First Grade Teacher Responsibilities

Becoming a first grade teacher can definitely be the right career option for those who have a passion for teaching, talent for communicating with children, and love being in their company. First grade teacher responsibilities play a crucial role in fostering an environment that would help in developing the future generation. They are responsible for catering to their personal as well as educational needs.

Key Responsibilities of a First Grade Teacher

First grade teachers assist in creating a favorable and friendly environment that will assist in better learning and personal development by establishing a rapport with students. He is responsible for motivating and encouraging the students to develop their skills and knowledge that would create a basic foundation for future learning. A detailed description of the key responsibilities handled by a first grade teacher will give you a more clear and better idea:

1. To teach students to gain knowledge and techniques to develop their reading and writing skills, to make them understand the basic concepts of mathematics and science, to teach social studies, arts, music, physical education, etc., through established techniques and by adhering to the rules and regulations of the educational institute
2. To develop the course curriculum and make suggestions to modify it so that it will help the students to understand the subjects in a better way and introduce new learning techniques
3. To utilize and develop lesson plans and instructional materials by organizing various activities like quizzes, competitions, group discussions, etc.
4. To make the lesson plans interesting so that there is optimal use of time that is being used for instruction
5. To make sure that the students follow discipline and that their behavior assists in achieving the functional learning environment essential for better understanding and grasping
6. To identify the studen'ts individual needs, communicate it to the parents, and help them in resolving their learning problems and sorting out their personal issues

He ensures effective execution of various educational activities, maintains the attendance records of the students, constantly monitors and tracks the progress of the class students, makes requisitions for various instructional aids, and participates in developing the course curriculum to address the students' requirements. He actively participates in management meetings and interacts with the parents during meetings to provide a detailed information on their child's progress. He may also make suggestions to parents to improve the learning capability of the students. Thus, he helps in creating a positive learning environment that would not only help in enhancing their learning capabilities, but also in their personal development.

Essential Skills

If you have talent for teaching, have an ability to strike a chord with the children, and enjoy being in their company, then you are on the right path for ensuring success. A great deal of patience is required to handle the students in the first grade, as it is one of the basic steps to mold and groom them to be better individuals. They must be able to motivate and inspire them and should be able to create a friendly learning environment. The first grade teacher should be a good observer, self disciplined, a creative thinker, and must be able to present himself as a role model.

Educational Background

The general way of getting a job as a first grade teacher is by obtaining a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Those who have completed a course in social science, mathematics, literature, psychology, etc., would also be preferred. A teaching license may be required in some schools. Those with additional qualification and experience will definitely advance to higher positions.

Salary Details

The first grade teachers can earn a minimum average salary of $24,000 to $28,000. Those with additional qualification, internship or professional experience can earn in the range of $52,000 to $50,000. The salary may differ according to the geographic location and size of the school where they are being employed.

Work Hours

A first grade teacher normally works in private or public schools. He is required to work for thirty five to forty hours per week, Monday through Friday. He may need to work overtime in case he needs to participate in some meetings or some extra curricular activities.

Career Prospects

The career prospects for first grade teachers are bright and the employment opportunities look really promising. Those with higher qualifications and experience will definitely move up in their careers.

Thus, to ensure a rewarding career, you must be able to shoulder the first grade teacher responsibilities efficiently, which in turn will assist in achieving the educational goals and objectives of the school you are working for.