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How to Become a Reading Teacher: Education and Training Requirements for Becoming a Reading Teacher

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Published Sep 15, 2009

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Reading teachers help students, teachers and parents increase literacy within the community. Many are hired by schools or government agencies to foster reading strategies, skills and techniques for students who may be struggling with reading. Reading teachers are often licensed to teach kindergarten through fifth grade or sixth through 12th grade and have a degree or certification in reading, literacy or education and curriculum.

Reading Teacher Career Summary

Many reading teachers are found in public and private schools in the United States. They are responsible for developing school-wide literacy curricula and assisting individual students who may struggle to keep up with age-appropriate literacy guidelines. Reading teachers are also found in early invention programs, such as Head Start. Early intervention reading specialists or teachers emphasize the importance of reading at an early age and its beneficial life-long effects for each child.

Education Required to Become a Reading Teacher

Reading teachers hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in an education-related field as well as a post-baccalaureate certification in reading. Reading teachers usually start their careers with bachelor's degrees with reading certifications and then advance their education with a master's degree in reading or literacy. Many master's degree programs not only grant reading degrees, but they also offer appropriate state-mandated licensure for graduates.

Job Training and Certifications Required to Become a Reading Teacher

Student teaching serves as the primary hands-on job training for future teachers, and reading teachers are no exception. Reading teachers may have to participate in a general education student teaching experience and a student teaching practicum for reading. Additionally, if a degree program does not offer dual-licensure for K-12 general education certification as well as reading certification, then reading teachers must pass both the standard National Teacher Examination and the reading certification segment too. All teachers, including reading teachers, must maintain their education license by completing continuing education credits as directed by a state's Board of Education.

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