ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

nycchic_24 Posted: May 23, 2003 08:56 PM

ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

OK i need career help big time. I dont mean to sound 'retarted' in any way but I am so lost and confused im making myself crazy!!!!! This is the situation...

I am a preschool teacher who has almost 10 years experience. I went to a 2 year college years ago and stopped attending just short of achieving my associates degree because the classes i needed werent offered at night and i needed to work during the day. So, I gave it up and just continued to teach which i absolutely love. But now, I must go back in order to get a raise at my job and to at the very least keep it. I also want to go back for myself but being a newlywed who works full time I dont want to actually attend school. So i looked into empire state university for all online courses but of course they dont offer teacher education (hardly any college does for online classes). So i thought i could get my bachelors in another area and just take my masters in elementary education...

My questions...

1, Can i do this?

2. Do you know of any colleges that do offer teacher education with online courses?

3. I cant student teach cause I need to work, is there any way to get out of this?

4. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

I love teaching so much and people say im a natural but in this day, experience and expertise come after that piece of paper. I dont want to take another route in life but im driving myself crazy trying to find an answer to these questions.

Thanks so much in advance ladies!

junebride04 Posted: May 23, 2003 09:12 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

Yes you can get your bachelors in something else other than education and go for your Masters in Eled. (i did this too).

I don't know of any colleges that offer online courses for Education, but I have never looked into it so I wouldn't know.

I think that if you are teaching full time you can get out of student teaching...I think it depends on the university though.

I graduated in Dec. with my Masters in Elem. Ed and I have to say that teaching is a very competitive field (esp. elementary level) and also this year for some reason there are hardly any job openings....i am currently working in a private school and while I absolutely love my job and the kids the pay isn't anything near to what I would be making working in a public school, but I am grateful for having a job and am constantly sending out my resume to various districts. if I were you see if you can get a degree specializing in a certain field like special ed or science or math. there seems to be a need for teachers in those areas.

good luck!! hope this helps!

nycchic_24 Posted: May 23, 2003 09:39 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

So is there an undergrad degree in science which i can major in for my bachelors degree and then master in elem ed? what did you major in for your bachelors degree? this info is so helpful...thanks so much!

Julybaby Posted: May 23, 2003 09:51 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

This probably doesn't apply to you since you are looking into elementary ed, but I majored in history in college and got my MA in education. I don't know about online courses. I do know that a law goes into effect this September in New York State that requires all classroom teachers to be certified. Look into this because it may affect whether you can skip your student teaching and just work. In my school (high school in Manhattan) we have a couple of math and science teachers who are not state-certified yet and are feeling the pressure because they've been told that they may not have a position in September unless they are certified. Look into this now so that you are not surprised in September. Good luck!

yabbobay Posted: May 23, 2003 09:56 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

check out university of phoenix online...I know they offer education degrees...and they are almost exclusively online...

as for the student teaching...I think 2 years teaching experience can substitute for it...but I don't know if you are private or public...not sure the conditions...I would go ot he NYS dept of ed website to get true info..

good luck

nycchic_24 Posted: May 23, 2003 10:13 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

So, what is the best thing to major in for a bachelors degree and then master in elementary ed? Should I focus on something like math, science or english or should i go totally the other way...like something like journalism or along those lines?

All of this info is helping me so much and I am so grateful! This is why this site means so much to me and always will....wonderful women like yourselves who care for the well being of others...

Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart!

anna Posted: May 23, 2003 10:17 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

Try calling your local college (Where you would attend) and speak to an undergrad advisor. And maybe you can also call your local BOCES office.

GOod luck !

junebride04 Posted: May 23, 2003 10:17 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

I majored in history for my Bachelors but it doesn't really matter what you have your bachelors in as long as you have your masters in education.

anna Posted: May 23, 2003 10:19 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

I have a Bachelors in Marketing/Mgmt. and Im going to need extra classes in my Masters. They made me feel like I was SO far behind because my Bachelors wasnt in Education. SHAME ON ME.
Call a school to hear the answers right fromthe source. IT can be so fustrating to hear ten different things!

again, Good luck to ya !

yabbobay Posted: May 23, 2003 10:42 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

I would recommend the BA in education first...why have to wait to complete it???

edited to say...if you are certified before your masters...you can declare the price of your masters on your taxes...b/c NYS requires you get a masters...

groovypeg Posted: May 23, 2003 10:44 PM

Re: ALL TEACHERS or those studying to be..VERY IMPORTANT!

i majored in anthropology, and got my masters in education!! special education.

as far as not student teaching, if you have previous teaching experience, you can fill out an OT-11 which can be found on the NYS teaching web page. thats what i did in place of my student teaching. BUT you absolutely need to speak to someone in the university's certification office.
good luck!

NYS office of teaching