Elementary Education Major - What to Look for in a Program? - Page 2

kathiep · 11-02-2009, 08:36 PM

Great minds think alike! As a parent of a newish teacher I would also like to emphasize programs that get the kids into the classroom early and offer more then one student teaching experience. My daughter was lucky enough to get three - one semi-rural, one inner city and one private. She would also tell you that it's much easier if you go to a College in the state where you want to teach. She has provisional certifications from three states now - and two of the three required their own (VERY similar) certification tests that cost quite a bit, plus police clearances, tb tests and hoops to jump through.

Parent100 · 11-02-2009, 09:00 PM

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies so far. I'm a bit confused though.

1. Regarding majoring in a subject: I knew it was necessary to major in a subject in order to teach at the secondary level but my daughter wants to teach young children - such as 2nd or 3rd grade. Does she really need a major, and what would be a good choice? She wanted to minor in Spanish. Could she major in Spanish and still teach in the elementary grade level?

2. Regarding attending college in the state in which you want to teach: We live in a very small state and she absolutely wants go to college OOS. We really have no family ties in any particular state so it would be impossible for her to know now what state she will end up teaching in. Are there any states that give certification that is accepted in mulitiple other states?

JHS · 11-02-2009, 10:23 PM

The real question is which states accept other states' certifications? I don't know. Some obviously do -- an earlier poster mentioned Washington and Oregon. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the states in the upper midwest did that. But here in the East I think it's pretty uncommon, although I don't know what, say, Maine or Vermont do.

I know that Pennsylvania state colleges have a lot of OOS students, and I am sure a bunch of them are teachers, but I don't know the nitty-gritty of what they have to do to get certified.

As for substantive majors -- you are right that it is especially important for middle and secondary school teachers. I am not certain what the story is for elementary school. I know the whole certification rules are being rewritten in this state, and there is talk about requiring things like child development studies for preK-4 teachers. Spanish, of course, is always a huge plus in and of itself.

Teach For America: It claims to be training educators as well as leaders, and in most states (I believe) its corps members get certified by the end of their second years. I know my kid had to take some tests, jump through some other regulatory hoops, and is paying tuition and going to classes for a MEd. I think TFA has more or less custom agreements with the Education Department in each state where it operates. In Pennslyvania, and I am pretty sure New York, the kids have to meet regular milestones toward certification.

thumper1 · 11-02-2009, 10:31 PM

Teach for America participants do not become certified after their stint in TFA in CT.

dragonmom · 11-02-2009, 10:34 PM

Teach for America is a great program, but it is *not* trying to get great students to be teachers, but rather to get future leaders to have had classroom experience.

abasket · 11-02-2009, 10:38 PM

Yes, it was the ACE program that they have at Notre Dame - thanks for clarifying that.

JHS · 11-02-2009, 10:39 PM

dragonmom, I agree with you that giving future leaders classroom experience is ONE of the goals of TFA, but it is pretty adamant that it is trying to create career educators, too. If you follow the various skirmishes of words around the country between TFA and its education-establishment critics, TFA is very touchy about that. It has at least some statistics to back up its claims. And given that people like Michelle Rhee and the KIPP founders are TFA alumni, I don't think there's any question that they have had impact within classrooms and schools as well as outside them.

kelsmom · 11-02-2009, 10:47 PM

D's good friend is at Aquinas College in MI, where she has been in local classrooms right from the start. They don't major in education, but rather in a subject area (this young woman is majoring in math - D thinks it's funny that she has to take 2 or 3 calc classes just to teach elementary math!). Seems like this young woman will be incredibly well prepared. I would think that the best thing to look for is an experiential program. Teaching is an art, and it is best learned while doing & while under the direction of seasoned professionals.

kathiep · 11-02-2009, 11:23 PM

Regarding the subject certifications, this is also state specific. Pennsylvania recently changed their certifications and is now asking new teachers as early as fourth grade to be subject certified. The new teachers have to choose early childhood, middle level or secondary. Reciprocal doesn't always mean that the whole certification is reciprocal, it means that the states will accept the degree as being acceptable, but that the candidate still needs to take the tests.

I don't know of any states that flat out reciprocate another's certification, but maybe someone else does. Here's a plug for Millersville University of PA and a look at their education program. You'll note that they mention getting the students in the classrooms right away. Millersville University - Elementary & Early Childhood Education They also have an inner-city teacher experience.

mom60 · 11-02-2009, 11:30 PM

Most of the teachers I know in Ca first did an undergrad program in whatever major they wanted. Many who are elementary ed teachers majored in Liberal Studies. Some complete the BA and apply to a credential program at the same college. Others apply to credential programs at other schools. In this approach a student could attend college OOS and apply and enter a credential program on returning to Ca.
The young woman I know of who went to Seattle Pacific really wanted a Christian education. Her first plan was to complete her education in Washington including that credential and enter a Cal State on return to Ca. Even though that meant repeating many of the same courses and doing the student teaching all over again. After 4 yrs and meeting the young man she just married she decided to not return to Ca.

Youdon'tsay · 11-03-2009, 07:51 AM

The only program I know that gives teachers a certification that is accepted fairly broadly is National Board certification National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. However, not every state takes it and to even be eligible for the program you have to have been in the classroom for at least three years.

(Plug for NBCT: It's great professional development so those of you in the classroom or with kids in the classroom, should check it out. Also, it's one way for an experienced teacher to get a bump in salary in some districts. It's a lot of work but quite satisfying.)

happymomof1 · 11-03-2009, 09:29 AM

Parent100 -

As to subject area majors for El. Ed. This is going to depend on the state, and to a certain extent on the college/university.

The University of Northern Iowa (which started life as the public teacher's college in Iowa) offers a major Elementary Education (K-6). Students are encouraged to complete a minor as well as the major, but it isn't specifically required. For the Middle Level major (5-8), students are required to have a additional coursework. UNI Majors | Curriculum & Instruction The University of Maryland requires El. Ed. majors to include an "Area of Emphasis". EDCI Elementary Education

Since your daughter has an interest in Spanish, I'd recommend that she think about getting dual certification in El. Ed. and TESOL. The market for TESOL is not going away, and elementary age ESOL students are a lot of fun to work with!

mom2collegekids · 11-03-2009, 09:37 AM

Shouldn't someone who will become an elementary teacher be careful not to attend an expensive school that will require lots of loans?

I know very few new teachers who get paid enough to support themselves and make monthly payments for student loans. Just borrowing $10k per year ($40k total) will cause a $460 per month payment for ten long years - that's over $5500 of a teacher's salary each year for 10 years - yikes!

Isn't it better to try to find an affordable good school (unless parents can pay full-freight), then burden a new teacher with debt?

Youdon'tsay · 11-03-2009, 09:57 AM

I would agree. ^^^ In my mind, it just doesn't make sense to go into debt for a degree when you know that the starting (and ending) salary is so low, at least around here. Ds1 is considering secondary teaching, and this is a conversation we'll be having when it's time to pick a college. His safety is an in-state public, and if he is serious about teaching this is where I'll advise him to attend.

That said, the best teacher he's ever had earned her master's at an Ivy. I certainly appreciate the education she received and has passed on.

abasket · 11-03-2009, 09:58 AM

Well, IMO, $40,000 in loans is pretty steep to begin with - no matter what major!

A teacher's salary is in line with many other professional majors and I personally feel that fit, program requirements/experiences should be as much in play as any other major. So I wouldn't "settle" for anything less than a great program - wherever it is.