How Do I Become a Kindergarten Teacher?
Do you want to help young children learn the basics of reading and writing? Are you interested in teaching? If so, becoming a kindergarten teacher may be right for you. To become a kindergarten teacher you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree in education, complete teacher training and get licensed. Schools offering Early Childhood Education degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Kindergarten Teacher Education
A bachelor's degree in education can prepare you for becoming a kindergarten teacher. You could earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Birth-Kindergarten Education, or a B.S. or B.A. in Early Childhood Education. Coursework includes the psychology of learning and philosophy of education, along with basic courses in areas like math, English and art. You'll learn how to involve a child's family with their education and teach in a multi-cultural classroom. Integrating technology into teaching and in selecting appropriate materials are also part of the curriculum.
Training
In addition to your bachelor's degree in education, you'll need to complete student-teacher training to gain hands-on experience in the classroom. The length of your teacher training will depend on the state you work in, but all states require some supervised in-classroom training for public school teachers.
Licensure
After you complete your education and training requirements, you'll need to be licensed to teach in a public school. However, licensure may not be required to teach in a private school. Specific licensure requirements vary by state, but typically require the completion of a bachelor's degree, a teacher-training program, student teaching experience and most states require you to pass a competency exam. The Praxis exam is a commonly used tool to assess teachers competency in writing and reading. Some states will require you to have an endorsement for early childhood or kindergarten education.
Employment and Earnings Info
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 173,330 people were employed as kindergarten teachers in May 2010 (www.bls.gov). The average annual salary for kindergarten teachers was $51,550, with the top earning ten percent making $76,490 or more and the bottom earning ten percent making $31,720 or less. The BLS also predicted that there would be a 15% occupational growth for kindergarten teachers between the years 2008-2018.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
Subscribe to RSS feed for
Early Childhood Education FAQs
