How to Become an Elementary Teacher and Lead a Classroom

Teaching young children is a goal you can plan for, whether it has been on your mind for years or is a newer idea after time in another career. The path into an elementary classroom follows a few clear steps, and knowing them early makes the decision easier to act on.

Elementary teachers shape how children first learn to read, solve problems, and get along with others, so the work carries real weight in a child's life. The preparation behind it matters just as much, because good training is what turns care for kids into steady skill in the classroom.

One place that prepares educators for that work is Gordon College, where students in the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education learn to teach through both coursework and time in real classrooms.

The main steps to becoming an elementary school teacher

Every elementary teacher reaches the classroom through the same set of milestones, shaped by the state where they plan to work. Elementary teacher training addresses a breadth of topics, from reading and math to classroom management, so teachers are ready to teach all core subjects to many diverse learners.

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. Aspiring teachers begin with an undergraduate degree, most often in elementary education, that builds both the knowledge and the practiced skills the classroom requires.
2. Complete an approved teacher preparation program. For most future teachers, this program is part of the bachelor's degree itself, teaching them how to plan lessons, manage a classroom, and support the way children learn.
3. Complete student teaching. This practicum is typically a component of an approved teacher preparation program, built into the bachelor's degree, giving future teachers a full semester of supervised classroom hours leading lessons under an experienced mentor. It is where classroom skills come together.
4. Pass the required licensure exams. Most states ask candidates to pass exams covering reading, math, and general teaching skills before they can be licensed.
5. Apply for a state teaching license. Once the program and exams are finished, someone pursuing this path applies to the state for the license that allows them to lead their own classroom.

What degree elementary school teachers need to practice

A bachelor's degree is the standard starting point for elementary teachers, and most earn it in elementary education.

That major is built around the work teachers actually do each day. A degree in elementary education usually covers:

• Child development: How children grow, think, and learn at each stage.
• Reading and literacy: How children learn to read, which should be taught through the science of reading, an evidence-based approach to early literacy.
• Subject methods: Practical ways to teach math, science, and other core subjects.
• Inclusive teaching: Strategies for reaching learners with different needs.

Reading and math preparation typically carry the most weight, because both are foundational skills with a lifelong impact on a child's learning. Teachers trained in these areas can spot early on where a child is struggling and step in before small gaps have time to grow.

Not everyone arrives through an education major, though. Some future teachers study another subject first and add teaching preparation later, which opens a second route into the profession.

How teacher preparation and student teaching work

Getting ready for the classroom happens through two connected experiences: formal preparation coursework and hands-on student teaching. Together they turn subject knowledge into the skill it takes to lead a room of children.

What a teacher preparation program is

A teacher preparation program, sometimes called an educator preparation program, is state-approved training that gets future teachers ready to lead a classroom.

For most future teachers, it is built into the bachelor's degree, though those who already hold a degree in another field can complete it separately. Its coursework covers how to plan lessons, manage a classroom, and measure student learning, along with supervised hours spent observing experienced teachers at work.

What student teaching is

Student teaching is a supervised placement in a real classroom, usually lasting a full semester. Working under an experienced mentor, candidates take on real teaching duties and receive feedback that sharpens their skills before they lead a class of their own.

The strongest programs begin this hands-on work early rather than saving it for the final year. At Gordon College, students in the Herschend School of Education begin field experience in real classrooms during their first year, long before student teaching begins.

How to earn a state teaching license

A state teaching license, also called elementary teacher certification, is the official permission that lets someone lead their own classroom. Earning it usually involves a few steps.

1. Pass the required licensure exams. Most states ask candidates to pass exams that cover reading, math, and general teaching skills. These exams confirm that a future teacher is ready to lead instruction.
2. Clear a background check. States review each candidate's background to keep classrooms safe for children. This step is standard across the country and happens before a license is granted.
3. Submit transcripts and the license application. Candidates send their college transcripts along with a formal application to the state education department. Once the state confirms that all requirements are met, it issues the license.

Exam names and specific rules vary from state to state, so candidates should check with their state's department of education for current details.

Can you become an elementary teacher without an education degree?

Yes. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, you can still become a teacher through alternative teacher certification, a route designed for people who did not major in education.

Alternative certification usually works through a graduate-level or accelerated program that adds the coursework and student teaching you still need. Many of these programs also offer a provisional or residency license, which lets you teach in your own classroom while you finish the remaining requirements.

The right route depends on where you are starting from:

• Recent graduate: If you just finished a degree in another subject, an alternative program adds teaching preparation without repeating your undergraduate years.
• Career changer: If you are leaving another profession, you bring real-world experience into the classroom while a preparation program builds your teaching skills.
• Current classroom aide or tutor: If you already support a classroom as an aide or tutor, alternative certification can turn that daily experience into a license of your own.

Start your elementary teaching career at Gordon College

Choosing to teach means deciding to spend your days helping children grow, and the right preparation makes that goal feel within reach. Gordon College's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is built to get you ready for that work.

It is nationally recognized for reading instruction grounded in the science of reading and places students in real classrooms starting in their first year. Graduates leave prepared for an initial Massachusetts license that easily transfers to all 50 states.

If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, Gordon's graduate program in elementary education can prepare you for the same license and classroom.

Request information about Gordon's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education to explore admissions requirements, coursework, and campus visits, or start an application to begin your teaching career.

FAQs about becoming an elementary school teacher

How long does it take to become an elementary school teacher?

The traditional route takes about as long as a standard bachelor's degree. If you already hold a degree, an alternative or graduate program can get you there faster.

Do you need a master's degree to teach elementary school?

No. A bachelor's degree plus a state license is enough to start teaching, though some teachers earn a master's later to grow in their careers or increase their pay.

What subjects do elementary school teachers teach?

Most elementary teachers teach several core subjects to the same class, including reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.