Kindergarten Teacher

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in kindergarten teacher roles:

• Create daily schedules and lesson plans for a class of kindergarten students
• Teach students how to work together and how to behave in a classroom
• Educate students on basic skills like counting, writing, reading, and hand coordination skills like coloring within lines and cutting paper with scissors
• Work with parents to develop plans for improving and extending learning at home
• Monitor students for signs of learning disabilities and behavioral disorders

A Day in the Life

Kindergarten teachers work with students who are around five years old and help them bridge the gap between daycare, preschool, or homecare and elementary school. Because the transition from playing all day to being in a classroom can be difficult for young children, kindergarten teachers play an important role in helping students learn how to be good students, good friends, and effective learners. A large part of the role is teaching students how to interact with others and how to behave in school.

Beyond helping students learn how to be effective students, kindergarten teachers also teach students basic concepts. They make sure students can count, can write all letters of the alphabet in print characters, and may teach basic reading, math, and spelling. They also have students engage in more fun activities like cutting out objects on paper and coloring to help students refine their hand-eye coordination—a skill that helps with writing more clearly and neatly.

Another important role of the kindergarten teacher is to observe and analyze student behaviors to determine whether or not students are ready for school and to identify any learning or behavioral disorders. The teacher works closely with parents of kindergarten students to inform the parents of any issues observed and make recommendations for activities or services that may help students improve. In some cases, the teacher may recommend that a student repeats the grade to be better prepared and more mature before moving into elementary school and first grade.

Typical Work Schedule

Most kindergarten teachers work full-time during normal business hours. They are commonly off of work on weekends, holidays, and over spring, summer, and fall breaks.

Typical Employers

Kindergarten teachers may be employed by either public or private elementary schools. Additionally, some may work for preschools or learning daycares where kindergarten classes are offered.