I am a kindergarten teacher, and I love it. There are so many reasons that I love this job: from the fun stories we tell in class to seeing the smiles on my student’s faces when they learn something new.
My school district has one of the highest standards for teaching in the state, and teachers need to be constantly learning and improving their practice. This is how I landed my dream job as a kindergarten teacher!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Gain insights into the steps to land your dream job as a kindergarten teacher. |
| Understand the importance of obtaining the required qualifications and certifications. |
| Learn about the essential skills needed to excel as a kindergarten teacher. |
| Discover effective strategies for creating engaging lesson plans for young students. |
| Find guidance on managing behavior and maintaining discipline in the classroom. |
| Explore ways to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for kindergarten students. |
| Get tips on showcasing your qualifications and experience in a standout resume. |
| Learn about common interview questions and how to prepare for a successful interview. |
Educate Yourself
As you begin to learn about the field of early childhood education and decide whether it’s right for you, it’s important to consider your options. You can get a degree in education with a specialty in kindergarten teaching or preschool teaching.
Or, if your chosen subject is not offered as an undergraduate major yet at your school, consider getting an undergraduate degree in another subject (like math), then going on for graduate work focused on that specific area of study.
There are also many other types of training programs available for those who wish to teach kindergarten: some involve internships or apprenticeships; others require intensive year-long programs at community colleges;
Still, others combine classroom learning with on-the-job experience over several years.
In any case, make sure that whatever program best fits your goals comes from an accredited school that has been approved by state education departments or national councils like NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education).
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Pursue A Bachelor’s Degree
To teach, you’ll need to have a teaching credential. In most states, this means you must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field.
The exception is if you already have a four-year degree in another subject, in which case many states will allow you to convert it into an equivalent early childhood degree.
It may seem like you don’t need to get a new degree if your current one is enough for the position. However, many benefits come with earning your master’s in education:
Earn A Master’s Degree
If you want to teach kindergarten, consider earning a master’s degree in education or early childhood education. A master’s degree will allow you to teach at higher levels and/or in a different subject area than kindergarten.
You could also earn your certificate through an online program, which allows for flexibility if you already work full-time and have family obligations outside of school hours.
This option is especially useful for people who live far away from traditional campuses, such as those living in rural areas or overseas military bases.
You may also look into getting a master’s degree in another field that will help prepare you for kindergarten teaching jobs after graduation such as special needs education or technology management.
But make sure that it is related to the job description because this can make all the difference when applying for positions later on!
Study Abroad (Optional)
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you can also consider pursuing a master’s degree. If you’re interested in teaching kindergarteners, but don’t want to work with preschoolers or elementary schoolers.
Then consider pursuing an elementary school teaching license with a specialization in kindergarten through grade 5. You should also note that some states require additional certification for teachers who wish to teach reading and writing skills at the primary level.
While most graduate programs offer distance learning options, the convenience of studying at home is often outweighed by the high cost of taking classes online (you’ll still need books and materials).
For this reason, it may be better for you if your program offers local opportunities like field trips and internships where students can work with real students during class hours under supervision from faculty members or administrators.
In addition to earning course credits through these methods as well as taking exams online via video chat platforms like Skype or Zoom (a screen-sharing platform), there are also other ways that you can get useful experience while working on your degree:
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Become Certified
There’s a lot of debate on whether or not certification is necessary for teachers to gain employment. However, it is certainly not going away anytime soon. If you are planning on applying for jobs in public schools, you will need to get certified by your state and/or country.
In the United States, each state has its requirements for certification; some states require all teachers to be certified and others do not require any form of testing at all!
While this may sound confusing at first glance, it can be beneficial when hunting for positions because many schools prefer to hire individuals who have their credentials already completed rather than having them go through the process themselves (which can take several months).
Start Applying For Jobs
Now that you have a degree, it’s time to start applying for jobs. There are a few ways you can do this:
Online: There are many online job boards and websites that will allow you to search for openings in the field of education.
