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What does a literacy teacher do?

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

Here are examples of responsibilities from real literacy teacher resumes:

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Scaffold learning for ESL populace.
  • Train education aides for ESL guide reading lessons.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to design a mathematics curriculum map.
  • Develop original literature-base study guides, evaluations, and enrichment activities as well a grammar lessons and poetry units.
  • Strengthen student's cumulative learning and preparedness with FCAT reinforcement lessons.

Literacy teacher skills and personality traits

We calculated that 8% of Literacy Teachers are proficient in Assessment Data, Classroom Management, and Language. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.

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

  • Assessment Data, 8%

    Analyzed quarterly assessment data and presented findings to teaching staff.

  • Classroom Management, 7%

    Maintain discipline through classroom management.

  • Language, 6%

    Designed and implemented creative activities that promoted phonemic awareness and whole language development.

  • Language Arts, 6%

    Worked as an hourly teacher instructing below basic, far below basic and EL students in reading/language arts.

  • RTI, 5%

    Implemented RTI instruction-targeted researched based interventions for at-risk students.

  • Student Learning, 4%

    Researched, collected, analyzed and interpreted B.F. Day School data to determine student learning and strategies.

Most literacy teachers use their skills in "assessment data," "classroom management," and "language" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential literacy teacher responsibilities here:

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a literacy teacher to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators." Literacy teachers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "focused on optimizing communication, modifying maladaptive behaviors, basic math and literacy, and vocational readiness. "

Patience. Many literacy teacher duties rely on patience. "kindergarten and elementary school teachers must respond with patience when students struggle with material," so a literacy teacher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways literacy teacher responsibilities rely on patience: "utilized classroom management skills, active participation, patience, and cooperative learning to create astudent centered environment. "

Physical stamina. This is an important skill for literacy teachers to perform their duties. For an example of how literacy teacher responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a literacy teacher: "teach interrelated resource and team-taught physical science, biology and chemistry for grades 9-12. ".

Most common literacy teacher skills

The three companies that hire the most literacy teachers are:

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Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
Literacy Teacher Resume
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Literacy Teacher Resume

Compare different literacy teachers

Literacy teacher vs. English language arts teacher

English language teachers are in charge of establishing a classroom setting that advance in each student the skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. They assist in the development and recognition of fine literature of all types, inspire students to read extensively for information and recreation, and develop guidelines for analytical judgment of written and oral communication. Also, they attend to students' exceptional needs as well as find out and develop their special talents.

If we compare the average literacy teacher annual salary with that of an english language arts teacher, we find that english language arts teachers typically earn a $5,970 lower salary than literacy teachers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both literacy teacher and english language arts teacher positions are skilled in assessment data, classroom management, and language.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, literacy teacher responsibilities require skills like "literacy program," "computer literacy," "academic support," and "literacy curriculum." Meanwhile a typical english language arts teacher has skills in areas such as "english language," "literature," "learning process," and "grammar." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

English language arts teachers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $47,098. Comparatively, literacy teachers tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $55,928.english language arts teachers tend to reach similar levels of education than literacy teachers. In fact, english language arts teachers are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Literacy teacher vs. Elementary school teacher

Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.

A career as a elementary school teacher brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a literacy teacher. In fact, elementary school teachers salary is $2,292 lower than the salary of literacy teachers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Literacy teachers and elementary school teachers both require similar skills like "classroom management," "language arts," and "rti" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, literacy teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "assessment data," "language," "literacy program," and "computer literacy." Meanwhile, an elementary school teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "math," "professional development," "classroom environment," and "student performance." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Elementary school teachers earn a lower average salary than literacy teachers. But elementary school teachers earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $56,048. Additionally, literacy teachers earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $55,928 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Elementary school teachers tend to reach lower levels of education than literacy teachers. In fact, they're 7.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for literacy 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.

Literacy 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.

An average language arts teacher eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of literacy teachers. The difference in salaries amounts to language arts teachers earning a $2,484 lower average salary than literacy teachers.literacy teachers and language arts teachers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "classroom management," "language," and "student learning," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from literacy teacher resumes include skills like "assessment data," "language arts," "rti," and "literacy program," whereas a language arts teacher is more likely to list skills in "literature," "grammar," "learning process," and "student performance. "

Language arts teachers earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $48,676. Comparatively, literacy teachers have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $55,928.When it comes to education, language arts teachers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to literacy teachers. In fact, they're 3.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Literacy teacher vs. Long term substitute teacher

A long term substitute teacher is responsible for covering the duties of a teacher who is away for a long time. Long term substitute teachers proceed with the lesson plan outlines and the regular teacher's curriculum depending on their expertise. They monitor and assess the students' behavior, create an engaging learning environment, evaluate the students' learning progress by conducting a series of tests, create reports of the students' performance, and help students struggling with the subject.

Long term substitute teachers tend to earn a lower pay than literacy teachers by an average of $11,645 per year.While their salaries may vary, literacy teachers and long term substitute teachers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "classroom management," "language arts," and "rti. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between literacy teachers and long term substitute teachers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a literacy teacher might have more use for skills like "assessment data," "language," "literacy program," and "computer literacy." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of long term substitute teachers require skills like "long-term substitute," "math," "professional development," and "kindergarten. "

The education industry tends to pay the highest salaries for long term substitute teachers, with average annual pay of $44,729. Comparatively, the highest literacy teacher annual salary comes from the government industry.In general, long term substitute teachers hold lower degree levels compared to literacy teachers. Long term substitute teachers are 7.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of literacy 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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