Things You'll Need:
- Desire to teach young children
- An Associate's or Bachelor’s degree
- Certification
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Step 1
Prepare to teach kindergarten starting in high school. There are several courses you can take. The first choice is psychology, especially if your high school offers a course in child psychology. Sociology and health courses are also good choices. Kindergarten teachers are likely to teach art, music or physical education so courses in any of these areas are good preparation as well. You can enhance your high school preparation by volunteering or working part-time at a daycare or after school program, in summer programs for young children, or even as a coaching assistant in organized sports programs for kids.
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Step 2
Earn an appropriate degree. Here what is required varies from state to state. In some states, you only need a two-year (Associate’s) degree in Child Development. A growing number of states now require a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education earned in an accredited teacher’s program. Before you commit to a particular course of study, check with your state licensing agency to find out what is required.
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Step 3
Gain hands-on experience by student teaching. This is usually required in a Bachelor’s degree program. Whether it is or not, having actual classroom experience is not only a valuable learning experience, it will improve your chances of getting a position as a kindergarten teacher after you graduate.
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Step 4
Complete all teacher certification requirements. Again, these vary from state to state. In most states you must pass a teacher’s competency exam once you’ve completed the academic requirements in order to be licensed to teach.
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Step 5
Continue your education. Continuing education is vital to being an effective teacher, especially since you are preparing children for their future in a rapidly changing world. You will need to keep abreast of the newest developments in educational practice. In addition, you may need to add new skills to your teaching repertoire from time to time. For example, teaching introductory computer skills in kindergarten is becoming more common and you may find yourself required to add this to your teaching schedule.
