An elementary education degree is designed to educate potential teachers the methods, theories and practices involved in teaching kindergarten through sixth grade. The normal degree pursued is a bachelor's, which allows the graduate to become a teacher.  Higher levels degrees can be obtained to pursue administrative positions. With additional coursework elementary education majors can also be qualified to teach special classes, such as English as a second language or accelerated learning. Most programs will also assist in providing practical experience through internships and other means. Coursework will focus on basic education skills, child development, and instruction.

Some classes may include:

• Human Relations
• Language Arts Instruction
• Technology for Teaching and Learning
• School and Society
• Learning, Cognition and Assessment

Public institutions require licensure, special forms of which may obtained by graduates to immediately begin teaching. National certification is also available and demonstrates a higher level of competency in instruction than a license and can allow for the transfer of a license from one state to another. Elementary education requires individuals to work well with children, be patient, have excellent communication skills, and be organized in order to properly execute planned curriculums.

Teachers who take on the additional coursework to qualify for specialty instruction tend to have a higher rate of pay than teachers who do not. Classes requiring such specialty instruction, including ESL classes, accelerated learning classes, and courses for learning disabled children, are on the rise and as such the demand for qualified teachers is similarly increasing. Teacher's who specialize in working with disabled children may require more extensive study than others, as well as the ability to create a study plan for individual students. 

Some skills necessary for a successful elementary education teach are:

• Planning
• Critical Thinking
• Evaluation
• Analyses
• Research

The average salary for an elementary teacher is $49,000 per year. The average starting salary for an elementary school teacher with a bachelor's degree is $34,000 per year.

Teachers, especially elementary school teachers, are under more scrutiny than others. The importance of quality instruction during elementary school years is pivotal to their development, and it cannot be stressed enough how much patience, care, and understanding is required to work with children. An aspiring teacher who finds he or she is unable to work with young children should consider a different career rather than   adversely affect the lives of developing youths. 

Those interested in elementary education may also want to look into social work, early childhood education, or educational administration.