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What is a Teacher?

A school teacher's primary role is to educate children (under the age of 18) in a variety of subjects and life skills.  Preschool and Kindergarten teachers prepare young students from the age of 3 by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading in preparation for them joining the more formal school environment. They help students to learn and apply important concepts and help them prepare for their future education.<...

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WORKING IN EDUCATION & TRAINING

What is a Teacher?

A school teacher's primary role is to educate children (under the age of 18) in a variety of subjects and life skills.  Preschool and Kindergarten teachers prepare young students from the age of 3 by teaching them basic subjects such as math and reading in preparation for them joining the more formal school environment. They help students to learn and apply important concepts and help them prepare for their future education.

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers usually teach up to fourth and fifth grade. However, in some schools teachers can teach sixth, seventh and eighth grade and vice versa.

In early years it is most common that you will just primarily teach one group of children (usually between 20 and 30 in number) for the majority of the academic year.  However it sometimes is possible to teach the same group of students for several years but you will still usually teach several subjects every day. 

Some kindergarten and primary school teachers teach together with special educational need teachers who work specifically with children with learning difficulties. The school teachers will work closely with a special education teacher to adjust timetables to students' needs and monitor their progress, and work with them in the classroom.  Therefore children with learning disabilities such as autism, autism spectrum disorders are now often to be able to be taught in traditional classes alongside their contemporaries.

Teachers that teach in middle school and high school tend to work in specialisation teams and teach various subjects such as mathematics, natural sciences, English, social sciences, history or history.  They will still teach in class sizes of around 20 - 30 people but will usually only focus on teaching one or two subjects to a range of age groups.  Teachers therefore have to be able to explain their discipline to children ranging in age from 11 to 18.  Teachers in middle school and high school may still have one class assigned to them on a regular basis which would be their home room class, and for this, the teacher tends to have more of a pastoral role.

Students are often now encouraged to learn through playing / experience so for example, teachers are expected to demonstrate how to conduct a scientific experiment and then let their students conduct the experiment themselves. Students work together to learn about the science behind the experiments and how they all solve problems together.  Many teachers use this method to help students understand abstract concepts, solve problems, and develop critical thinking skills.

While the students are not in the classroom, teachers meet with other teachers and staff, plan lessons, classwork and plan lessons and classwork.  A number of teachers also get involved in other roles outside teaching such as setting up websites and discussion forums to expand lessons outside the classroom. Some teachers maintain a website to communicate with parents about upcoming events such as the school's annual Christmas party or annual holiday party.

How to become a Teacher

Each state requires kindergarten and elementary school teachers within the public school system to have at least a bachelor's degree in elementary education. In addition, all teachers in public schools must have a state certificate or license.  The state also requires kindergarten to elementary school teachers to be trained in subjects such as math and science.  Preschool and elementary school teachers are typically certified to teach early childhood classes, which typically range from preschool to third grade, and elementary schools, which usually range from first to sixth, first and eighth grade. 

In addition to a bachelor's degree, you will need to complete a teacher preparation program and gain teaching experience typically acquired through student teaching. Certification requirements vary from country to country, but some states require a minimum grade average, while others do not.  Those who teach in private schools do not usually require a licence, but those schools are generally looking for a teacher with at least two years of teaching experience at a private school.

In a teacher training program, prospective teachers learn to present information to young students and work with them with different skills and backgrounds. Typically, high school, middle school, and elementary school students from across the state are enrolled in college teacher preparation programs.  These programs typically involve fieldwork, such as student teaching, as part of their education.  Most states require teachers to pass a background check, but some do not, such as New York, California and New Jersey.

As a general rule, kindergarten and elementary school teachers teach more than one subject and therefore must pass a content area test to obtain certification. States often require candidates to pass a test that demonstrates their knowledge of the subject in which they teach, as well as their skills in that subject.

Some states require teachers to complete a master's degree before receiving certification, and they must undergo annual training to retain their licenses. Some states offer alternative certification programs for people who already have a bachelor's degree but do not have the training required for certification. These alternative certification programs allow candidates to enter the classroom immediately after graduation under the supervision of an experienced teacher.

Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult, and working with them can be difficult. Teachers need to be able to keep up with their students physically, mentally and emotionally. Kindergarten and primary school teachers must also be able to explain difficult concepts so that younger pupils can understand them.  In addition, you must be able to involve your students in learning and support them in learning. In this role, less experienced teachers can improve their pedagogical skills, and an experienced teacher can mentor new teachers and guide them through the learning process.

Becoming a deputy headmaster or headmaster usually requires additional training in education, administration and management. With additional training and certificates, you can become a teacher or deputy principal or principal of a private or public school in the United States.

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