I am a sophomore in high school and have always wanted to go into elementary education. What kind of colleges/programs should I start looking into and what kind of courses should I take now. Any specific shools?
2006-11-22 11:28:57 · 13 answers · asked by brilliantblondie58 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
check you school board
:> peace
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2006-11-25 17:47:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do an undergraduate degree in General Studies, so you'll get exposure to Math, Science, Humanities, Physical Education and Foreign Languages. Then, once you've got a solid grounding in the curriculum, follow up with a Bachelor of Education degree specializing in Elementary Education.
2006-11-23 00:34:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jetgirly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to live and work in a certain state, it would be good to go to a university in that state, as the degree program will be geared towards that state's certification requirements. Some schools offer a 5-year program that allows you to get a master's degree and endoresements in other areas too (such as reading specialist) - that will increase your starting salary and improve your chances of getting a good job. As for courses you could be taking now, consider child development, psychology, foreign languages, and computer applications as well as getting a strong grounding in math, science and English. Here is a good website that has lots of information about preparing for a career in teaching: http://www.alleducationschools.com/
2006-11-22 19:52:07 · answer #3 · answered by claire_in_va 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practically, I think you should decide where you want to teach, and apply to a good school in that area. Tha kind of school should have a good relationship with schools in the area, and you will get a chance to show your stuff when you do student teaching. After you have a couple of years of teaching under your belt and perhaps have gone on to complete a masters degree, you could apply to schools in other locations if you like.
As to what you should study in high school, get a good academic education, paying special attention to subjects you want to teach. If you have any liking for science or math, there has traditionally been a need for teachers in these subject areas.
2006-11-22 19:42:33 · answer #4 · answered by Ace Librarian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every state has universities and colleges that offer teacher credentialing programs, and truthfully, you will learn so much more on the job than you possibly could in even the best teacher training program in the world. And because teaching is not a great-paying profession with unlimited income possibilities, it is not worth it to go into heavy debt at a "big name" school. So I would consider other questions first, like:
What are your financial resources? Do you (or your parents) have enough savings that you can go to school anywhere? Do you have a likelihood of getting a scholarship somewhere? Usually you will get a much better deal on tuition if you go to college in your home state.
Where do you want to teach? If you get your teacher training, and your credential, in the state where you want to teach, it can make things a bit easier. Not all states grant reciprocity; a credential issued in one state does not necessarily mean you are eligible for a credential in another state. Many states do have reciprocity but you need to research this.
In general, I would advise that teacher credential candidates look into programs where they are "hands-on" at a very early point in training. Getting into the classroom and working with real live students not only teaches you far more than you can ever learn sitting in a university class; it also helps you to know whether or not this is something you really truly want to do. I know a number of teachers who really don't like what they are doing (and - guess what! - they aren't very good at it, either), but they feel that they put so much time, effort and expense into it that they don't want to quit. If they had had classroom experience while they were still undergraduates, they might have chosen a different line of work. And for those of us who did go on to LOVE our teaching careers, it gave us incredible experience before we ever got our own classes.
Right now in your high school classes, I would suggest taking electives that have some relevance to your future career. I don't know where you live, but in many parts of the U.S., the ability to speak and write in Spanish is a huge benefit to a teacher. I live in northern California, and a large percentage of my students come from Spanish-speaking homes. Having the ability to communciate with the kids, and with their parents, has been very helpful to me, and I am sure glad I took Spanish in high school!
In your other electives, think about how the material you are learning can help you as an elementary school teacher. In art, think about techniques that could be adapted for young kids. In sociology and psychology, see if you can do papers or projects that focus on relevant topics (in my part of the country, I would think about things like gang membership, immigrant families, the effect of poverty on learning, etc.)
I applaud you for thinking so far ahead. Keep an open mind, because you never know what doors may open to you and lead you down a different path. But I knew I wanted to be a teacher by the time I was a junior in high school, and more than 30 years later, that is still what I am doing. And I still LOVE going to work each day.
2006-11-22 19:55:47 · answer #5 · answered by sonomanona 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most programs are good, so you should really look into factors such as the geographic location, size, internships and job opportunities the school offers. If you like New York, Columbia University has an excellent program for future teachers. Good luck!
http://www.macquil.com/articles/choosing_right_college.php
2006-11-22 19:41:21 · answer #6 · answered by Atena4ever 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where do you live? Make sure that the school that you go to has a variety of options for inclusion/special education in combination with elementary education. This is the way to go.
2006-11-23 00:05:27 · answer #7 · answered by anne b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Major in Elementary Education at any accredited college or university.
2006-11-24 12:16:31 · answer #8 · answered by cammie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GO to the State school that is the cheapest! Most Teacher programs are top notch. Have fun now, you are in HS, live a little!
2006-11-23 14:41:18 · answer #9 · answered by da_7thassasin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you are in the college track and you can go to any four-year university. Some will pay your way if you agree to teach for a time in a low-income school.
2006-11-22 19:36:30 · answer #10 · answered by Sir J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mizzou
2006-11-22 19:36:47 · answer #11 · answered by josh.isaiah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