Know The Requirements

It can be frustrating to complete the skills required for educators, only to find they weren’t enough of the right kind for the school district of choice. The best way to avoid this is to do the research before deciding on a program. Teachers Count (teacherscount.org) has links to each state, their programs and what is required to be certified and teach in that state. Additional teaching certificates may be required if you’ve moved to a different state or district. Again, the best way to avoid unnecessary hold ups is to check with the other areas long before the move.

Getting A Teaching Job

With the great need for teachers, it would seem finding a job would be an easy one, right? Wrong. Many teaching positions aren’t even posted and are filled through word-of-mouth applicants.

There are several websites to check for teaching positions. Monster.com, HotJobs.com, and CareerBuilder.com are a few general websites to enter for teaching employment possibilities. For those wanting employment sites specific for educators, there are several to choose from. Teachers Count (teacherscount.org) has an entire page of links to job website including National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse, Education Week, Jobs in Schools, Teachers-Teachers, and multiple other links allowing a huge of opportunities for those seeking employment as a teaching professional. If possible, contact teachers in the district or institution in which you wish to instruct and ask them about possible job openings or future job opportunities.

Network as much as possible. There are multiple workshops and conferences across the country and local meetings with educators. Meeting colleagues can be a great way to get your foot in the door and have your resume stand out for employment.

Attend Both Traditional And Online Classes

Is it beneficial to take both traditional and online teaching classes? Are you doing it to get a different perspective on student-teacher and student-student interaction, or would you take two classes for school credit only? Both kinds of classroom settings can teach you a great deal and help you learn about human nature and communication in different academic settings. On the other hand, with the debate raging about the validity of online classes versus the traditional degree, your best bet is to talk to counselors of all institutions involved before mixing classes. Just because courses have similar, if not exact, course descriptions, it doesn’t mean they will transfer. The first step is to ensure any online program is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC.org), then have your individual transcripts and a course catalogues ready when you talk to each of the counselors. Ironically, if you have the course catalogues available, you may find some other classes you took do cover a required class at another institution. This facilitates the counselor’s job as well and can make mixing a much easier experience.

After talking to all parties involved, make sure to get all degree plans in writing, keeping a copy for your files and one for your school files. This will help you later if there is any confusion with your completed and transferred classes. See if taking classes in both settings would help you develop better skills for your teaching career. If the majority or all of your classes are online and it doesn't mix well with traditional classes, you can take a non-credit, continuing education class to find out about the traditional classroom setting.

ID Certfication vs. ID Degree

There are online courses that offer certifications in ID but the classes usually will not apply to any degree program, especially graduate level and above.

If you do decide to take the route of certification only, be sure to talk to those who have taken the classes and ask about job opportunities following completion. Contact the Distance Education and Training Council (DECT.org) to make sure the classes are at least accredited, giving them more credibility when the certification shows up on your resume.

Weekend classes claiming to help you become certified as an ID programmer in just three days are numerous. Do the research to verify this will be recognized by potential employers. Again, talk to others who have taken the program, ask counselors or send out a question on the bulletin boards of ID degree holders, asking about weekend certifications.

EdD vs. PhD

So, you've decided to go back to school for a higher education degree, but how do you choose between a doctorate of education and a doctorate of philosophy in education?

The PhD is more of a research degree which enables a person to pursue a teaching profession that requires continued research such as at a university.

An EdD is a professional doctorate that prepares a student of speciality education or administrative positions. Depending on the institution, it's a toss up whether a PhD or EdD holds more weight or prestige.

Teaching In A Small Community

Although, a K-12 degree doesn't require you teach in smaller communites, it can allow you the freedom to do so and meet an incredible group of people in the process. Small town America is slowly shrinking. With the introduction of the Internet, there are fewer areas of this country that are unreachable. Teaching in smaller towns and communities can offer a quieter and slower way of life. Students here are just as eager-to-learn as those you'll find in the larger cities, but may not have the same opportunities as more publicly funded school districts. This is the chance to broaden their horizons and open their eyes to possibilities outside the town's boarders, but it also may help them feel more secure in their quiet place of the world.

Diversity Of Students

America is called the melting pot for a reason. People arrive here everyday looking for a better life, better work, and better education. Along with their individual dreams, they have their own ideas, religions, though processes, and biases.

As an early childhood educator, this can work to your advantage or disadvantage. No matter what the ethnicity of the child, ideally the best approach is to treat all the children the same. Problem is, all children are different and how you approach and teach them can be as well.

One of the best ways to address this issue is to start with yourself. Go back and analyze if you have any particular biases and why.

• Do you talk to girls and boys differently?
  
• Do you expect more from a white child than a black child or Hispanic child?
  
• Do you expect less from a child of color?
  
• Do you have a bias against alternative couples or traditional couples who are not married but have children? Will that translate to how you treat their child?
  
• Do you assume all children from the Middle East are Muslim?
  
• Do you assume all Asian children are Buddhist?
  
• Are you anti-religion that isn't Christian and can you teach students who are not?

Always keep an open dialogue with the children, encouraging them to ask you questions directly or through a note (signed or unsigned) and watch body language with the children. Does a little girl suddenly become withdrawn when you start asking other children about their parents? Does a little boy act out when asking about summer vacation?

If you aren't sure about your own biases or interactions with student diversity, take a class on the subject or ask the college about programs that address the issue. What you may think is an innocent remark may be offensive to someone else. Although you can't make everyone happy, you can open your eyes wider to other ideas, thought processes, and religious beliefs. You just may get more out of the discussion than you realize and it can point you on the path of becoming an amazing educator.

Costs Of An Early Childhood Education Degree

Earning an early childhood education degree will take four to five years. The last two years can be taken at an faster rate if you are enrolled in an accelerated program (online or traditional). The prerequisites will take the first couple of years (again, may be taken at a faster rate if classes are taken online) followed by the specific classes in elementary education. Talk to your college or university of choice and ask them about their accelerated programs if you are interested in finishing sooner than four years.

Deciding On A Speciality

Depending on what your professional goals are, this will help decide your master's degree plan. Some school districts require a master's degree before they will hire for certain grade levels so check with the school districts you want to teach for, asking them their requirements.

Others who plan to earn a master's degree are doing so to go into administration. Universities offering masters degrees in Education Administration are plentiful but verify their accreditation and if the school district you want to work in recognizes on-line degree plans.

Check out several degree plans, costs, availability of classes and caliber of instructors. Not all programs are created equal, so it's important to do the research and find out what program is the best fit for your education needs.

Administration vs. Teaching

Is an administration career path a better route than teaching? This is certainly a matter of personal preference, but it also depends on if you enjoy teaching.

With increased scrutiny on the public schools to perform with less funds while trying to meet national guidelines, the job of administrator can be stressful and frustrating. As an administrator, you don't have the requirements necessary for teaching, but you do have the jobs of keeping the students, staff, and teachers safe.