You can use these sites if you want to apply directly to the school board or district where they are hiring (some districts will require an application through their website).
Recruiter: If your dream is to find another job as soon as possible after graduating from university, then contacting recruiters could be helpful.
Many educational associations offer student memberships with access to exclusive resources, including information about upcoming opportunities at schools in Canada and abroad.
These services often provide access not only through their database of available positions but also through partnerships with other organizations such as CareerBuilder.
Indeed, LinkedIn Profiles – these connections may give you access to listings otherwise unavailable on other sites like Monster or SimplyHired!
Compete Internationally
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already looked into your local schools and job listings. You may have even heard back from a few schools that you’re qualified to work at.
But if you want to make sure your resume lands on the top of the pile and gets noticed by hundreds of thousands of people, then consider competing internationally.
It’s not as easy as just applying online or sending in materials though; several things make up an effective application package.
- A resume with all relevant experience listed (with dates)
- A cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit for their school
- References who can vouch for your skills and experience
- Portfolio showcasing previous work with children or adults
Get Hired by A School Board (Not Just A School)
Let’s start with the basics: you want to get hired by a school board. As opposed to getting hired by a school, which would be fine if that were your only option and there were no other schools in your district.
The reason why getting hired by a board is better is that they are the ones who will have the final say on whether or not you can stay at their school for longer than two days.
They also decide if you get tenure (the right to work at that particular job until retirement), so it’s important that they like you.
If you get hired directly by a school, your chances of dismissal are pretty slim unless there are extenuating circumstances surrounding the decision like if they fire all their teachers just before winter break.
But when you’re working under contract through a board of education, everything is up in the air! So while it might seem less stressful not having someone looking over your shoulder constantly checking up on whether or not they like what they see each day…
Just remember that this means anyone could decide tomorrow morning whether or not today’s lesson plan was good enough for them…and then where would we be?
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Work With The Right People
You need to work with people who are passionate about what they do and believe in their mission. You want to be surrounded by people who care about the children, their families, their learning environment, and the community.
You want to be able to learn from them as much as possible. The best way of doing this is by asking questions that will help you develop a better understanding of where your career is going so far and how it can lead you toward your dream job as a Kindergarten teacher
The last thing you want is for someone else’s mistakes or missteps to negatively impact your career path and dreams
Complete Your Teacher Certification Exam
You’ll need to pass your teacher certification exam before you can begin teaching. These exams are not easy, and they’re expensive too.
It’s best to prepare for your exam with the help of a qualified and experienced tutor who will be able to guide you through all aspects of the test so that you can feel confident when it comes time to take the test itself.
You don’t have to wait until after graduation or even after college before taking your teacher certification exam.
Some states require teachers who already have years of experience in their field of expertise but no formal education in education (like me) to take this test before starting work at all!
Teach At Least One Year In The District Where You Want To Work
The first reason is obvious: if you don’t like it, or if they’re not offering you your ideal position, what’s the point of looking for another job?
You don’t want to end up trapped in a job that makes you miserable. So you must spend some time there before making any rash decisions about leaving.
The second reason is that most districts hire based on seniority so when positions open up (like when teachers retire or leave for other reasons), newer hires have priority over transfers from other districts.
This means that if someone else has already been working there for five years, they’ll get first dibs on open positions over applicants who have only spent a couple of months doing so previously
Be A Go-Getter
Being a go-getter is about being proactive, not reactive. It means doing everything in your power to pursue the job you want, to land that dream job as a kindergarten teacher.
Here are some ways you can be a go-getter and ensure that you’re on track to land your ideal teaching position:
- Be willing to go the extra mile by going above and beyond what’s expected at work and in your personal life. This will help differentiate you from other job candidates who seem complacent or lazy.
- Be willing to do whatever it takes to complete any task at hand so that no matter how difficult or tedious, it gets done right and on time!
