What Do 4th Grade Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for 4th grade teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what 4th grade teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
4th Grade Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about 4th grade teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
4th Grade Teachers teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
Popular Job Titles For 4th Grade Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Elementary Teachers
- Elementary School Teachers
- 5th Grade Teachers
- 1st Grade Teachers
- 3rd Grade Teachers
- 4th Grade Teachers
- 2nd Grade Teachers
- Classroom Teachers
- Upper Elementary Teachers
- 2nd Grade Elementary Teachers
- Elementary Classroom Teachers
- Elementary Music Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for 4th grade teachers can be found.
Best Industries for 4th Grade Teachers
4th Grade Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 85.2%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 13.2%
- Religious Organizations: 0.8%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.5%
- Child Day Care Services: 0.1%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 0%
- Other: 0.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of 4th grade teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 85.2% of all jobs for 4th grade teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (13.2%), Religious Organizations (0.8%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.5%), Child Day Care Services (0.1%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (0%).
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What Do 4th Grade Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what 4th grade teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work 4th grade teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that 4th grade teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for 4th grade teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's 4th Grade Teachers
Based on 114,668 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for 4th Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 27,875 | 24% |
| Classroom Management | 16,589 | 14% |
| Curriculum Development | 13,195 | 12% |
| Learning Styles | 11,416 | 10% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 11,226 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for 4th Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 54,573 | 48% |
| Communications | 41,011 | 36% |
| Planning | 21,534 | 19% |
| Writing | 17,883 | 16% |
| Mathematics | 16,592 | 14% |
Based on 114,668 job postings related to 4th grade teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 24% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for classroom management, curriculum development, learning styles, individualized education programs (iep) and special education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for 4th grade teachers, followed by communications, planning, writing, mathematics and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 27,875 | 24% |
| Classroom Management | 16,589 | 14% |
| Curriculum Development | 13,195 | 12% |
| Learning Styles | 11,416 | 10% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 11,226 | 10% |
| Special Education | 11,071 | 10% |
| Primary Education | 8,896 | 8% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 8,699 | 8% |
| Educational Assessment | 7,745 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 7,463 | 7% |
| Small Group Instruction | 5,578 | 5% |
| Student Engagement | 4,959 | 4% |
| Pedagogy | 4,902 | 4% |
| Social Studies | 4,580 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 4,194 | 4% |
| Learning Strategies | 4,079 | 4% |
| Disabilities | 3,983 | 3% |
| Child Development | 3,913 | 3% |
| Formative And Summative Assessments | 3,823 | 3% |
| Organizational Communications | 3,806 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 54,573 | 48% |
| Communications | 41,011 | 36% |
| Planning | 21,534 | 19% |
| Writing | 17,883 | 16% |
| Mathematics | 16,592 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 14,313 | 12% |
| Management | 12,387 | 11% |
| Leadership | 10,981 | 10% |
| English Language | 10,588 | 9% |
| Progress Reporting | 10,174 | 9% |
| Research | 10,012 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 9,741 | 8% |
| Parent Communication | 8,478 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 7,762 | 7% |
| Enthusiasm | 6,802 | 6% |
| Organizational Skills | 6,423 | 6% |
| Coaching | 6,403 | 6% |
| Multilingualism | 6,049 | 5% |
| Spanish Language | 5,865 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 5,844 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for 4th Grade Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Teachers | 21,659 | 15.7% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 20,119 | 14.6% |
| 5th Grade Teachers | 14,276 | 10.4% |
| 1st Grade Teachers | 9,918 | 7.2% |
| 3rd Grade Teachers | 8,874 | 6.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was elementary teachers, with 9,237 unique job postings. Elementary school teachers were second, with 6,198 postings, followed by 5th grade teachers, 1st grade teachers and 3rd grade teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to 4th grade teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Teachers | 21,659 | 15.7% |
| Elementary School Teachers | 20,119 | 14.6% |
| 5th Grade Teachers | 14,276 | 10.4% |
| 1st Grade Teachers | 9,918 | 7.2% |
| 3rd Grade Teachers | 8,874 | 6.4% |
| 4th Grade Teachers | 7,719 | 5.6% |
| 2nd Grade Teachers | 6,951 | 5.1% |
| Classroom Teachers | 7,349 | 5.3% |
| Upper Elementary Teachers | 5,255 | 3.8% |
| 2nd Grade Elementary Teachers | 4,078 | 3% |
| Elementary Classroom Teachers | 5,012 | 3.6% |
| Elementary Music Teachers | 2,243 | 1.6% |
| Long Term Substitute Teachers | 2,219 | 1.6% |
| Teachers | 3,124 | 2.3% |
| 3rd Grade Classroom Teachers | 2,226 | 1.6% |
| Child and Adolescent Therapists | 3,862 | 2.8% |
| Elementary Art Teachers | 1,952 | 1.4% |
| K-12 Substitute Teachers | 6,692 | 4.9% |
| 8th Grade Teachers | 2,460 | 1.8% |
| Long Term Substitute Elementary Teachers | 1,624 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for 4th grade teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for 4th grade teachers.
How much do 4th grade teachers make?
4th Grade Teachers: How do you become one?
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