Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Kindergarten Teacher
A Kindergarten Teacher is a professional who plays a vital role in a child's early education and development. They create a nurturing and engaging environment where young learners can develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Kindergarten Teachers.
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Main Responsibilities of a Kindergarten Teacher
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Kindergarten Teacher:
Adhere to
Adhere to curricular objectives.
Align
Align content of lessons to common curriculum goals, content standards, and benchmark standards.
Analyze
Analyze data to intervene and adjust instruction.
Assess
Assess and evaluate student progress through observation and assessments.
Assess each child's developmental needs on an ongoing basis.
Assess for mastery and track student progress toward goals.
Assess students performance and progress to ensure they are mastering the skills on regular basis.
Assign
Assign lessons and correct classwork and homework in a timely manner.
Assist in
Assist and coordinate snacks, meals, naptime and bathroom activities.
Assist in other capacities that Director, or designee, determines are necessary.
Assist with groups during lock down fire drills, and is aware of proper fire evacuation procedures.
Attend
Attend all required staff meetings, workshops and / or school functions.
Attend all training opportunities and marketing events to learn and assist as directed.
Attend and participates actively in all program / centre, parental or other meetings as required.
Attend professional development workshops.
Attend staff, department, mentor / mentee and inservice meetings as required by contract.
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Coach
Coach, monitor, and mentor classroom support staff working with students with disabilities.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with other teachers and staff to ensure a cohesive learning experience.
Collaborate with support staff, such as speech therapists or counselors, when necessary.
Communicate
Communicate and works collaboratively to support and create partnerships with colleagues.
Communicate appropriately and professionally with parents and fellow teachers.
Communicate directly with parents and prospective parents to achieve success for the child.
Communicate effectively both orally and in written form.
Communicate positively with students, parents and other stakeholders.
Communicate students' progress with student and family on a weekly basis.
Communicate with parents on student academic progress.
Communicate with parents or guardians regarding student progress and behavior.
Communicate with parents weekly using a variety of strategies including Class DoJo.
Complete
Complete assessments and portfolios under direction of lead teacher.
Complete required record keeping such as student attendance, grades and report cards.
Complete student evaluations, report to parents and provide results to management.
Complete weekly and monthly reports to parents.
Conduct
Conduct activities that involve child growth and help them get accustomed to the school environment.
Conduct daily health check of children, records illness, and contacts parents regarding the illness.
Contribute
Contribute ideas to weekly curriculum.
Cooperate with
Cooperate with administration staff.
Create
Create and maintain a safe and supportive classroom environment.
Create an inclusive program for all children, including children who may have disabilities.
Create a powerful learning environment.
Create a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment.
Create fun and interactive learning experiences while serving as mentors to fellow Teachers.
Create instructional resources for use in the classroom.
Create lesson plans and modify accordingly throughout the year.
Create lessons using the appropriate Florida standards.
Create positive educational climate for students to learn in.
Create projects designed to enhance lectures.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate accurate knowledge of the subject matter.
Design
Design and follow a complete teaching plan.
Develop
Develop and implement lesson plans.
Develop and implement lesson plans that align with curriculum standards.
Develop a positive relationship with parents and communicate with them daily.
Develop effective classroom procedures and routines.
Develop incentives to keep participants in class.
Develop professional relationships with other agencies and programs.
Encourage
Encourage creativity and imagination through art, music, and storytelling.
Encourage social interaction and cooperation among students.
Enforce
Enforce all safety measures with students, required by COVID-19 policies.
Engage
Engage in summer and year-long district, school and personal learning and development.
Engage students in lessons daily.
Enhance
Enhance the learning environment for students.
Ensure
Ensure the program operates at all times in compliance with all Child Care licensing standards.
Ensure the safe storage and handling of food and equipment.
Ensure the safety and well-being of children at all times.
Establish
Establish and communicate clear objectives for all learning activities.
Establish and enforce classroom rules and behavior expectations.
Establish and maintain regular communication with parents and co-workers.
Establish classroom disciplinary policies.
Establish classroom standards of conduct and clear consequences.
Facilitate
Facilitate use of higher level thinking skills in instruction.
