Teachers educate, inspire, coach, and facilitate students of all different ages. Techniques used by teachers range depending on the age and capability of the particular class or student. It is common for teachers to use interactive discussions and hands-on approaches to assist students in learning. The “props” or “manipulatives” that are used can also range depending on the specific need. Concepts of numbers or of addition and subtraction may be taught to children with the use of board games or flash cards. This is an example of a prop.
Teachers who educate students in preschool and primary school essentially establish the foundation of how a child progresses in later stages of life, learning, and education. Early experiences are crucial to the development of children. Subjects such as mathematics, language, science, and social studies are introduced through a series of games, music, art, film, and books. Due to the advances in technology and the impact of computers on society, introduction to computers is also a main focus.
Preschool students learn primarily through play and interactive activities. Storytelling and rhyming games, along with repetition, act to further improve social skills. Preschool settings tend to be less structured and are smaller in size than higher levels of education. One on one instruction and learning through creative activities are the basis for success in these children.
Elementary teachers, starting with kindergarten, teach in a more structured manner. Kindergarten students begin to learn letter recognition, phonics, and numbers. They also begin to become aware of nature and science. Most elementary school teachers work with one class and teach several subjects.
Middle school teachers and secondary school teachers begin to introduce more information pertaining to real world situations and are commonly responsible for instructing students in a specific subject. Teachers that specialize in a particular field, such as mathematics or science, find it beneficial to instruct one subject throughout the day.
Along with the day to day process of educating, teachers are also responsible for handling a multitude of clerical duties. Teachers design classroom presentations, plan, evaluate and assign lessons, grade homework and tests, complete report cards and progress reports and, at times, may be assigned to oversee study hall, field trips, and extra curricular activities.
A teacher’s job at times will not simply be confined to a traditional workday. There will be times when work is taken home. From correcting homework assignments to planning special activities to participation in extra curricular activities, there may be times when the school day ends but the work continues.
Teachers that are employed by private schools enjoy more freedoms than those that teach in public schools. They are able to take more control over curriculum and are assigned smaller numbers of students per classroom. Many teachers that instruct at private schools feel that the students are more motivated.
