Post by speckledfrog on Jun 30, 2015 16:16:31 GMT -5
It varies by state, but it's typically either PreK-3rd or PreK-2nd. Yes, you need to pass your state's licensing exam. I did ECE because I had no desire to teach the older grades. I should have double majored, but I was young and dumb.
To obtain a BS in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education you must student teach.
What are you qualified to teach with a BS in ECE? Do you have to take the same licensing exam? (Is that the right word?) Like I know in VA they have to take the Praxis. Anyway, I was just wondering as to what would be the motivation to do ECE vs Elem Education when it would seem to make more sense to get the degree that might give you more options to teach from PreK to 5th or 6th grade.
I think it varies by state. At the time I got my degree an Elementary Education degree was 1st-8th. If I wanted to be eligible to teach Kindergarten I had to add a degree in Early Childhood, which covered PS-(I think) 3rd. I had to do two student teaching placements, one in EC and one in Elementary (I did 2nd and 4th).
It varies by state, but it's typically either PreK-3rd or PreK-2nd. Yes, you need to pass your state's licensing exam. I did ECE because I had no desire to teach the older grades. I should have double majored, but I was young and dumb.
What are you qualified to teach with a BS in ECE? Do you have to take the same licensing exam? (Is that the right word?) Like I know in VA they have to take the Praxis. Anyway, I was just wondering as to what would be the motivation to do ECE vs Elem Education when it would seem to make more sense to get the degree that might give you more options to teach from PreK to 5th or 6th grade.
I think it varies by state. At the time I got my degree an Elementary Education degree was 1st-8th. If I wanted to be eligible to teach Kindergarten I had to add a degree in Early Childhood, which covered PS-(I think) 3rd. I had to do two student teaching placements, one in EC and one in Elementary (I did 2nd and 4th).
Ahh ok got it. That makes sense. I was thinking it was just PreK and K for ECE. And the state thing is annoying that they vary so much. My mom was a teacher while my dad was in the military so she had to always figure out each state's qualifications when we moved.
But anyway, I think we all had our young and dumb moments in college
Post by balletofangels on Jun 30, 2015 16:30:45 GMT -5
Well as an early childhood educator, even without a degree I consider them "legit teachers." As a former Kindergarten teacher it is a touchy topic for me. I have a masters, but it is often assumed I'm paid less than "real" teachers. It isn't really my hill to die on anymore. I am frequently surprised how the general public sees the hierarchy of teachers. My mom is a toddler teacher and there's no accounting for her wealth of knowledge.
To obtain a BS in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education you must student teach.
What are you qualified to teach with a BS in ECE? Do you have to take the same licensing exam? (Is that the right word?) Like I know in VA they have to take the Praxis. Anyway, I was just wondering as to what would be the motivation to do ECE vs Elem Education when it would seem to make more sense to get the degree that might give you more options to teach from PreK to 5th or 6th grade.
In ME you need to take the Praxis II in the areas you wish to be certified in. There is an Early Childhood certification test that leads to the Birth-5 certification. You turn in the test results, your final transcript, and some money and you get a state certification.
When I went through college, the ECE program had 2 tracks - one w/o student teaching that won't allow you to get certified (or at least not in the most linear path; there are multiple pathways) and one with student teaching where you choose to do your placement in Birth-5 or K-3 and then take the appropriate Praxis II (early child/or elem.) and get certified.
I did a custom plan and walked out Birth-5, K-3, and K-8 ready. Except, even though I could technically teach middle school, I am not a Bush NCLB "Highly Qualified Teacher" in any subject area. For me, getting the 3 certifications meant a 2nd major in ECE, rather than a major/minor in something like math or English.
I'm right there with you on this. I have a bachelor's degree in education and state issued teaching license. People working at a daycare center absolutely teach the kids things, but most of those jobs only (maybe) require a HS diploma.
It's like a healthcare aid calling themselves a nurse. Is it similar, in that they both care for patients, work in a hospital or clinic, etc? Yes. Are they a registered nurse? No.
Yes I agree with this.
But to be fair you can get an early childhood education or development degree as a BS. So their actual level of education might be the same as a certified teacher.
However, I don't think that makes you a teacher unless you've done student teaching and all that jazz to become a certified teacher. If that were the case, then anyone with a bachelor's degree could say they were a teacher.
But yeah people are clueless about a lot of different jobs and qualifications so this isn't something unique to education!
RIGHT! I mean, you can't say you're a licensed teacher unless you are, you know, licensed. Having a bachelor's degree in education doesn't actually make you a licensed teacher. And you're right that this is not unique to education.