Follow
Follow and comply with teaching standards and safety regulations.
Follow a schedule that incorporates child-directed activity, care routines and transition times.
Follow Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Positive Guidance.
Follow the Ontario Kindergarten Program Statement as outlined in the School Act.
Foster
Foster a love for learning and curiosity in young children.
Foster a positive and respectful classroom environment.
Foster healthy relationships with students and faculty to create an enriched learning environment.
Grade
Grade papers and perform other administrative duties as needed.
Guide
Guide pupil progress toward established district standards.
Guide students in developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Help
Help students develop fine and gross motor skills.
Host
Host necessary tutoring sessions to meet all students' needs.
Implement
Implement a student centered approach to problem-solving and conflict-resolution.
Implement best-practice instructional techniques and strategies.
Implement instructional techniques to encourage and motivate students.
Incorporate
Incorporate play-based and hands-on activities into lessons.
Input
Input grades biweekly and provide written communication to parents when grades are not passing.
Integrate
Integrate competencies, goals, and objectives into lesson plans.
Integrate key content elements.
Interact
Interact with children to support play, exploration, and learning.
Introduce
Introduce students to cultural diversity and promote inclusivity.
Keep abreast with
Keep abreast with the latest trends and best practices.
Maintain
Maintain accurate records.
Maintain accurate records of student attendance, progress, and behavior.
Maintain a fun and interactive classroom that is clean and organized.
Maintain an open line of communication with parents and provide appropriate information.
Maintain classroom management.
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Maintain confidentiality of peers, students and parents.
Maintain discipline in the classroom.
Maintain effective communication with students, parents and faculty.
Maintain organized data of students' growth including academic and social / emotional development.
Maintain records and prepares applicable reports.
Maintain regular and open communication with program team members and all other co-workers.
Maintain regulated and required documentation, reporting and record keeping.
Maintain student learning process files.
Maintain substitute plans in case of Teacher absence.
Manage
Manage and maintain an orderly classroom.
Manage classroom resources, materials, and equipment.
Manage student behavior in the classroom by invoking approved disciplinary procedures.
Manage student behavior in the classroom creating appropriate behavior strategies.
Meet
Meet course and school-wide student performance goals.
Meet the individual needs of each child.
Meet the requirements of schedules and time lines.
Monitor
Monitor and address the individual needs of students, including special needs and English language learners.
Monitor and report on student progress.
Monitor children's interactions and nurture cooperation and sharing.
Observe
Observe and evaluate student's performance.
Organize
Organize and supervise field trips and extracurricular activities.
Organize field trips and is responsible for supervising the children on field trips, etc..
Participate in
Participate and interact in team meetings and workshops.
Participate in all duties and responsibilities as appropriate for an AZACS faculty member.
Participate in all school events and take an initiative to run and support school programs.
Participate in ongoing training sessions.
Participate in other duties, sometimes after contracted hours.
Participate in parent conferences.
Participate in parent-teacher conferences and school events.
Participate in professional development and staff meetings.
Participate in teacher training and meetings.
Plan
Plan and carry out activities that encourage problem solving.
Plan and deliver age-appropriate lessons and activities.
Plan and deliver purposeful, rigorous instruction.
Plan and develop program webs online with children's interests.
Plan, evaluate, and assign lessons.
Plan, prepare and deliver instructional activities.
Plan with a member of the Leadership Team the parent-teacher conferences and student evaluations.
Plan with the Director, all required parent-teacher conferences and student evaluations.
Prepare
Prepare and distribute parent communications.
Prepare and distribute required reports.
Prepare and follow class appropriate Lesson Plans.
Prepare and set-up materials for classroom activities of all interests.
Prepare lesson plans as required.
Prepare snack according to daily plan as required.
Prepare snack / lunch tables as required, serves children snacks and lunches as required.
Present
Present expectations that are age and developmentally appropriate.
Promote
Promote early literacy skills, including phonics and vocabulary development.
Provide
Provide academic interventions for struggling students.
Provide additional instruction and support when necessary.
Provide a safe, clean and positive classroom environment.
Provide a standard of instruction that meets Teacher Quality Standards for Ontario.
