Looking to be a Kindergarten - 1st grade teacher...

Hello everyone, I'm new on the board - so first let me introduce myself a bit. I'm Erica - a nineteen year old girl who's looking to get back into college.

I had gone for one semester right after I graduated high school, and well - that didn't turn out so well. I suppose I got caught up in one of the most common occurances with College Students...

The school I was going to didn't have what I wanted, and therefore - I had no motivation to actually attend.

Let's just say that my transcript from there isn't going to get me into any major universities anytime soon.

Soooo, I've been looking around and I've found a lot of programs who offer an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. I only want to be a kindergarten teacher, but I'd like to get my bachelor's degree eventually in case I get sick of 5 year olds. lol.

This is definitely something that I want to pursue, as I've looked forward to being a teacher my entire life.

My question is this - will an associates degree in early childhood education be a 'start' to a bachelor's degree in *elementary* education? I understand the differences between the two degrees, and I know in most states (or so I've read), that to teach Kindergarted, an associates in Early Childhood Ed. is fine.

I know that I'm not going to be able to afford going to an actual four year university right now, because I made the mistake of screwing up, which totally destroyed any financial aid that I may have come by. And with my previous college transcript - I'm not going to even get accepted into most 4 year schools, and from what I've read - it takes 5 years before you can just start all over.

Any suggestions? I hate to think that I won't be able to ever get a job in the career of my choice because of my irresponsible actions at barely 18. So if anyone can help me decide on what to do, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.
-Erica

 

Associates may be fine to teach preschool, but in the states where I've lived you need a BS in education, plus pass the certification tests to be a kindergarten teacher. Expect this even more with "no child left behind" as more school systems start full-day kindergarten programs.

Kindergarten is no longer the same program that we had 30 years ago, not even 15 years ago - they are expected to be able to read, write, and count to 30 before they start first grade.

Even so, an Associates in Early Education may be a good start, and may allow you to re-establish yourself and then finish up at a 4-year school with an appropriate education major - check the requirements in your home state or wherever you plan on teaching to find out what you will need.

 

Erica:

First off, don't beat yourself up. We all make mistakes.

I work for a community college in NC and my wife is a Kindergarten Teacher certified in K-6. She received her certification through an alternative route, which NC recognizes. I just wanted to give you a little background so you know I am speaking from experience.

First off, I don't know about TN but in most states you cannot teach K or above without a four year degree. You can be an assistant and you may be able to teach pre-K with an Associates but you will not be able to teach K or above.

Early Childhood Education is different from Elementary Education. Most Early Childhood Education graduates go to work for daycares as teachers or directors or for Head Start type programs. However in some cases, you may be able to get a Birth-K certification which would allow you to teach K but again, you would have to have a 4 year degree. As an example, look here....http://www.options.ecu.edu/programs/facts/BK.pdf.

Most AAS or AS degrees in Early Childhood Education usually will not transfer easily to a four year school later. You will loose a lot of credits. In most cases only the AA degree (which is just a combination of all your general education requirements) will give you full transfer capabilities.

I am not sure how you messed up your financial aid but the fact that you didn't finish school or your first set of bad grades should not effect future funding. If you start with a new school, you should be able to get financial aid regardless of your past situation. Just maintain good grades going forward.

Here is my advice (2 options) and you can take it as good, bad or indifferent.... Go for your AAS or AS in Early Childhood Education or an AA and when you are finished try to obtain a job as a Teacher's Assistant in a Pre-K or K classroom. While you are working in the school system, find a school where you can complete your bachelors in Elem. Edu. Make sure it leads to state certification for your state or make sure your state has an alternative route to education. In this case you don't have to have a bachelors in education as long as you have a certain amount hours in the discipline then you can get alternative certification. Every state is different though.

Or you could by-pass the Associates and go for a Bachelors in Liberal Arts. In most cases, this is a good alternative degree to Elem. Education and it can still get you in the door. Again, check with your state's Dept. of Education. There are several schools where you can get this degree online that is not expensive. (www.cosc.edu) You can test out of most (or all) of your requirements through Clep and Dantes. You can also take courses at Fresno Pacific University to transfer. This will serve two purposes. One, it will help you meet credits for your COSC degree and it will give you hours in Elem. Educ. to help you meet state requirements. http://www.fresno.edu/sps/

My wife attended several Universities but was never able to stay at one of them to get a degree (moving, married, etc). So she transferred her credits to COSC, got a degree in Individualized studies, then went through NC Alternative Certification with East Carolina University. She is now a fully licensed teacher in NC and she is working on her Masters in Elem. Edu. with Nova Southeastern University.

If you push yourself hard you could finish your bachelors within 2-3 years or sooner if you test well. Good luck and I wish you success.

Duff

 

What Mel said is correct. There are state tests that you have to pass and Kindergarten is nothing like it was years ago. Lesson plans have to include Social Studies, Math, Reading, Science, etc.

No more naps or quite time!! Fun filled days full of learning activities.

Duff

 

Teaching

You can teach as an adjunct instructor at some community colleges with a Associates Degree.

However, kinder-garden teaching will require you to go to a traditional regionally accredited school and not a DETC program. Check the teaching requirement for your state.

 

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the input.

Duff, I will definitely look into those programs and see what I can do.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get something started.

I'm not exactly sure where I'll be in the next year (was hoping to move up north somewhere) So I'll be sure to check all the states that I had thought about moving to.

Thank you guys again for your help. It's nice to know that there's a place like this so people don't get wrapped up in doing something that's not really going to make much of a difference.

-Erica

 

Erica, at 19 you are too young to be worried about a horribly checkered academic career.

Get a four-year BA however you can, take liberal arts courses that turn you on, and then -- if in a few years you are still heading the same career direction you are thinking of now -- get a teaching credential for your state.
(Or else go the ECE route.)

Then get out and educate, to the best of your abilities. Just remove from your vocabulary the expression, "only a kindergarten teacher."

Peter

 

First select the right teacher training institute to get your basics right. This would surely help you to become a successfully kindergarten teacher.

 

Just to point out that you are commenting on a thread from 2004. So the 19 year old Erica is over 30 and hopefully got her life situated by now. She's had 12 years to become a kindergarten teacher she either pulled it off or she didn't.

 

A number of people have noted the overnight appearance of our new friend navitasharma. You can read about his fate at the end of this, another old thread

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/33042-online-schools-they-worth-money.html

 

I'm curious to know how Erica fared. However, she hasn't logged back in since the day she posted the thread, so it appears we'll never know.