When it comes to building the structure of a child’s education, elementary school teachers can be seen as the ones who lay the first bricks of the foundation. Not only do they teach kids how to do important things like read and write, they are also the first examples of how to behave aside from the child’s family members. 

Are you looking to be a part of K-12 school staffing? You want to be the best elementary school teacher possible. But how do you do that? 

Not to worry. We are here to help you. Read on to learn more. 

You Need to be Consistent

Your students will learn best if you are there all the time … and if you are also consistent in how you treat each student. You can’t reward one of them for what is really sloppy work and then scold them later on. Show them the proper way to do things from the very start. 

This is very important from a very early age - they need to learn from the same person for the whole year. Having abrupt change at that age can be very jarring and it can actually create anxiety. You will have much more of an impact on them than you will ever know. 

This also means showing up to work each and every day. Those students need to know that you will be consistent. Yes, illness happens, but come in as much as possible. 

You Need to Lay Out The Rules Early

Your elementary school kids need to know immediately what they can or cannot do either in the classroom or in terms of their homework. That means writing out things and putting them on the wall or even giving them reminders to take home and show their parents. Do it in such a way that they will not be able to say that they didn’t know. 

These rules will also give them a firm sense of structure that they need to help guide them through the school day. They can also use that at home when it comes to doing their homework or studying for a test. 

By doing this at the very beginning, it will start to be ingrained in them as the school year goes on. Then they will be behaving properly by the end of the year. There may have to be some remedial learning after the summer, but each grade should get easier. 

You Need to Get to Know Your Students

These students need to know that they are people in your eyes, not just someone to push through to the next grade. Talk with them and learn about what they like and what they don’t like. They need to feel like individuals … and show them that by how you interact with them. 

Spend some time, especially early on in the school year, finding out what they like. Have them fill out a sheet where they list things about themselves including their favorites and information about their families. Read those carefully and remember them. 

Then throughout the rest of the year, incorporate those things into lessons and conversations. They will appreciate it, especially as you get students in the fourth and fifth grades who are really starting to get a footing on identifying who they are as people. 

You  Need to Communicate With Them

Elementary students are not mind readers, no matter what it may seem like. You have to talk with them about how they are doing in class, whether it is good or if there are areas that need to be improved. That will help foster a good relationship with them.

This also means being as approachable as possible. They should not be afraid to talk to you. if they don’t communicate, they won’t learn. This is a time in their lives that they need dependable adult figures besides their parents. 

You Need to Make Learning Fun

Kids don’t want to come to school and feel like they are robots who are being taught things that won’t help them later. Instead, you want to teach them in such a way that their spark for learning is ignited. If you make learning fun, then they will want to keep going after school is over. 

Try to bring them into a discussion - don’t just stand there lecturing. Ask them questions and aim to have them participate. Get them to be active participants in the class rather than passive - and don’t dismiss any particular child if they get an answer wrong. 

This is a time to be extra encouraging. You want to instill a passion for learning and you can do that by being passionate yourself. It won’t hurt to be a little goofy, either - getting them to laugh can be good. 

These are just some of the things that you can do to be a great elementary school teacher. There are other resources and things to do to continuously learn on the job. They include: 

• Finding a Mentor To Talk to Regularly -  Starting off at a school as a new teacher can be intimidating. Find an experienced teacher and see if they are willing to be sounding boards. If not, you could always talk to an old teacher or professor

• Taking Seminars and Courses - Often you need to take professional development classes over the course of your career so that you can keep your teaching license. Take advantage of those, especially ones that center around elementary teaching. You may learn some very valuable things. 

• Looking Online  - There are a lot of websites out there that are devoted to education. You may find articles on there that are about elementary teaching. Read this and take notes. 

One of the main things that you will need to be a great elementary school teacher is to be confident. Trust that you are going to be helping these children on their path to higher grades. That will make a very big difference with how you approach your job. 

Being an elementary school teacher can be hard, but it can also be very rewarding. If you follow the above, you stand a much better chance of your students remembering you fondly when they get older. 

Author bio-  Milli Beamer has been helping employers find qualified employees using staffing agencies. She now wants to share her knowledge with others.