"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.”
–Forest Witcraft (Professor of Denison University and Boy Scout administrator)
There are not many people that are able to say this. However, the profession of being an elementary school teacher gives the teacher the satisfaction of being able to have one of the most emotionally rewarding jobs in the world. Elementary school teachers guide children through a vital point in their lives. They help set the young students' foundations to prepare them for their future schooling in junior and senior high. Although being an elementary school teacher pays little and can be tiring or stressful, this career is still worth pursuing because teachers touch the lives of children.
According to the article "Elementary School Teachers," elementary school teaching started during 100 B.C. in Judah. It goes on to say that the children there were taught for religious training. As time passed, elementary schools became more common. In early Western towns, teachers would teach kids, sometimes ranging from first grade all the way to eighth grade, in one single classroom (“Elementary School Teachers,” Ferguson’s). Kids learned the same material despite their age differences (“Elementary School Teachers,” Ferguson’s). Teachers were also not properly trained. The only requirement for becoming a teacher was finishing elementary school (“Elementary School Teachers,” Ferguson’s). In 1823, the first normal school (a school that trains teachers) was opened in Concord, Vermont (“Elementary School Teachers,” Career Clusters). Nowadays ...
... middle of paper ...
... in other careers. Success is not defined by how much money one can earn. Rather, it is based on the achievement of a personal goal. When teachers are able to see the fruit of their labor in a student’s progress, they know they have reached a point of success.
Works Cited
Ecahore-McDavid, Susan. “Elementary School Teacher.” Ferguson's Career Guidance Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Echaore-McDavid, Susan. "Schoolteacher." Ferguson's Career Guidance Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
“Elementary School Teachers.” Exploring Career Clusters Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
“Elementary School Teachers.” Ferguson's Career Guidance Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
“Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Elementary School teacher, a professional educator for grades k-5, is a career I wish to pursue because I want to teach children the building blocks of education, love the energy and excitement that younger children give off, and want to be able to help children with special challenges. I have wanted to be an elementary school teacher for about three years now, I knew I wanted to pursue this occupation because there are many benefits to being an educator, and have always worked with children well. Some challenges are I will have to get a bachelor 's degree and have to complete a state licensing exam (“preparation 1”)
Some basic knowledge an elementary teacher will need to have is English language skills and an understanding of philosophy and religion. They will als...
Expectations for Teachers. Teachers College Record. 106(3), 487-513. Retrieved April 21, 2004, from Academic Search/EBSCO database.
Elementary teachers are more than baby sitters. They teach kids age’s six to twelve, multiple different subjects. Some of the subjects taught by one teacher include, but are not limited to: art, science, social studies, math, reading, music, and even gym. As an elementary school teacher you need to have the entire package. Elaine Briffin, 1995 National Teacher of the Year states,” Nothing could be more adventurous than helping students learn to teach themselves” (“The Teaching Career...
Teaching is one of the most well-known professions all around the world. However, it is also extremely underestimated, especially when it comes to teaching elementary school students. Jenny Peters, writer of the article Confessions of An Elementary School Teacher, observes that it is indeed a “challenging career” that in the end has “immeasurable rewards” (1). However, no matter what you have to do, it seems as though those rewards overrule anything and everything as long as your heart is in it, not only for the students, but for the drive to teach them and lead them to bigger and brighter futures.
Early childhood teachers also have the satisfaction of having a career in one of the most respected professions in our society. They will have to fulfillment of knowing that what they do makes a difference.
Early childhood educators have a vital role in supporting development in young children. However, the needs of students are ever-changing and evolving to match demands of our current society. Because of this, teachers need to adapt and alter their teaching practices to match what students need to learn and how they should learn. Teachers do not have an innate understanding about education, teaching practice and what students are needing, instead teachers need to pursue further education in order to stay relevant and current in today’s education system. Teacher education is necessary for the success of students. The reforming and critiquing of past teacher education is needed as the demands of the classroom differ and the ability to teach and learn literacy is being impaired.
Through my own experiences, and as enforced by others' opinions in the profession, I have found that teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. Not only are you placed in the position of instructing and guiding children and young adults through the life long learning process, but you are able to give back to the schools and communities which have supported your early education and experiences that opened you up to a bright future. In becoming an educator, I hope to someday share the knowledge and lend the helping, supportive hand that I was once given, allowing students to formulate their own perspectives of the multicultural society and world around them. Teaching is a career I have been interested in pursuing throughout high school, and as my experiences and study in the field expands, I feel that my desire to teach will grow stronger and develop more soundly.
Meyer, Warren. "The Teacher Salary Myth - Are Teachers Underpaid?." Forbes. N.p., 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 5 Apr. 2014. .
At seven years old, I was dressed in my brand new Punky Brewster sneakers, had my seventy count marker set, and new backpack; I was ready for the second grade! I will never forget the nerves of the first day of school, the smell of a brand new box of crayons, or my teacher. It was in that very moment that I knew what I was meant to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Fast-forward almost thirty years; my life has taken many unexpected turns along the way. I have been married and divorced. I have become a mom to three amazingly annoying monsters. I have moved from the warm comforts of Texas to the frozen tundra called New York. One thing has remained constant throughout my life, fulfilling a life long dream.
Many people on this earth grow up saying they would like to make a difference in this world. However, half of those people do not feel like putting in the work in order to do so. As an elementary education major, making a difference is one of the main goals. There are many benefits of becoming a teacher, and students benefit as well. In order to have many students successfully graduate from one grade to the next a teacher should be willing to put in as much work that is needed. Elementary school is where children are set up for the rest of their education. It is important to understand how to go into this career field, becoming a teacher has its own benefits, and the children are able to benefit from teachers.
It’s hours upon hours of grading tests, quizzes, essays, and much more. It’s interacting with the students, understanding how students think and learn, and most importantly, knowing how to prepare students for their future, whether it be going straight to college after graduation, to the world of work, or to the military. Being a teacher is caring for kids and students and pushing each child to be the best person he or she can be. ¨… one theme runs consistently throughout every great teacher’s career: their job does not end with the school day… Great teachers motivate, inspire and lead. They interact with their community to affect positive change through their students and themselves. Great teachers change lives,” (“What Does a Teacher
Teaching is a daunting task that I do not intend to take lightly. Becoming a teacher has been a dream of mine for several years. I always knew that teaching would be the career for me, especially when I began working in the school system as a substitute secretary. I loved working in the school environment; coming in contact with children everyday made me realize how much I would enjoy teaching a classroom full of students.
All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified(BLS.gov,Web). Those who teach in private schools are generally not required to be licensed. High school teachers typically are awarded a secondary or high school certification(BLS.gov,Web). This allows them to teach the 7-12th grade. Requirements for certification will change by what state you are in. However, all states require that teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree. States require completing a teacher preparation program and supervised experience in teaching, typically gained through student teaching(BLS.gov). States usually require candidates to pass a teaching certification test, on top of test that shows their knowledge in the subject they will teach later
Klicka, C. (2003). The Myth of Teacher Qualifications. Obtained from the internet on November 8, 2003. http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000002/00000214.asp