Just like primary and secondary school educators, kindergarten teachers develop and adhere to specific lesson plans -- structured curricula -- geared to the mental development of the students. At this education level, although kindergarten teachers use play and hands-on teaching, academics begin to take priority. Kindergarten teachers are responsible for teaching letter recognition, phonics, numbers and an awareness of nature and science.
Kindergarten teachers work in conjunction with parents, sharing the responsibility of introducing children to cultural and socioeconomic differences among families. An article in "Early Childhood Today" geared toward kindergarten and elementary school teachers stated: "We [teachers] are in a unique position to engage in conversations that ask us to consider important questions such as: What does it mean to be a parent raising a child in this diverse world? What does it mean to be a young child growing up in this diverse world?"
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teachers at all levels, including kindergarten, put forth exceeding amounts of time, effort and commitment. Most teachers work more than 40 hours per week, including duties performed at home. Kindergarten educators who teach for the traditional half days often teach two classes per day. A typical school year comprises 10 months of instruction and two months of vacation, during which many teachers teach summer classes or take college courses to continue their education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 179,500 American adults taught kindergarten students in 2008. Between 2008 and 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers will grow by 13 percent. Student enrollment through 2018 is expected to rise steadily in states in the south and the west, and because of this, "teachers who are geographically mobile and who obtain licensure in more than one subject are likely to have a distinct advantage in finding a job."