Teaching is not a profession that you get into for the money. A kindergarten teacher in 2010, for instance, made a median salary of $48,800, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To be a teacher, you must have a true calling for the work. Whether its kindergarten or high school, teachers who demonstrate creativity and a passion will be successful helping students learn.
Great teachers have a passion for what they're teaching -- and whom they're teaching. It is unlikely that a student will get excited about a subject if the teacher fails to convey enthusiasm for that subject. This means that no matter how many times teachers cover the same lesson plans, they must present them in a way that is fresh, meaningful and compelling.
Teachers must devise interesting lesson plans, assignments, tests, field trips and incentives for learning. Variety is important to keep students from getting bored. Even a teacher of a subject that isn't technically considered creative -- algebra, for example -- should come up with interesting ways to present the subject matter. Teachers should also be creative enough to come up with ways of adapting plans to the different learning styles of their students.
Good teachers are great communicators. They speak with clarity and show respect for their students. Teachers should also communicate effectively with their colleagues. Teaching is a collaborative profession, and all educators can learn from sharing ideas with their peers. In addition, teachers must interact effectively with parents, with parent-teacher conferences just one example. In some cases the teacher must speak before members of the community or lead an after-school club.
Cares About Students
Working with students of varying personalities and abilities can be a challenge. In To succeed, a teacher should have a genuine compassion and concern for the students. Teacher can't lead with their egos -- they must remember that the students come first. Successful teachers don't lapse into a "me vs. them" approach. Teachers need to show compassion and understanding for students who struggle, but they should also set high standards and inspire students to live up to those standards.
2016 Salary Information for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $55,480 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, kindergarten and elementary school teachers earned a 25th percentile salary of $44,220, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $70,600, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 1,565,300 people were employed in the U.S. as kindergarten and elementary school teachers.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
- Faculty Focus: Nine Characteristics of a Great Teacher
- Washington Post: The 12 Qualities Great Teachers Share
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
- Career Trend: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
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