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Kindergarten Teacher Requirements: Education and Job Training Requirements for Becoming a Kindergarten Teacher

Published Sep 09, 2009

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Kindergarten Teachers work in a classroom aimed at educating America's youngest students. They introduce new concepts, such as handwriting, reading, simple mathematics and basic organizational skills. Read this article to learn more about education requirements for becoming a Kindergarten Teacher.

Kindergarten Teacher Career Summary

Kindergarten Teachers educate inquisitive young children who are just learning the alphabet, how to spell their own names and recognize certain Kindergarten sight words. Kindergarten serves as the first formal grade in elementary schools across America. Many Kindergarten Teachers now teach one all-day Kindergarten class as opposed to teaching two half-day classes each day. They must be capable of working with all types of children and very flexible in adapting to their students' needs.

Education Required to Become a Kindergarten Teacher

Most Kindergarten Teachers hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in education and are licensed through their respective state to teach children from infancy through Kindergarten. Birth through Kindergarten education degree programs prepare students to teach in classroom settings. The course curriculum for Kindergarten Teachers includes art, literature, music, physical sciences, reading and social science. However, professional development courses, such as teaching methods, philosophy of education and psychology of learning are usually required.

Job Training and Certifications Required to Become a Kindergarten Teacher

Each state and the District of Columbia require all public school Kindergarten Teachers to be licensed. Licensure occurs upon completion of an accredited education degree program and successful completion of appropriate state-mandated teacher examinations through a state Board of Education. This licensure allows teachers to find early childhood education positions at the preschool level through the third grade. However, this licensure is not required for Kindergarten Teachers in most private schools. Kindergarten Teachers must prove their proficiency over a certain number of years to gain tenure and complete continuing education credits to maintain their license after they're hired.

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