For many students, kindergarten is the first time that special needs are addressed. Some students will have development assessments during preschool; however, others will not be formerly assessed for any learning disabilities or special needs until kindergarten. These teachers, then, are responsible for pinpointing possible problems, working with parents and special educators and helping to write Individual Education Plans, if needed.
Most students have had some kind of preschool background, though some come to kindergarten without an educational background. Kindergarten teachers have to work with students of different backgrounds who are all used to a different amount of structure. In addition, even those students who do have a preschool background are not used to the structure of a day in kindergarten. Also, parents all have different expectations of what the kindergarten environment should look like.
While some people think that kindergarten students do not do much during their school day, increased pressure and standardized testing mean that teachers have to increase activities to meet their current state and district standards. Students must be ready for standardized tests and many are encouraged to read at an earlier age. This can put a lot of pressure on kindergarten teachers.
Nearly all workers expect that their jobs will be deemed important, and teachers are no exception. McGraw-Hill, though, says that some do not consider teaching to be a professional career, as teachers often do not need the same amount of training as other professions. For instance, most teachers can start work after four years of preparation. While most do pursue graduate degrees, not all do and not every state or district encourages it or requires it of their employees. Teachers also are paid significantly lower than other professions, and they have little control over their work environments. Kindergarten teachers are under even more scrutiny, as other professionals might see them as glorified babysitters or day care providers. In addition, it might be hard for kindergarten teachers to look professional, as they must aim for comfort and convenience when planning a wardrobe.