Elementary School Teachers

Key Responsibilities

• Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
• Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
• Read books to entire classes or small groups.
• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
• Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• Assign and grade class work and homework.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
• Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
• Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
• Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
• Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
• Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
• Organize and label materials and display students' work.
• Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of elementary school programs.
• Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
• Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
• Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
• Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine student strengths and needs.
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
• Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
• Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
• Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
• Involve parent volunteers and older students in children's activities to facilitate involvement in focused, complex play.
• Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.