Elementary School Teacher

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers (4142) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers (E132) 
• 2011 NOC: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (4032) 
• 2016 NOC: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (4032) 

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 their potential
• help students learn appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes
• facilitate positive social relationships between students
• 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 extracurricular and after-school activities
• attend meetings, seminars and professional development sessions
• deal with children’s crises such as forgotten lunches, minor scrapes, family emergencies and 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” (work as a group of 2 or more teachers to plan and carry our teaching activities) or teach music, second languages or physical education at multiple grade levels.

Elementary teachers who have specialized in early childhood education are prepared to work with children from kindergarten to Grade 3. Early childhood education programs focus on the development of positive self-concepts in young children. These teachers plan, organize and provide a wide variety of developmentally appropriate experiences that foster understanding and use of language through:

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

Most kindergarten teachers in urban areas teach 2 different groups of children each day, 1 in the morning and 1 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, Indigenous 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 usually are 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. Teachers are required to maintain a positive learning environment while addressing the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of students from diverse backgrounds. A teacher’s day, therefore, is busy and requires careful attention to a wide variety of responsibilities concurrently.

Elementary teachers are employed in:

• playgrounds
• 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 2011 National Occupational Classification 4032: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers. In Alberta, 99% of people employed in this classification work in the Educational Services [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] 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)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the E132: Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.5% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 320 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

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

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

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