NigCareers

Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a kindergarten teacher. Feel free to use our kindergarten teacher job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a kindergarten teacher.

 

Who is a Kindergarten Teacher?

A kindergarten teacher is someone who organizes and conducts courses to help children between the age of 5 to 7  develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. They work for either public or private educational institutions, where they are in charge of integrating young children into the learning process by teaching them social skills, personal hygiene, basic reading abilities, art, and music. Furthermore, they prepare students for upper elementary school as well as certain aspects of life outside of the educational system.

 

Kindergarten Teacher Job Description

Below are the kindergarten teacher job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a kindergarten teacher job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The duties and responsibilities of a kindergarten teacher include the following:

• Create and implement a comprehensive teaching strategy.
• Teach the alphabet, numbers, and social, emotional, and personal abilities.
• Arrange learning resources and materials.
• Use a variety of activities and instructional approaches (songs, stories, media, organized games, art, outdoor activities, and so on) to motivate and stimulate children’s skills.
• Maintain an open channel of communication with parents and provide them with the information they need.
• Assess students’ performance and progress to ensure that they are mastering the skills.
• Keep an eye on your kids’ relationships and encourage collaboration and sharing.
• Work along with the administrative staff.
• Observe and follow all instructional guidelines and safety rules.
• Prepare and deliver classes that help students develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
• Ensure that students have enough supplies in the classroom at all times.
• Make available a supportive and safe learning atmosphere.
• Watch children during school, meals, and on the playground for their overall safety.
• Help pupils in the settlement of interpersonal conflicts.
• Report accidents or other noteworthy situations that occur when students are under their supervision to the Department Head and carers.
• Attend meetings with employees and caregivers when needed.
• Follow students on their field trips.
• Adopt the use of games, music, artwork, films, books, computers, and other tools to educate basic educational and social skills to school children.
• Use hands-on teaching methods and play-based learning.
• Teach letter recognition, phonics, numbers, and environmental and scientific knowledge.
• Maintain student grades and communicate with parents about their progress.
• Complement lesson plans with competencies, goals, and objectives.
• Keep an eye on the children’s relationships while encouraging collaboration and sharing.
• Collaborate with management, staff, and other teachers.
• Organize art and craft projects to encourage creativity.

 

Qualifications

The basic requirement for the role of  a kindergarten teacher is as follows:

• Worked as a Kindergarten Teacher, Kindergarten Assistant, or Teacher Aide in the past.
• Excellent understanding of child development as well as the most current educational theories and methods.
• Possession of teaching qualities that are creative and artistic.
• Keeping up to date on the most recent trends and best practices.

 

Essential Skills

The essential skills of a kindergarten teacher are as follows:

Enthusiasm: Above all, kindergarten teachers must be enthusiastic about their work. Kindergarten teaching is not always simple, and it can be challenging at times. Teachers who enjoy what they do and believe they are making a difference will feel a feeling of satisfaction that will keep them going through difficult times.

Although children are adorable and entertaining, they can also be obstinate and challenging at times, and teachers must have an inherent determination to conquer the challenges they may face. If teaching does not fire a person’s enthusiasm, they should look for another profession.

• Patience and endurance: When teaching kindergarten, patience is essential because little children can be unexpected. Small children routinely put their teacher to the test by being easily distracted or disruptive. Some children are too exhausted, hungry, ill, or simply not in the mood to learn on certain days. Teachers in kindergarten must be able to change lesson plans as needed and remain cool in the face of unforeseen issues. When it comes to learning a lesson, not all children learn at the same pace, which can be frustrating. Kindergarteners are also learning how to act socially appropriate when interacting with a large group of youngsters, therefore there will be behavior concerns that must be addressed at an inopportune moment.

Patience is essential for a multitude of reasons when working as a kindergarten teacher. Parents can also be difficult to deal with, and each student in the classroom has at least one parent. Kindergarten teachers are sometimes parents’ first contact with someone in the educational system, so explaining how things operate and calming their minds when they are unhappy or disappointed takes a lot of patience. Dealing with the educational system as a whole can be difficult at times. Administrators, counsellors, behaviour specialists, and librarians all have different perspectives on how things should be done. It’s critical to understand how to interact successfully with everyone in the building so that the pupils benefit the most.

