23 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually arrive 30–60 minutes before students. Greeting children, helping with coats, and settling them into activities happens first. Then you teach planned lessons, read to whole classes or small groups, demonstrate activities, and use tools like Microsoft PowerPoint or Seesaw for presentations and student work.
Afternoons include assessing progress, meeting briefly with parents or preparing remediation, supervising halls or lunch if scheduled, and finishing administrative tasks in Microsoft Word or Excel before leaving.
Expect daily use of Microsoft Word for lesson plans and Microsoft Outlook for email. Microsoft PowerPoint and audio-visual aids are common for lessons, and Excel tracks grades or inventories of classroom supplies.
Many teachers use Seesaw or Bloomz to share student work with parents, and Padlet for interactive class boards. Children's educational software may be used for literacy and life-skill practice.
Teachers set clear objectives for lessons and use formative checks—quizzes, reading aloud, or short projects—to assess progress. They record results in Word or Excel and observe social and physical development during activities.
For students needing help, teachers prepare remedial programs, meet with parents or guardians to discuss strategies, and collaborate with other teachers and special-education staff to adapt instruction and support inclusion.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2025), 108,870 people were employed in this occupation. The median pay is $62,680 per year. The lowest 10% earned about $46,990, and the highest 10% earned about $101,830.
Actual pay varies by district, state, certification, and experience. Use the BLS numbers to get the national picture, then check local district pay schedules for exact figures.
Start with a bachelor’s degree in education or a subject area plus teacher-preparation coursework. Focus on lesson planning, classroom management, child development, and assessment methods you’ll use every day.
Get practical experience through student teaching or volunteering. Learn common tools like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and classroom platforms like Seesaw or Bloomz early—schools expect you to use them.
Both work with children, greet and settle them, and organize activities. But teachers implement curriculum, set clear objectives for lessons and assess student learning; childcare workers focus more on supervision and care rather than formal instruction.
Teachers prepare written lesson plans, show evidence of preparation to supervisors, use assessments, and collaborate with parents and other teachers about academic progress and remediation.