What Does it Take to Be a Kindergarten Teacher?
Kindergarten Teacher Definition Teach elemental natural and social science, personal hygiene, music, art, and literature to kindergarten students. Promote physical, mental, and social development. May be required to hold State certification.
Life As a Kindergarten Teacher: What Do They Do?
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.
- Perform administrative duties, such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate children’s progress.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
- Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
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Kindergarten Teacher Required Skills
These are the skills Kindergarten Teachers say are the most useful in their careers:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
- Art Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Kindergarten Classroom Teacher
Job Demand for Kindergarten Teachers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 154,400 jobs in the United States for Kindergarten Teacher. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,300 new jobs for Kindergarten Teacher by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 16,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Kindergarten Teacher are Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Connecticut, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten Teachers make between $35,680 and $86,310 a year.
Kindergarten Teachers who work in Connecticut, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Kindergarten Teachers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,790 |
| Alaska | $62,660 |
| Arizona | $44,670 |
| Arkansas | $46,180 |
| California | $69,690 |
| Colorado | $50,020 |
| Connecticut | $77,220 |
| Delaware | $60,140 |
| District of Columbia | $54,940 |
| Florida | $50,400 |
| Georgia | $54,080 |
| Hawaii | $36,170 |
| Idaho | $50,790 |
| Illinois | $55,660 |
| Indiana | $51,290 |
| Iowa | $53,200 |
| Kansas | $51,230 |
| Kentucky | $54,510 |
| Louisiana | $50,540 |
| Maine | $52,710 |
| Maryland | $67,170 |
| Massachusetts | $75,510 |
| Michigan | $59,140 |
| Minnesota | $60,580 |
| Mississippi | $43,110 |
| Missouri | $51,630 |
| Montana | $52,730 |
| Nebraska | $59,490 |
| Nevada | $56,280 |
| New Hampshire | $56,710 |
| New Jersey | $67,400 |
| New Mexico | $53,780 |
| New York | $79,410 |
| North Carolina | $46,490 |
| North Dakota | $53,440 |
| Ohio | $59,750 |
| Oklahoma | $40,120 |
| Oregon | $72,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,510 |
| Rhode Island | $65,530 |
| South Carolina | $52,540 |
| South Dakota | $41,900 |
| Tennessee | $50,160 |
| Texas | $54,780 |
| Utah | $48,320 |
| Vermont | $59,560 |
| Virginia | $65,550 |
| Washington | $62,330 |
| West Virginia | $47,370 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 |
| Wyoming | $57,390 |
What Tools do Kindergarten Teachers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Kindergarten Teachers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Children’s educational software
How do I Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Kindergarten Teacher?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Kindergarten Teachers Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Kindergarten Teachers employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Kindergarten Teacher might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Kindergarten Teacher sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Vgrigas via Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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