More than a million strong

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than a

work with kids for anything

million and a half Americans made their livings as elementary

school teachers in 2008, and predicted steady but unspectacular

growth in the profession over the next seven years. The Bureau

recently forecasted a net increase, by 2016, of 209,000 jobs.

The outlook for teachers has worsened in some states since

then as the recent recession has put concerted fiscal pressure

on the states, causing budgetary shortfalls that have sometimes

led to job cuts and dismissals. California alone is thought to

have shed about 30,000 teaching and administrative jobs in

2008 and 2009.

At the same time, demographic trends at work below the radar

are heartening for prospective teachers‘ longer

-term prospects,

since large numbers of baby boomers are slated to retire from

the profession over the next decade, and will have to be

replaced by younger colleagues.

5

BEING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER:

REAL-WORLD TIPS AND STORIES FROM WORKING TEACHERS

TEACHER

More than in the past, the positions new teachers fill will be

cooperative and specialized. For better or worse, schools rely

more heavily than ever on adjuncts and on teamwork

–

on reading

TIP

specialists, literacy coaches, emotional adjustment counselors and

committees made up of all three

–

to cope with changes in the

school-age population and to help the schools adjust to changes in

their role. For the time being, the majority of grade school

teachers are still generalists who teach an array of subjects,

including the Three R‘s. But they are supplemented now by

Be open to making

language teachers, music and art teachers, computer and

technology instructors, guidance and mental health advisors and

special education teachers.