Elementary school teachers teach and facilitate the learning of children ranging in age from four to 12 years in Kindergarten to Grade 6.

In general, elementary school teachers:

• identify children's individual and collective learning needs
• plan and deliver instruction based on student learning needs
• provide a stimulating learning environment in which each child can experience growth and develop to potential
• help students learn appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes
• use various assessment tools to evaluate and communicate student progress
• serve as role models for students.

Elementary classes vary in size and include students who represent a broad range of abilities, interests and needs. A variety of instructional and assessment strategies are required to maintain student interest and maximize individual learning.

In addition, elementary teachers:

• meet with parents
• meet with other professionals to discuss individual student needs and progress
• organize and direct the work of teacher assistants and parent volunteers
• supervise extra-curricular and after school activities
• attend meetings, seminars and professional development sessions
• deal with children's crises such as forgotten lunches, minor scrapes, family emergencies or not being picked up as scheduled.

Most elementary teachers are responsible for a homeroom class of 20 to 33 children and teach most subjects. Some teachers team teach or teach music, second languages or physical education at different grade levels.

Elementary teachers who have specialized in Early Childhood Education are prepared to work with children from kindergarten to Grade 3. These programs focus on the development of positive self-concepts in young children and include planning, organizing and providing a wide variety of developmentally appropriate experiences that foster understanding and use of language through:

• hands on activities, stories, discussions, songs, art, games and other exploratory learning activities
• listening experiences
• individual and group activities and projects.

Most kindergarten teachers in urban areas teach two different groups of children each day (one in the morning, one in the afternoon). In rural areas, kindergarten teachers often work in half day or alternate full day programs.

Many schools in Alberta offer language immersion or bilingual programs in Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish, Ukrainian, native and other languages. In addition, the number of non-English speaking immigrant children in the province has created a need for English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learners (ELL) teachers. ESL and ELL classes are usually taught by elementary teachers who have completed related university course work.

Teaching is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation that requires a high level of energy. Much of the time teachers are on their feet interacting with children. Maintaining discipline in a classroom is a constant challenge especially when the class includes special needs children who have behavioural disorders.

In Alberta, the minimum qualification required to teach in an elementary school is four years of post-secondary education leading to a bachelor of education (B.Ed.) degree. The following post-secondary institutions offer B.Ed. degree programs.

• Canadian University College in Lacombe offers a four year B.Ed. program with a specialization in elementary education. The admission requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent with a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, Pure Math 30 and two other 30 level courses, preferably laboratory sciences.
• Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton offers a two year B.Ed. after-degree program in elementary education. The admission requirement is a bachelor's degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.3/4 on the most recently attempted 30 credits. The admission requirement for degree programs is an overall average of at least 60 per cent in English Language Arts 30-1 and four other appropriate 30 level subjects. 
• The King's University College in Edmonton offers a two year B.Ed. after-degree program in elementary education. The admission requirement is a bachelor's degree (comprising of at least 90 credits) with specified courses, successful interview with the Dean and a GPA of at least 2.7/4 in the last 60 credits.
• St. Mary's University College in Calgary offers a two year B.Ed. after-degree program in elementary education. The admission requirement is a bachelor's degree with a strong liberal arts component from a recognized university or university college with a senior year average of at least 72 per cent or a GPA of 2.7.
• The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers B.Ed. degree, joint degree and after-degree programs in elementary education through the Faculty of Education and the Faculte Saint-Jean. Off-campus B.Ed. degree programs can be completed at Grande Prairie Regional College and Red Deer College. The admission requirement for the Faculty of Education is a competitive average in one year of pre-professional studies (usually in arts, science, human ecology or physical education) including 24 units of transferable course weight to the student's B.Ed. major. Admission to pre-professional studies programs generally requires a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, plus four other approved Grade 12 subjects from the humanities, fine arts and sciences. The admission requirement for the Faculte Saint-Jean program is the same except that 30 level French is specifically required.
• The University of Calgary offers after-degree and combined degree programs in elementary education. Students take three years in a communication and culture, fine arts, kinesiology or science program, then transfer to education for the remaining two years of a five year combined degree program. The admission requirement for the communication and culture program is a competitive average in five Grade 12 subjects: English Language Arts 30-1; one of the following: Pure or Applied Math 30, Math 31, or a 30-level language other than English; and three of the following: Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Social Studies 30, Science 30 or one other five credit Grade 12 subject.
• The University of Lethbridge offers combined degree and after-degree B.Ed. programs. The admission requirement for the after-degree program is a GPA of at least 2.5/4 in a bachelor's degree program with a major in a school subject. Students are admitted to the Faculty of Education after two or three years of university studies. Admission requirements for combined degree programs depend on the combined degree desired. The basic entrance requirement is a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, three 30 level subjects (math or science courses may be required or recommended) and a fifth Grade 12 subject.

Competition for admission to quota programs is often keen. Post-secondary institutions may give preference to applicants who have experience working with children in a leadership capacity. Valuable experience can be obtained from:

• volunteer work in elementary schools
• playground supervision
• day care work
• hospital volunteering
• amateur sports coaching
• teacher assistant work
• working with children in organized groups.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the province offer university transfer programs that allow students to apply up to two years of study toward university bachelor's degree programs. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the courses they choose to take will be accepted for credit at the institution to which they wish to transfer.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Under Alberta's School Act and Certification of Teachers Regulation, school teachers must be certified by Alberta Education.

Elementary teachers are employed in:

•  public schools
• private schools
• hospitals and other institutions.

To find employment, new graduates may relocate to rural or isolated communities or work as supply (substitute) teachers.

With experience and additional training, elementary school teachers may advance to positions such as:

• team leader or co-ordinator of a subject area in a large school or school system
• vice-principal, assistant principal or principal
• specialist in a department of education, university or school district.

Elementary school teachers are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 4142: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers.  In Alberta, most people employed in this classification work in the Educational Services industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Educational Services industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.The Alberta Teachers' Association estimates that about 900 teaching positions will become vacant each year due to retirement.

Salaries vary from one school board to another because wages and benefits are determined by collective agreements between boards and their teachers. Teachers are paid according to a grid system which is based on number of years of training and experience. Administrators such as school principals recieve an additional allowance.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers group earned from $21.58 to $53.33 an hour. The average wage was $38.86 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

All teachers employed in Alberta's publicly supported schools are members of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and are automatically included under the Alberta Teachers Pension Plan Act. Holidays and pensions are specified by provincial legislation. However, teachers often use the summer break period of July and August, or Christmas and spring break holidays, for professional development or for fulfilling additional professional responsibilities.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) website: www.teachers.ab.ca