- Be willing to take risks when necessary (his advice: “Don’t be afraid of failure”).
Such as taking out loans for school or applying for jobs outside of your comfort zone or outside of state lines if necessary because perhaps those areas offer better opportunities for teachers who want more than just a 9-5 every day;
Also, remember there are many ways people can get certified/licensed as teachers besides going through an accredited university program like his institution offers; another example would be working towards becoming licensed through their local state board office instead)
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Show Up To Interviews Five Minutes Early And Ready To Roll
Before the interview, you should have your resume printed out and organized so that you can provide a copy to each of the interviewers. You should also have an extra copy for yourself, as well as one for your parents or guardians if they are coming with you.
When it comes time for the interview itself, make sure to show up five minutes early and ready to roll meaning fully dressed and groomed (in other words: not in pajamas), with pen in hand.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview; it shows them that you’re curious about what’s going on at their school and enthusiastic about potentially working there!
If something unexpected pops up during your meeting (such as changes in bus schedules), don’t feel bad about bringing this up you want people hiring kindergarten teachers who will be proactive instead of reactive when issues arise at school!
Observe Your Favorite Teacher In The Classroom And Learn From Them
The best way to learn how to teach is to observe a teacher who you think is doing a good job. You can ask them questions like: “How do you make learning fun for your students?”
“How do you help students feel good about themselves in your classroom?”, or “What are some of the things that have worked well with kids in the past?”
Learn New Things Every Day And Share What You Learn With Others
- Share what you learn with others. This can be done in many different ways. You can share what you are learning with your friends and family, or even on social media if it is appropriate for the topic.
- Share with your students. As a teacher, students must see their teachers as intellectual people who have more knowledge than them and don’t mind showing it off once in a while!
- Share with colleagues: Teachers getting together to discuss ideas and plans for the future of education can do wonders for everyone involved!
- Share with school board members: If there’s something wrong somewhere in the system then why not present an idea for improvement?
If nothing else at least try to get some feedback from those who have been around longer than yourself… maybe they’ll share their own experiences too!
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Conclusion
By following these tips and putting yourself out there, you can be on your way to becoming a kindergarten teacher in no time. Remember that education is a lifelong process and you should never stop learning!
The best way to do this is by observing the people around you and sharing what they do right so that others can learn from them too.
Further Reading
Kindergarten Teacher Interview Questions: Discover common interview questions for kindergarten teachers and learn how to prepare for your next job interview in the education field.
Kindergarten Teacher Resume Example: Get inspired by a comprehensive resume example specifically tailored for kindergarten teachers. Learn how to showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications effectively.
Kindergarten Teacher Resume Tips: Enhance your resume writing skills with practical tips and advice for crafting a standout resume as a kindergarten teacher. Find guidance on highlighting your accomplishments and qualifications in this competitive field.
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Now, let’s move on to the “FAQs” section:
FAQs
What qualifications do I need to become a kindergarten teacher?
To become a kindergarten teacher, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Additionally, some states may require teacher certification or licensure.
What skills are important for a kindergarten teacher?
Key skills for kindergarten teachers include strong communication and interpersonal skills, patience, creativity, organizational abilities, and the ability to create a positive and engaging learning environment.
How do I create an effective lesson plan for kindergarten students?
Creating an effective lesson plan for kindergarten students involves considering their developmental needs, incorporating hands-on activities, using visual aids, and ensuring a balance between structured learning and play-based exploration.
How can I manage behavior and maintain discipline in a kindergarten classroom?
Maintaining discipline in a kindergarten classroom requires setting clear expectations, implementing consistent routines, using positive reinforcement, and employing effective behavior management strategies such as redirection, praise, and modeling.
How can I create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment for kindergarten students?
To create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment, foster a sense of belonging, celebrate diversity, use inclusive teaching materials, promote empathy and understanding, and establish a culture of respect and acceptance among students.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.