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First grade teacher skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Peg Hughes Ph.D.,

Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical first grade teacher skills. We ranked the top skills for first grade teachers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 29.5% of first grade teacher resumes contained classroom management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a first grade teacher needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 first grade teacher skills for your resume and career

1. Classroom Management

Here's how first grade teachers use classroom management:

Initiate classroom management plans promoting individual responsibility through positive reinforcement
Attended variety of professional development workshops centered for learning goals, classroom management, student motivation, and engaging learning activities.

2. Math

Here's how first grade teachers use math:

Developed standards-based curricula including a balanced literacy program, math and writers' workshops and after school intervention program.
Prepared and planned literacy and math centers daily to encourage student achievement and socialization skills.

4. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how first grade teachers use professional development:

Developed, implemented and evaluated curriculum for the middle and elementary academic programs and conducted professional development programs for those teachers.
Attended professional development meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops in order to maintain and improve professional competence.

5. Classroom Environment

Here's how first grade teachers use classroom environment:

Interacted extensively and positively with parents and team members to develop and organize healthy classroom environments and communities.
Established trusting and encouraging classroom environment and supportive relationships through compassion and sensitivity to my student's lifestyles.

6. Language Arts

Language art refers to the ability to master a language.

Here's how first grade teachers use language arts:

Instructed guided reading lessons daily while utilizing literacy centers for language arts skill enhancement.
Developed curriculum modules to improve student achievement across mathematics, reading and language arts.

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7. Kindergarten

Kindergarten is an early form of education that begins when a child is about five years old. During kindergarten, children learn the basic elements of reading, writing, and mathematics in addition to colors, telling time, sharing, and similar principles. Kindergarten classes are typically overseen by a single teacher who lectures on all of the subjects listed.

Here's how first grade teachers use kindergarten:

Developed, implemented and evaluated re-design of Kindergarten curriculum for use in a semi-traditional classroom.
Developed curriculum for has particular experience in Kindergarten and Science and Writing.

8. Grade Curriculum

Here's how first grade teachers use grade curriculum:

Developed and taught first grade curriculum creatively for effective student involvement.
Plan developmentally appropriate learning activities aligned with the first-grade curriculum.

9. Student Learning

Here's how first grade teachers use student learning:

Utilized SMART Board and related computer-driven activities as a teaching tool to empower student learning through interactive technology.
Monitored and tracked student learning through observation, formal and informal assessment, individual communication and reflection.

10. Literacy Program

Here's how first grade teachers use literacy program:

Planned and implemented a balanced literacy program which included Common Core Standard alignment.
Created an assessment-driven, child- centered curriculum based on a balanced-literacy program.

11. Instructional Materials

Here's how first grade teachers use instructional materials:

Instruct Elementary academic subjects and social interaction skills Plans curriculum and prepares lessons and other instructional materials.
Collaborated with colleagues on implementing CCSS into the curriculum and choosing appropriate instructional materials.

12. Learning Process

Here's how first grade teachers use learning process:

Provided a quiet and stimulating environment that enhanced the learning process
Frequent teacher/student, teacher/parent conferences; held during the year that established a partnership in each student's learning process.

13. State Standards

State Standards refer to the educational standards within each state. These standards are set by the Department of Education of each state and outline what students must learn within each grade and subject. The teachers' training and standardized testing is also based on what the standards outline.

Here's how first grade teachers use state standards:

Developed assessments using South Carolina State standards and also created alternative and authentic assessments for all subjects.
Incorporated thematic units across the curriculum using a whole language/phonics approach meeting state standards.

14. Learning Styles

Here's how first grade teachers use learning styles:

Provided support and differentiation to students and developed several learning styles to engage students.
Developed and assigned meaningful homework for individuals based on learning styles.

15. Parent-Teacher Conferences

Here's how first grade teachers use parent-teacher conferences:

Conducted parent-teacher conferences and contributed feedback in course material selection, department objectives and institution direction.
Conducted parent-teacher conferences, actively involved in faculty meetings and parent involvement in the classroom.

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What skills help First Grade Teachers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on first grade teacher resumes?

Dr. Peg Hughes Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Special Education. Coordinator of ECSE Programs, San Jose State University

-Transformative educators who are skilled in addressing racial and social inequities in their programs
-Educators who are fullly qualified and trained to work with students with disabilities who are also English-language learners
-Educators who are trained to work collaboratively with general educators on planning, teaching, and assessing those students with disabilities in gen-ed classrooms, i.e., co-teaching in inclusive settings
-Fluent in other languages besides English due to the diverse language backgrounds of students and families (at least in California)
-Any evidence of leadership work on the job, e.g., trainings for general educators on inclusion, diversity, families, and more
-Strong technology skills for communication with all stakeholders and for teaching students virtually
-Trained to teach using UDL approaches to address diversity of student learning styles

What soft skills should all first grade teachers possess?

Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian

Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, Ashland University

Communication skills are the key soft skills for educators. The ability to communicate ensures that ideas and information are effectively presented during instruction. It also helps regulate the social tone of the learning environment and resolve classroom management issues. Of increasing importance is the ability of educators to effectively engage with their students' families. They need to demonstrate that they are ready and able to initiate contact, establish good relationships, and build trust.

What hard/technical skills are most important for first grade teachers?

Melissa Kamyab

Assistant Professor, Director of Graduate Program, Cedar Crest College

Educators need to have a deep understanding of three elements of teaching and learning: how students learn, how to build a community of learners and content pedagogy. Skillsets which support this, such as proficiency in technology, planning, and organization, are important to convey to future employers, but the effective educator knows that these skills are the means to the end---designing instructional opportunities which support student understanding and academic growth.

What first grade teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Suzanne Tiemann

Professor, Park University

I think that learning is on a continuum. By advancing their degrees and graduate credit, teachers can move up the district’s salary schedule while continuing to perfect their craft.

What type of skills will young first grade teachers need?

Steve Haberlin Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Wesleyan College

For elementary teachers, they would need strong organizational skills, collaboration skills (team planning), problem-solving, emotional intelligence, ability to develop rapport and connect with students, cultural responsiveness, relating to diversity, and incredibly now, strong technology skills.

What technical skills for a first grade teacher stand out to employers?

Brian Kaye

Assistant Superintendent for Personnel & Planning, Arlington Heights School District 25

The technical skills that I believe will serve incoming teachers will be the ability to engage students in multiple formats for communication and delivery of instruction. There are many platforms for delivering instruction and being able to adapt to new platforms will be helpful. I believe getting comfortable making quick video tutorials for students and parents will also be necessary.

Do you want to know more?

List of first grade teacher skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a first grade teacher resume and required skills for a first grade teacher to have include:

Classroom Management
Math
Social Studies
Professional Development
Classroom Environment
Language Arts
Kindergarten
Grade Curriculum
Student Learning
Literacy Program
Instructional Materials
Learning Process
State Standards
Learning Styles
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Student Performance

IEP
Student Data
Open Communication
Student Achievement
RTI
Guided Reading
ESL
Report Cards
Cooperative Learning
Grade Class
Core Curriculum
PBIS
Social Growth
Public Schools
Learning Environment
Phonics

Social Development
Progress Monitoring
PLC
School Administration
Student Growth
DRA
Core Standards
Core Subjects
Student Engagement
Summative Assessments
Reading Comprehension
Dibels
Fountas
Inclusive Classroom

Updated January 8, 2025

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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First Grade Teacher Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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