Provide constructive feedback and encouragement to students.
Provide daily feedback to support staff.
Provide for safe storage and proper use of technology materials, equipment and tools.
Provide individualized support and guidance to students as needed.
Provide support for children in the classroom and encourage them to fully participate in activities.
Read
Read and retain a copy of Employee Handbook, policies, procedures, and operating guidelines.
Read and stay abreast of current topics in education.
Read a variety of materials, engage in ongoing professional development.
Read, interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures.
Sanitize
Sanitize and check toys and equipment used in activities to ensure safety.
Set
Set a good housekeeping example in the classroom and encourage students to follow this example.
Set-up
Set-up and puts away cots as required.
Share
Share responsibility for maintaining program equipment in good repair.
Supervise
Supervise and manage daily functions for a class of children.
Support
Support are in place when necessary.
Support children to become aware of their roles as integral members of a group.
Support children to make better choices about their behavior as needed.
Sustain
Sustain an engaging and supportive learning environment.
Take
Take every child's environment, learning style, and background into consideration.
Take professional initiative.
Teach
Teach alphabet and numeracy along with personal, social and emotional skills.
Teach basic health and hygiene habits.
Teach content area curriculum to a group of 10 students taught in a center fashion.
Teach core content using a scripted curriculum.
Teach
Teach foundational skills, such as reading, writing, and math.
Teach letter recognition, phonics, numbers, and awareness of nature and science.
Track
Track record of success in behavior management with students with autism or other special needs.
Tutor
Tutor students on an individual basis.
Understand
Understand and embrace the values of the original United States Constitution.
Uphold
Uphold & support company policies.
Use
Use a variety of teaching strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of students.
Use effective classroom management techniques to maintain an organized learning environment.
Use games, music, artwork, films, books, computers, and other tools to teach basic skills.
Use of resources for adaptive / assistive devices that provide access for all students.
Use play and hands-on teaching.
Use technology effectively to enhance learning experiences.
Use various teaching methods and materials to accommodate different learning styles.
Utilize
Utilize public library resources.
Utilize student data to inform instruction.
Utilize various curriculum resources.
Utilize various curriculum resources and technologies to enhance student learning.
Work with
Work closely with Special Education and 504 teachers to ensure accommodations are implemented.
Work collaboratively with team members on school initiatives and programming.
Work in the development of the IB Programming.
Work through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes.
Work with program coordinators to ensure initiatives are being met.
Work with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes.
Write
Write grant proposals to gain funding for further research.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Kindergarten Teacher:
Knowledge of early childhood education principles and best practices.
Familiarity with age-appropriate teaching methods and strategies.
Proficiency in curriculum development and lesson planning.
Understanding of educational technology tools and resources for young learners.
Ability to assess and evaluate student progress using various assessment methods.
Knowledge of early literacy and numeracy instruction techniques.
Familiarity with child development stages and milestones.
Proficiency in creating and maintaining a structured learning environment.
Understanding of behavior management and positive discipline strategies.
Knowledge of classroom management techniques for young children.
Ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Proficiency in teaching English as a second language, if applicable.
Knowledge of special education principles and accommodations.
Understanding of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in the classroom.
Familiarity with early childhood assessment tools and practices.
Proficiency in using educational software and digital learning platforms.
Knowledge of early childhood health and safety regulations.
Ability to adapt and modify curriculum to meet individual student needs.
Understanding of child psychology and socio-emotional development.
Proficiency in managing and organizing classroom resources and materials.
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Kindergarten Teacher:
Patience and empathy for young learners.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Creativity and the ability to make learning engaging and fun.
Adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic classroom environment.
Organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Collaborative and teamwork abilities with colleagues and parents.
Active listening skills to understand student needs and concerns.
Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
Enthusiasm and a passion for working with young children.
Positive attitude and the ability to create a nurturing and supportive learning environment.
Conclusion
As a Kindergarten Teacher, mastering both the hard skills and soft skills is essential for providing a quality early education experience. By fulfilling their responsibilities and continuously developing their skills, Kindergarten Teachers contribute to the growth and development of young minds, helping children establish a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
