Building on the work of early childhood educators, elementary school educators continue to nourish the child's joy of discovery and passion for learning, and provide for the child's social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and moral growth — giving special attention to the mastery of those basic skills and concepts that are the foundation of all future learning.
Elementary school educators are responsible for:
Having appropriate training and knowledge regarding the developmental characteristics and needs of this age group.
Creating a safe and secure environment in which students grow in both autonomy and the ability to work and play together.
Designing and implementing programs that actively engage students in making connections, solving problems, and thinking independently.
Teaching to individual learning styles and intelligences and assess learning in a variety of ways.
Supporting the child's emerging identity by respecting and providing for each student's voice.
Building relationships with their students in which each child feels understood, nurtured, and challenged.
Working to create a relationship with parents that facilitate the exchange of information necessary to ensure the child's progress.
Creating opportunities for children to become increasingly responsible for the many communities in which they live.
Defending the dignity and worth of each member of the community and create an environment that fosters respect, understanding, and acceptance of differences.
