As with most teachers, kindergarten teachers need to acquire a degree from an accredited college in order to start their career. A kindergarten teacher only requires a bachelor’s degree in childhood learning, theories in child development or any other degree related to the career. The information you learn in college will help you pass the licensing exam. All teachers must show a competency in the skills they accrued through their college career. Some states may impose a mandatory internship at another school before you can start teaching on your own.
Every state requires prospective kindergarten teachers to pass a rigorous screening to determine their aptitude for teaching. Though the methods of testing vary by state, all of them push an aspiring teacher to show her proficiency of working with children as well as her knowledge of the course material. The exception to licensing is private schools. Many states have lax regulations on licensing for private school teachers. Licensing guidelines are left to the discretion of the private-school administrators.
One 5-year-old is a handful on his own, but you will manage an entire classroom of several children. You need to have a high-energy personality to keep up with the children. Patience is also essential because you will find yourself in high-stress situations caused by the children. For example, if one of your students accidentally drops his food all over himself, it is up to you to clean him while monitoring the rest of the class. A kindergarten classroom also gets loud, so you must be able to handle noisy environments without losing your temper or focus.
According to a study conducted by Raj Chetty, an economist at Harvard University, a good kindergarten teacher can make a huge difference in the lives of students as they grow. Children who had a supportive and devoted kindergarten teacher were more likely to attend college and land a high-profile career with their degree. A kindergarten teacher must feel the drive to help children learn and become productive adults. He will strive to impart knowledge to the kids and help prepare them for the rest of their lives. The children respond to your passion.