Educational Requirements for Future Elementary School Teachers Address Many Subject Areas

John Cotton Dana once said, "Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." That is certainly true of elementary school teachers. A teacher is continually on a quest for knowledge. The academic requirements for a degree in elementary education depend upon the state of residence. However, there are similarities across the nation.

Degree

A bachelor's degree is needed in order to be an elementary teacher in any state. Some states also mandate that teachers begin working toward their master's degrees as soon as they have been hired. As a Nevada teacher, I wasn't obliged to earn a master's degree. My decision to earn a master's, however, was to my advantage. I would not have advanced fully on the salary scale without it.

Licensing

All states require elementary teachers to be licensed in order to work in the public school system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensing is not a prerequisite in all private schools. Teachers must renew their licenses on a regular basis in order to remain in the classroom. This entails taking continuing education classes for the duration of the teaching career.

Coursework

Instructors in elementary school must teach many different subjects. Elementary education courses prescribe to that idea. Generally, the core education classes begin in the junior year of college. The curriculum might include classes on the teaching of math, social studies, science, music, art, and language arts. There will be a class on children's literature. Another component of the elementary education requirements relates to the foundations of education. You will take such courses as child psychology, child development, and the philosophy of education. Communication and public speaking courses play an important role. A minimum number of technology credits are required. One area that has notoriously been lacking in the elementary education curriculum is that of classroom management. However, if you can't control the class, you can't teach. Universities are increasingly becoming more adept at training in this area.

Practical Experience

Classroom observation is often included as part of the coursework for elementary teachers. They might be expected to visit various classrooms, record observations, and even teach lessons on occasion. At the very end of a four-year elementary teaching degree program, a prospective teacher generally student-teaches under the guidance of an experienced classroom instructor. She reports to the class five days per week. The object is to ultimately be able to completely take over the teaching toward the end of the experience. The length of student-teaching depends on the college, but often ranges from 12 to 16 weeks.

Expertise

You will learn a lot from your elementary education courses; however, even more knowledge can be acquired outside of those classes. Some of the best facets of my education came from observing, interacting with, and learning from fellow teachers. Your colleagues hold a wealth of knowledge. As a new teacher, you should tap into their expertise as often as possible.

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