Apart from having in depth knowledge of the subjects, the basic skills of an excellent teacher is having the ability to communicate well and build confidence amongst the students as well as being able to motivate them. An educator must be in a position to understand the emotional needs and educational requirements of their students. While estimating the various needs of the students, an educator should be able to implement different techniques of teaching to gain the best results.
An aspiring educator must have required licenses along with a bachelor's degree and should also undergo special training programs devised for the teachers. At some places an educator is required to have specific training in technology that is needed as part of the procedure of teacher certification. And others may also ask for a master's degree in the field of education.
A career in education may have different opportunities like higher education, special education, kindergarten education, etc.
Teaching in a kindergarten school is a vocational kind of job which involves educating a number of elementary subjects to kids between 4 to 6 years. These educators have an important role to play in the overall development and growth of a child which has immense impact on their views about the world around them and of themselves which further affects their personal and professional lives in the future.
With the help of games, different teaching techniques, and computers the kindergarten teacher would teach the basic skills to the children like shapes, numbers, colors, recognition of letter, awareness about personal hygiene as well as social skills.
The job of a kindergarten teacher also includes management of students like to get the students adjusted with the environment of the school by making them feel comfortable, making friends with them and by choosing various activities that might interest each of them. At every step the teacher is supposed to guide and counsel the different academic issues faced by the students. The educator is also expected to follow accurate and detailed records on each student and prepare reports to analyze every child and their activities. An educator is also an administrative person where they have to update the school and the parents with the student records, and regularly maintains the books and other periodicals. The educator should have excellent communication skill mainly for the reason that they have to be in constant touch with the parents of the students and furnish all necessary information on the growth and development of the student.
A kindergarten teacher's median salary per year depends on the number of years of experience they have and it can vary from $10,000 with minimum experience of 1 year to $70,000 for an experienced teacher of 20 years.
There are special educators who are professionals in the field of education with specialized training aimed at children with disabilities. These educators provide specially formulated training and services to these children. They are responsible for developing special materials and adapting to those which will help in teaching the students with disabilities so that they can attain their potential for learning. There are certain basic skills required to be a special educator. One should be a master in learning teaching techniques and adapting different styles of teaching; should be able to solve problems in a creative way; should be a team player; open to face challenges in this profession; should be very organized, intelligent, and flexible and should show eagerness to learn new things and have enthusiasm and confidence.
Special educators get employment with private schools, hospitals and clinics, residential facilities, and at times in the homes of the student. However, most of the special educators are employed in the public schools. Within the public schools there are different categories like general education classrooms, resource rooms, and self-contained classrooms.
There has been an increased demand for qualified special education professionals. Special learning is needed by students who are mentally retarded, gifted children, handicapped children, children disabled due to neurological or orthopedic disorders, and children affected by social and emotional issues.
An educator engaged in special education may acquire an advanced degree like a doctorate and start a career by teaching special education at colleges and universities to other students aspiring to build a career in this field. One can also opt to become manager in a team for special needs or can become a subject teacher as well as coordinator. There is provision to attach with the government organizations as a special needs officer helps in building policies and recommendations in the field of special education. Special educators get high salaries as compared to any other educators.
