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Course: Early Childhood Education
Are you the babysitter whom kids call fun and parents call responsible? Are you the person to whom children sidle up at the park or potluck, sensing they've found a friend? Are you the kid who used to take on the role of teacher when you played school with your friends?
If you answered yes, you share a lot in common with people who work with children as a profession. You might consider majoring in early childhood education. You’ll learn how to create and manage a nurturing, safe classroom where every child thrives.
Students in early childhood education learn how to teach children who may range from infants to third graders, according to the school system.
Did You Know?
If you get certified in an additional area (such as special education), you'll have more choices when it's time to find a job.
Are You Ready To...?
- Consider working where the demand is higher, for example, in Florida, Arizona, and California as well as in urban and farm areas
- Save your pennies so you won't need a paying job while student teaching
- Learn about the many philosophies of early childhood education, from Bank Street to High Scope and from Dewey to Montessori
It Helps To Be...
Caring, patient, and creative. Teamwork skills are vital too. You'll want to teach cooperation to your students, and you'll need it yourself -- chances are you'll be working with an aide or another teacher.
College Checklist
- Is the program approved by the state's department of education?
- Does the program focus on one educational philosophy, or does it introduce students to several?
- What grades, courses, and tests are required for admission?
- How many field placement hours (hours spent visiting classrooms) are required?
Course Spotlight
During your junior and senior years, you'll spend lots of time in classrooms, gradually moving from observer to active participant. You'll probably visit a number of schools that adhere to different educational philosophies, so you can find out which approach suits you best.
No matter what the model, you can watch how teachers create a caring and stimulating classroom, how they involve parents in the learning process, and how they work with students on both academics and issues such as self-esteem. Before you graduate, you'll spend a semester student teaching -- and putting into practice all you've learned.