 

• Creativity and innovation: When it comes to classroom instruction, most instructors have wonderful ideas, but resources aren’t always available to provide them with all they need. Teachers must be resourceful when resources are limited, and this is especially true for kindergarten teachers.

Children who are attending school for the first time should feel at ease and enjoy themselves. The atmosphere should be warm and inviting, but there should also be enough stimulus to keep children interested. The same is true for lesson planning: the more innovation included, the more engaged the children will be, resulting in fewer behavioral issues.

• Stretchability: Instructors must be adaptable and willing to deal with change and unexpected twists, especially kindergarten teachers. On some days, the classroom will be bustling with eager students eager to learn, while on others, it may resemble a zoo. Because small children feed off one another, if a few children are having a terrible day, the entire class may appear “off” that day, necessitating a shift in classroom teaching.
• Politeness: Respect for students and their families is an important trait for any teacher, but it’s especially important in kindergarten because it’s sometimes the first time many parents and children interact with teachers. Open communication and mutual respect will be fostered by treating each student and family as a vital component of the learning community.

Understanding and appreciating diversity is an important part of valuing students and their families. Treating each student and family as if they were a vital part of the school community can help to establish a positive learning environment. When planning lessons, addressing the class, or simply educating in general, teachers must keep in mind that children come from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Making broad, narrow-minded generalizations can injure others and cause conflict with parents. Students will flourish in an environment that promotes mutual regard, and they will learn to treat one another with respect. mutual respect and open communication.

 

• High Energy and zeal: This characteristic may have more to do with a teacher’s personality, but kindergarten teachers should strive to match their pupils’ energy and passion for learning. Children arrive at school eager to learn new things, and when the instructor shares their enthusiasm for the lessons, the kids respond positively.

Most kindergarten teachers are exhausted at the end of the day. They are active with the children, dynamic and amusing, and they demonstrate to their students that school is a wonderful place to be. Children enjoy learning concepts through songs and chants. They will benefit from moving around and getting out of their seats because they are kinesthetic learners.

• Management skills: Leadership skills are required to become an effective teacher. A teacher is the leader of their classroom, guiding students who may or may not be receptive to their instruction. A teacher’s confidence in leading by example and ensuring that each student receives the same amount of care and attention is a necessary characteristic.

Ability to manage multiple tasks while being efficient: Teachers have a lot of obligations, so being able to multitask will come in handy. Delivering classes, marking tests and homework, maintaining good behavior, making reports, and other activities around the school are all part of the job. This makes life as a teacher difficult since an excessive quantity of work is placed on one person. A teacher must still have the skills and traits to complete each duty to the best of their abilities.

• Effective communication skills: Teaching requires not just being able to successfully convey knowledge to students, but also being able to communicate with them one-on-one if necessary to clarify any tasks or material that they may be struggling with.

A teacher must also be reachable if a student has any other issues, such as being bullied at school or being mistreated at home. If kids believe they can talk openly with a teacher and are heard, that teacher has the potential to influence the student’s life.

 

