. Another example would be at St.Cloud State University where they can go to get their bachelor’s or major in elementary teaching. It could take about 4 years to achieve their certification.

Opportunities:
Elementary teachers are bound by continuing education requirements that encourage professional development beyond their existing degree. Some teachers meet these requirements by taking professional seminars or workshops offered through their school district. Others may choose to pursue a master's degree program in elementary education. Either way, elementary teachers must always foster an organized and inspirational atmosphere for learning and maintain an open line of communications between teachers, parents and administrators.

Salary/Benefits:
An Elementary School Teacher earns an average salary of $41,072 per year. Skills that are associated with high pay for this job are Oral / Verbal Communication, Bilingual, Special Education, Reading, and People Management. Experience has a moderate effect on income for this job.

This means on average a teacher has a monthly salary of $3,423. This means that on an average high teachers get paid $18.50-$20.50 every hour. Since they work about 8 hours a day on average they make $148-$164 dollars a day. These are only national averages though; the actual school system and employment can affect greatly how much a teacher gets paid.

Benefits of include medical, dental, and vision care. They also include referral-free access to doctors, routine preventative care, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance and wellness programs. Some extras, depending on the school, include family planning services, vaccinations (i.e. flu shots), and life insurance. The teacher’s school district will also provide them with retirement benefits. These benefits usually include employer-supported pension plans and 403(b) investment accounts.

Natural Abilities/Values: A teacher needs the desire to want to share knowledge with others. They must be able to challenge, inspire, motivate, and encourage students. They need to naturally be able to support and guide future leaders. They will value making a difference in an individual's life. They will feel pride in their own and as well as their students accomplishments. Have a value in obtaining more knowledge themselves. Lecture on material that interests them as well as material that may not interest them. Most importantly they must value respect and staying true to themselves.

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