Elementary school teachers are enabling today’s children to develop the necessary skills to become tomorrow’s leaders. Teaching is a challenging job, especially at the elementary school level. In order to be effective, teachers must structure their classrooms with a variety of activities that will keep a child’s attention. Most elementary school teachers have to mix patience with kindness to be productive in a classroom setting.

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of elementary school teachers in the state of Texas. This shortage is taking its toll on our children and their futures. Anyone, who is interested in becoming an elementary school teacher in Texas, can find a rewarding career in this field. Texas has certain state mandated requirements for all elementary school teachers who are trying to obtain a teaching certification. The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program (WCACP) can assist individuals who are seeking certification and a teaching position in Texas. WCACP offers an EC-4 Generalist certification to allow teaching candidates to teach kindergarten through fourth grade.

WCACP allows interested elementary school teacher candidates to obtain the necessary training and instruction before beginning their one-year teaching internship with a school district or accredited private school. This online program gives candidates the flexibility of completing all necessary coursework and assignments from the comforts of home. The alternative certification program is self-paced, which allows candidates to determine how fast they complete coursework and training. This makes daily scheduling relatively simple, and many students are even able to work a full-time job during this certification program.

This online teacher certification program will give elementary school teachers the required tools and knowledge to operate an effective classroom. Online modules guide candidates to forums, polls, and chat sessions with fellow students, who are also trying to obtain certification. These modules also involve assignments and detailed journal entries. The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program also allows candidates to have access to a videoconferencing system. Students can interact with each other face-to-face and receive the necessary instruction and feedback from their fellow counterparts.

In addition, students will also be required to take the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) test. This comprehensive exam will test the qualifications of the applicant in the early childhood subject areas. Study guides and other materials for this exam are available online and at your local college library or bookstore. Elementary school teachers who pass the content exam, have completed the necessary training hours, and completed their one-year teaching internship, will be able to become a certified educator in the state of Texas.

Here are a few tips to help you out on your first day of class. These tips are only meant to be suggestions and can be applied to any elementary classroom setting. Educators should let their students know what the rules are for the classroom. These can be written down on the blackboard for the students to read. Have the children learn these rules by playing a game. For example, let the children study the rules for about 15 minutes and then call individual names off your roll sheet for answers. You will find out quickly that many young children enjoy the attention of being called on and you can even set up a reward system for correct answers.

Be sure to space desks far enough apart from one another so that classroom distractions are kept to a minimum. It is always best to write down the day’s schedule on the blackboard so that the children can read over it. Elementary school teachers, who incorporate structure throughout the day, will be able to manage their classrooms more effectively. Finally, always be sure to include some fun activities in the daily schedule (i.e., game hour, recess time, or teacher to student discussions about interesting things going on in the world). Children need a break from routine, so they can socially express themselves in a healthy manner. These steps are not a guarantee to success, but rather a recipe for potential positive outcomes.