Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Onet SOC Code 25-2021.00 Career Description: Teach pupils in public or private schools at the elementary level basic academic, social, and other formative skills. Videos: Click here to view a Career of the Week Video. Related Clusters: Education and Training Human Services Programs of Study Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Video Overview: Video Courtesy of the US Department of Labor.

Video Overview (Closed Caption): Video Courtesy of the US Department of Labor.

 

Career Summary:

Job Zone | Tasks | Knowledge | Skills | Education | Abilities | Work Activities | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Salary

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

• Experience- A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
• Education- Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
• Job Training- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
• Examples- Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

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Tasks

• Involve parent volunteers and older students in children's activities, in order to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play.
• Perform administrative duties such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
• Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students for whom they are responsible.
• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
• Assign and grade class work and homework.
• Read books to entire classes or small groups.
• Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments in order to evaluate students' progress.
• Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators in order to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress, and to determine their priorities for their children and their resource needs.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Guide and counsel students with adjustment and/or academic problems, or special academic interests.
• Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
• Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
• Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
• Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
• Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
• Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
• Use computers, audiovisual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
• Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
• Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of elementary school programs.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials, in order to prevent injuries and damage.
• Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling.
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops in order to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
• Organize and label materials, and display students' work.
• Attend staff meetings, and serve on committees as required.
• Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine student strengths and areas of need.
• Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.

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Knowledge

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

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Education

• Public school teachers must be licensed in Tennessee. Future teachers no longer major in elementary or secondary education. With the exception of special education and occupational education, a candidate must have an academic major. Applicants seeking initial licensure or additional endorsements must also pass all applicable portions of the Praxis Series Exams. A professional teacher's license is issued to a teacher who has completed a minimum of three years experience in an approved school and who has received a positive local evaluation in a Tennessee public school system. The professional license is valid for ten years and is renewable by meeting state requirements. High school students who wish to become teachers should pursue college preparatory courses. For additional information, visit the Tennessee Office of Teacher Licensing online.

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Skills

• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

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Abilities

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

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Work Activities

• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

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Interests

• Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

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Work Styles

• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

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Work Values

• Authority - Workers on this job give directions and instructions to others.
• Achievement - Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.
• Social Service - Workers on this job have work where they do things for other people.
• Responsibility - Workers on this job make decisions on their own.
• Achievement-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Independence-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
• Creativity - Workers on this job try out their own ideas.
• Ability Utilization - Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.
• Activity - Workers on this job are busy all the time.
• Security - Workers on this job have steady employment.
• Working Conditions - Workers on this job have good working conditions.
• Autonomy - Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.
• Relationships-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
• Company Policies and Practices - Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.
• Social Status - Workers on this job are looked up to by others in their company and their community.
• Moral Values - Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Recognition-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
• Working Conditions-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Variety - Workers on this job have something different to do every day.
• Co-workers - Workers on this job have co-workers who are easy to get along with.
• Supervision, Human Relations - Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.
• Recognition - Workers on this job receive recognition for the work they do.
• Support-Mean Extent - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

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Salary

	10%	25%	Median- 50%	75%	90%
TN Annual	$32,360	$36,120	$41,980	$48,780	$56,920
US Annual	$31,480	$38,130	$47,330	$60,070	$74,670

*Some salaries are listed at an hourly rate. Those that include a single dollar amount are considered hourly wage.

Wage and salary data provided by:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org

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