The Education You Need to Teach Elementary School

Teaching is a job that is almost always in demand, and one of the most popular and rewarding fields to pursue within education is elementary education. Most elementary school teachers become trained and certified through a bachelor's program, which trains teachers to have a broad-based knowledge in a variety of subjects such as math, reading, and science, as well as teaches them educational pedagogy and certifies them to teach in a classroom setting professionally.

It is important when you go into this field that you understand what requirements are mandatory, since you are not only earning a traditional degree, you are also becoming certified and licensed. This means that strict standards are in place to make sure you are a competent professional as well as have earned an elementary education degree.

Job Requirements
An elementary school teacher is trained and certified to teach grades K through sixth a variety of subjects. Unlike a degree in secondary education which focuses on a single subject, an elementary education degree requires that you have a broad knowledge of subjects such as language arts, science, math, and history. You will need to learn how to teach these subjects to various grade levels, since elementary teachers' educations don't specialize on a certain grade level and you may be asked to move around to different grade levels, even within your employ at one school. Not only do you need to have a good working knowledge of various subjects, you will also need to understand the specifics of how to teach, which educational philosophies work best, and the fundamentals of child psychology.

Educational Requirements
An elementary school teacher's education is broad, and requires not only many hours within the college or university classroom, but hours spent in actual schools as well, both as an observer in practicum and as a student teacher. Each state's requirements for teacher licensure vary, so your experience may be different than others, depending in which state you wish to teach.

You will have to take basic classes in a variety of subjects such as English, math, science, and history, ensuring you have an adequate knowledge base in each of these areas. The other large component of your elementary teacher education will be taking specific educational classes. These classes will help you learn many things, including: educational philosophy, childhood psychology, technology in teaching, how to construct lesson plans and units, how to write and grade tests, how to effectively lead and discipline in a classroom, as well as various teaching techniques for different subjects.

Your homework will vary from papers and tests to more practical things like writing a lesson and unit, constructing visual aids like bulletin boards, and creating learning activities on computers and smart boards to effectively teach in the 21^st century. By the end of your education, you will have an impressive portfolio of work which you can show to prospective employers, as well as use in your new teaching job.

Licensure and Certification Requirements
The most confusing thing about becoming a teacher is obtaining licensure. Currently, there is no federal mandate for educational licensure; instead, the requirements vary by state. Usually, you will graduate having met the requirements for the state in which your college or university is located, even if you don't plan on teaching there. If you are open to job opportunities across the country, this can be even more frustrating as you try to figure out how your licensure matches up with the state in which you're applying for jobs.

Click here to find all fifty states' teacher certification requirements. Know that these requirements can and do change, so once you've gotten a general idea, search for the specific state's requirements to make sure your list is up to date.

If you are open to studying around the country, it may be wise to choose a college or university in a state with stricter requirements; this will help ensure that you are, if anything, over-qualified rather than under. If your job search lands you in a state with different requirements for licensure than what you graduated with, know that in most cases it's fairly simple to get recertified within that state. In most cases, it's no tougher than taking a test or two. In some states, you may be required to fill in the gaps with a class. However, this can usually be taken care of in the summer months before you start your job, posing no real threat to your future employment.

When you are done, you will have earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, as well as certification and licensure for your state. Most programs can be completed in four years' time, though because of the extra out-of-classroom work of practicum observation and a semester of student teaching, some choose to stretch their education into four-and-a-half to five years. As you learn about the specific requirements of your chosen school, you can map out a plan that works best for you. No matter what, you'll graduate armed and ready to teach elementary school.