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Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

OaSIS code 41221.00

Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.

Overview

Also known as

  • English as a second language elementary school teacher
  • French as a second language elementary school teacher
  • French immersion teacher - elementary school
  • Kindergarten teacher
  • Primary school teacher
  • Remedial teacher - elementary school
  • Special education teacher - elementary school
  • Special education teacher - primary school
  • Supply teacher - elementary school
  • Teacher-librarian - elementary school

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare courses for presentation to students according to approved curriculum
  • Teach students using a systematic plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips
  • Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness
  • Assign and correct homework
  • Prepare, administer and correct tests
  • Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials
  • Identify children's individual learning needs
  • Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
  • Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
  • May supervise teachers' aides and student teachers.

Additional information

  • Progression to education consultant or school principal is possible with experience.
  • Elementary school and kindergarten teachers may specialize in such areas as special education or second language instruction.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education (40021)
  • Secondary school teachers (41220)
  • Early childhood educators and assistants (42202)
  • Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100)
  • Psychoeducator (in 41301.00 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies)
  • Teacher of persons with developmental disabilities (in 42203.00 Instructors of persons with disabilities)
  • Elementary school librarian (in 52100.01 Library Technicians)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

41 – Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government services

Sub-major group

412 – Professional occupations in education services

Minor group

4122 – Secondary, elementary and kindergarten school teachers

Unit group

41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

Occupational profile

41221.00 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Training and Teaching
5 - Highest Level
Assisting and Caring for Others
4 - High Level
Coaching and Developing Others
4 - High Level
Developing Objectives and Strategies
4 - High Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
4 - High amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Standing
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
2 - Less than half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Private elementary schools
  • Public elementary schools

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Speech Clarity
5 - Highest Level
Memorizing
4 - High Level
Multitasking
4 - High Level
Speech Recognition
4 - High Level
Auditory Attention
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Learning and Teaching Strategies
5 - Highest Level
Social Perceptiveness
5 - Highest Level
Instructing
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level
Coordinating
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
5 - Extremely important
Collaboration
5 - Extremely important
Concern for Others
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: SEC

Social (S)

Social occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to inform, train, aid, develop, cure, or enlighten. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others, teaching, working or communicating with people.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A bachelor's degree in education is required.
  • A bachelor's degree in child development may be required.
  • Additional training is required to specialize in special education or second language instruction.
  • A provincial teaching certificate is required. Additional certification is required to teach English or French as a second language.
  • Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers' association or federation is usually required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Teaching
3 - Advanced Level
Clerical
2 - Intermediate Level
Client Service
2 - Intermediate Level
Languages
2 - Intermediate Level
Performance Measurement
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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