Exploring A Career Analysis Of Elementary Teaching

Career Analysis of Elementary Teaching

INTRODUCTION

It takes a special kind of person to be an elementary school teacher. The amount of hard work, patience, and expertise that goes into teaching young children is often underestimated and undervalued in American society. When one is thinking about becoming an educator, it is important to identify the reasons behind their desire to teach. Fully understanding both the enjoyable and challenging elements of the occupation can also make it clear whether or not it is the right career choice. While some negatives do exist, there are so many rewarding aspects that come with teaching. After the decision is made, it is necessary to becoming certified in order to be able to legally teach in a public school.

A pro that many teachers acknowledge is being able to broaden the educational horizons of the young learners and knowing that it has an impact on future generations. Leanne Stover declares that the most rewarding parts of the job are the relationships formed with the students and being able to watch them find their passions and become more inquisitive (Stover). While teaching can be very gratifying, the job is not without its difficulties and challenges. Young students have not fully developed their listening and social skills, so it can be difficult to maintain a calm and successful learning environment. Eric Gill gives further examples stating that some of the biggest challenges of the job include effectually following the bureaucratic rules and guidelines set by the school and trying to teach in a classroom where the students are at all different educational levels (par.61). The difficulty of a wide range of educational levels stems from the possibility that less academically inclined students may find lessons too hard and become frustrated while more gifted students may feel bored and restricted because they already know the content. These challenges prove difficult for some, but many teachers agree that the pros far outweigh the

A bachelor 's degree is the minimum level of education required in order to become a certified elementary school teacher. This is largely because teachers are expected to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects so they can effectively pass on that information to their students. In some cases, teachers may choose to pursue a master 's degree or a even a doctorate. Doctorate degrees are much less common in this field and are only necessary if the person eventually wants to apply for a higher position, such as principal or superintendent. Also, it is common for elementary education majors to spend their senior year of college student-teaching in an actual classroom under the supervision of an experienced teacher. The last credential required to work in any public school is a teacher 's license. The Learn How to Become website notes that a teacher’s license is obtained by passing both the Praxis I and Praxis II exams. Each of the 40 states that use Praxis exams have different expectations for a passing score. (“How to Become a Teacher”, par.