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What does a fifth grade teacher do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones

A Fifth Grade Teacher is responsible for creating, developing, and implementing core elementary school curriculum for fifth grade students. They maintain accurate student records, evaluate student progress periodically, and prepare reports.

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Fifth grade teacher responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real fifth grade teacher resumes:

  • Utilize PLC time to meet the needs of struggling and achieving students
  • Work with a large population of ESL and at risk students.
  • Participate in response to instruction (RTI) meetings to define strategies to assist specific students in grasping key concepts.
  • Adapt teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs and interests, create IEP's for entire classroom population.
  • Integrate interventions and implement RTI strategies within curriculum.
  • Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students in mainstreaming math.
  • Develop and implement math unit on geometry around major instructional goals.
  • Facilitate literature circles to increase student enjoyment of reading and positive communication skills.
  • Create a makeshift smartboard using limit technology leading to an overall increase in student participation.

Fifth grade teacher skills and personality traits

We calculated that 32% of Fifth Grade Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Math, and Classroom Environment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Fifth Grade Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Classroom Management, 32%

    Attended Classroom Management courses and participated in ongoing learning teams, workshops, and other professional development opportunities.

  • Math, 14%

    Created manipulative-based math lessons in alignment with Everyday Mathematics Program to introduce new concepts and increase overall comprehension levels.

  • Classroom Environment, 7%

    Cultivated positive and healthy classroom environment to promote learning, confidence and self-esteem.

  • Language Arts, 6%

    Developed, planned, organized and implemented engaging and creative lesson plans for Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies classes.

  • Learning Process, 5%

    Use of technology to strengthen the learning process and help students analyze and improve study methods and habits.

  • Instructional Materials, 4%

    Developed lesson plans and instructional materials and provided individualized and group instruction.

Common skills that a fifth grade teacher uses to do their job include "classroom management," "math," and "classroom environment." You can find details on the most important fifth grade teacher responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a fifth grade teacher to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators." Additionally, a fifth grade teacher resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "developed new communication arts and social studies curriculum to align with missouri standards. "

Patience. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling fifth grade teacher duties is patience. The role rewards competence in this skill because "kindergarten and elementary school teachers must respond with patience when students struggle with material." According to a fifth grade teacher resume, here's how fifth grade teachers can utilize patience in their job responsibilities: "exhibit patience & positive attitudes in establishing an encouraging learning environment. "

Physical stamina. fifth grade teachers are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to fifth grade teacher responsibilities, because "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring." A fifth grade teacher resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "facilitated activities that develop student's physical, emotional and social growth. "

Most common fifth grade teacher skills

The three companies that hire the most fifth grade teachers are:

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Compare different fifth grade teachers

Fifth grade teacher vs. Language arts teacher

A language arts teacher is responsible for teaching the English language to the students, improving their written and oral English communication by sharing the best practices, conducting engaging lesson plans, assigning group activities, and providing comprehensive educational materials. Language arts teachers strictly adhere to the learning curriculum, as well as monitoring the students' progress through individual evaluation, identifying their areas of improvement, and adjust learning strategies to address the difficulties. They also encourage the students to attend workshops, programs, and other extracurricular activities relating to the subject matter.

We looked at the average fifth grade teacher salary and compared it with the wages of a language arts teacher. Generally speaking, language arts teachers are paid $6,167 higher than fifth grade teachers per year.Even though fifth grade teachers and language arts teachers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require classroom management, learning process, and instructional materials in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a fifth grade teacher are more likely to require skills like "math," "classroom environment," "language arts," and "social studies curriculum." On the other hand, a job as a language arts teacher requires skills like "curriculum development," "literature," "grammar," and "language." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Language arts teachers tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $48,676. In contrast, fifth grade teachers make the biggest average salary, $46,243, in the education industry.language arts teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than fifth grade teachers. In fact, language arts teachers are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Fifth grade teacher vs. Esl teacher

An ESL teacher specializes in teaching the English language to non-native speakers of all ages, usually in a virtual setting. Their responsibilities revolve around devising lesson plans, organizing learning materials, evaluating progress, and coming up with strategies to make learners feel comfortable. Furthermore, they must maintain a healthy and safe learning environment, whether the lessons are in a one-on-one or group setting. When it comes to virtual learning, an ESL teacher must have the necessary equipment, a stable internet connection, and an obstruction-free teaching location.

On average, esl teachers earn a $6,899 higher salary than fifth grade teachers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Fifth grade teachers and esl teachers both require similar skills like "classroom management," "classroom environment," and "language arts" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that fifth grade teacher responsibilities requires skills like "math," "learning process," "social studies curriculum," and "grade curriculum." But an esl teacher might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "kids," "whiteboards," "curriculum development," and "english language."

Esl teachers may earn a higher salary than fifth grade teachers, but esl teachers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $52,367. On the other hand, fifth grade teachers receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $46,243.esl teachers earn similar levels of education than fifth grade teachers in general. They're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for fifth grade teachers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

Technology in the next 3-5 years -- That is a tough question because technology is continually changing. However, I would say whatever learning system their school provides (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), they should get to know. Also, the technology that involves making/editing videos of teaching would be necessary. The technique that includes exercise, fitness, sports such as heart rate monitors, Fitbits, etc. Finally, a technology that allows interactions between teachers and students and students and students.

Fifth grade teacher vs. Guest teacher

A Guest Teacher is a part-time educator who facilitates discussions and activities among students, focusing on a particular subject. Like full-time teachers, their responsibilities include preparing lesson and coursework plans, organizing individual or group activities, grading the students' performances, and assisting them as necessary. They must also coordinate with teachers, working together in developing effective teaching strategies. Moreover, a guest teacher monitors' the students progress regularly, all while maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone.

On average scale, guest teachers bring in lower salaries than fifth grade teachers. In fact, they earn a $13,255 lower salary per year.fifth grade teachers and guest teachers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "classroom management," "classroom environment," and "language arts," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, fifth grade teachers are more likely to have skills like "math," "social studies curriculum," "grade curriculum," and "professional development workshops." But a guest teacher is more likely to have skills like "k-12," "substitute teaching," "mathematics," and "professional development."

Guest teachers earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $38,826. Comparatively, fifth grade teachers have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $46,243.guest teachers typically earn lower educational levels compared to fifth grade teachers. Specifically, they're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Fifth grade teacher vs. Kindergarten teacher

Kindergarten teachers teach young children social and emotional skills, reading skills, music, and personal hygiene. They prepare these children for elementary school and certain life aspects. It is also their responsibility to teach children good classroom behavior, plan the curriculum daily and the whole school year, and conduct parent-teach meetings. Kindergarten teachers should encourage children to be observant of activities and give them the chance to ask questions and find the answers. They should also work with parents in putting an action plan to help children with emotional or developmental problems.

Kindergarten teachers typically earn higher pay than fifth grade teachers. On average, kindergarten teachers earn a $2,227 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, fifth grade teachers and kindergarten teachers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "classroom management," "math," and "classroom environment. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "learning process," "social studies curriculum," "grade curriculum," and "professional development workshops" are skills that commonly show up on fifth grade teacher resumes. On the other hand, kindergarten teachers use skills like professional development, social studies, pre-kindergarten, and pre-k on their resumes.kindergarten teachers enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $79,925. For comparison, fifth grade teachers earn the highest salary in the education industry.kindergarten teachers reach lower levels of education compared to fifth grade teachers, in general. The difference is that they're 6.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of fifth grade teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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