• Ability to adapt: Unexpected situations will occur, and teachers will need to act quickly. Whether it’s covering for an absent instructor in a subject they don’t know or a lesson disrupted by a lack of materials, a teacher’s career will need them to adapt to a variety of situations. Every student is unique, and a teacher must be able to adjust their teaching technique to meet the needs of all students.
• Wittiness: Having a sense of humor is essential for any teacher, even if it is not a specified job requirement. Maintaining classroom discipline is critical, but knowing when to relax and be someone pupils can relate to is also crucial. As long as the student does not disrupt the class, this is also good.
• Self-confidence: For any teacher, confidence is crucial. A child cannot be expected to accept teaching when a teacher fails to deliver knowledge with confidence. As you begin your teaching profession, having confidence in yourself and your teaching methods will be important, and your pupils will gain far more from the material you deliver.
• Dedication: Another essential attribute for instructors is dedication. Teaching kids is a long process that cannot be completed overnight, and committing to teaching pupils over a long period is critical. Understanding each student’s educational needs and how you may assist them to reach their full potential will take a significant amount of time and effort. This characteristic will help you become a better teacher.
• Approachableness: One of the most crucial abilities of a teacher is the ability to communicate with students. Creating a classroom environment in which students believe their teacher is unapproachable might be harmful to their learning. If a student feels comfortable approaching a teacher if they are having trouble with their schoolwork or are dealing with personal concerns outside of school, that teacher will be considerably more invested in the student’s education and comfort.
• Time management: While some of these characteristics are advantageous to a teaching job, time management is crucial. The school day is well-structured, and skilled teacher must maximize their time with children. A teacher must be punctual, arriving in the classroom before their students, using their lesson time effectively, and marking any homework or tests in time for their next class with those students. Effective time management will result in much-improved teaching.
• IT experience: The ability to use a computer for several functions is becoming increasingly important as digital technology continues to rise in schools. Computer abilities will aid any modern teacher greatly, whether it’s accessing web material for a presentation to students, guiding their research, or recording grades in a spreadsheet. It will also benefit pupils if you can show them how to use online resources for their learning.
• Discipline and orderliness: One of the toughest components of being a teacher is learning how to deal with unruly children. Discipline necessitates a delicate balancing act; a teacher cannot afford to be too lenient with students, but neither can they be overly strict to the point of alienating them. A calm mind and measured responses to misbehavior are required for understanding a school’s code of conduct and how to best enforce it. This is an aspect of teaching that gets better with time, but keeping a level head is beneficial to any instructor.

 

How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher

Follow these steps in other to become a kindergarten teacher:

1. Obtain an undergraduate degree in early childhood education: This degree can be completed in four years or less depending on the school you attend. A bachelor’s degree is required if you want to teach kindergarten in a public school setting. Potential teachers in private schools are frequently given more credential freedom. Child development and elementary education are two more possible undergraduate degrees for kindergarten instructors.
2. Finalize 1-2 semesters of Student teaching practice to develop classroom experience: All students enrolled in early childhood education programs must finish a teaching preparation exercise. This program will provide you with significant classroom experience, including lesson planning and grading. Student teaching is an excellent stepping stone toward a full-time kindergarten teaching employment.
3. Collaborate with other teachers: Don’t be reluctant to approach your teacher-mentor, instructors, or classmates throughout your time as a student-teacher. Knowing a range of people in the education industry can help you land a job as a kindergarten teacher, particularly in the references area of a resume.  Volunteering in various educational roles (such as as a teaching assistant) can also help you build crucial contacts in the sector.
4. Enroll in a Master of Teaching (MIT/MAT) or Master of Education (M.Ed) programme to sharpen your teaching skills: Enrolling in a graduate degree, while not needed, can help you stand out as a kindergarten teacher. This programme allows you to concentrate on a specific subject and grade level, whereas an M.Ed allows you to concentrate on other aspects of teaching (that is curriculum).  If you think either of these programs could help you improve your teaching, you should consider enrolling. Teachers with a graduate degree earn around $200 more per week on average than those with merely a bachelor’s degree.

 

Where to Work as a Kindergarten Teacher

• Public schools
• Private schools
• Home lessons.

 

Kindergarten Teacher Salary Scale

Kindergarten teachers in the United States earn an average of $50,368 per year or $24.22 per hour. The bottom 10% of the population, or $38,000 per year, earns less than the top 10%, who earn $66,000 per year. Location, as with most things, is important. In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a kindergarten teacher is £31,401.40.

Education and Training

Tags: How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher, Job Description, Kindergarten Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher Job Description, Kindergarten Teacher Qualifications, Kindergarten Teacher Salary, Kindergarten Teacher Skills, Who is a Kindergarten Teacher