What Does a First Grade Teacher Do?
A first-grade teacher is a professional who teaches students who are usually six or seven years old. These students are learning foundational concepts like reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.
The job duties of a first grade teacher may include:
- assessing student ability and progress
- creating engaging lesson plans
- grading assignments and exams
- helping students interact with others and develop social skills
- meeting with parents to discuss student progress
- teaching lessons on various subjects and topics
- supervising students and enforcing classroom rules
- working with students who are struggling one-on-one
First graders are very young students. Teachers may need to develop exciting, hands-on lesson plans.
Students are also still learning social skills, and teachers will need to help them navigate disputes with other students.
The majority of first grade teachers work in public elementary schools, but a small number work in private schools.
Teachers typically work a full-time schedule from September through the beginning of June and then have summer break off.
They also typically have a short winter break that covers the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Teachers often work beyond traditional school hours. They'll come in early or stay late to get tasks done and may spend evenings and weekends grading assignments or preparing lesson plans.
While working to shape young minds can be very rewarding, a teacher's experience can vary greatly depending on the school and district they're in.
The requirements necessary to become a first grade teacher will depend on the state you live in and whether or not you work for a public or private school.
Below, we've outlined the basic steps you'll need to go through to become a teacher.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree and Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
To become a first grade teacher, you'll need, at minimum, a bachelor's degree. This is a four-year undergraduate degree.
You'll also need to complete a teacher preparation program, sometimes called a teacher education or educator preparation program.
Most of the time, degrees in teaching or education that are designed to lead to teacher licensure are also teacher preparation programs.
These programs have two parts: classroom learning and student teaching. You'll start with a few years of classroom learning.
During this time, your program will cover a variety of topics. These may include:
- child development
- curriculum and instruction
- educational psychology
- teaching methods
Toward the end of your program, you'll begin your student teaching experience. During this time, you'll be in the classroom working under the supervision of a licensed teacher.
You may start by shadowing and doing basic work like grading assignments, but by the end of your student teaching you should be leading classroom lessons.
You can find teacher preparation programs through Teach.org. To become a first grade teacher, you'll want to look for programs that allow you to specialize in elementary education.
Step 2: Pass Your Certification Exams
To earn your teaching license, you'll need to pass the appropriate certification exams. These exams vary by state.
Some states have their own certification exams they use, but most states use the PRAXIS exams. These are standardized exams offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Praxis tests are divided into two categories: core academic skills for educators exams and subject exams. Nearly all teachers need to take the core exams, which cover reading, writing, and mathematics.
The subject tests you need to take depend on your area of focus and your state. Elementary educators may need to take exams like:
- Elementary Education: Content Knowledge
- Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- Elementary Education: Math Specialist
- Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts
- Elementary Education: Science
- Elementary Education: Social Studies
You can learn more about what subject tests you'll be required to take at Teach.org or ETS.org/Praxis.
Step 3: Obtain Your Teaching License
All teachers in public schools are required to hold a teaching license. Requirements for private school teachers may vary by state and school.
Each state sets its own requirements for teacher licensure. Generally, to become a licensed teacher, you'll need:
- to earn a bachelor's degree
- to complete a teacher preparation program, including student teaching
- to pass the teaching certification test(s) of your state's choosing
- to pass a background check
Check to see what your state license requirements are so you can ensure you're meeting all prerequisites.
Step 4: Continue Your Education Journey
As a teacher, your educational journey doesn't end when you begin to teach others.
Requirements vary by state, but many states require that you complete a certain amount of professional development courses in order to keep your license.
Your school or district may also have continuing education requirements that it expects you to meet.
Some states require teachers to eventually earn a master's degree. This is a graduate-level degree that takes about two years to complete.
Many master's degree programs in teaching or education are designed for working professionals, so they are often flexible and may allow you to do any required experience at the school you already work at.
Again, check to see what your state's requirements are for teachers. This allows you to better plan your education path.
Become a First Grade Teacher
To become a first grade teacher, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree, complete a teacher preparation program, and take any additional steps to obtain your license.
Follow the steps above and check your state requirements so you can be on your way to a career as a first grade teacher today.
