elementary education

elementary education questions and answers

More information about elementary education at Education News.

Q: What can I do with my BS in Elementary Education?
I am finishing up my bachelors degree in elementary education and getting ready to go into student teaching next semester. Right now, I am not completely sure what I want to do when I finish student teaching and graduate. I am not sure that teaching is for me. I know I love working with kids, however I think I prefer working with small groups of children, rather than a whole classroom. I was just wondering if anyone knows what I can do with my degree besides being a classroom teacher. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

A: Believe it or not, you could teach at a technical college. The college I work at hires many people with that exact degree to help adults earn their GEDs and also learn English as a second language.

Q: In reference to obtaining a BEd, what does the reference to Elementary Education and Secondary Education mean?
I need to look up an accurate palnning sheet for a BEd at a desired school but there are two, Elementary Education and Secondary Education. What does each of these entail?

A: Depending upon where you live, the actual years may change, but "Elementary Education" refers to primary through elementary school, whereas "Secondary Education" refers to students in middle school through high school. In the United States elementary is K-5 and secondary is 6-12.

Q: What can I do with an Associates Degree in Elementary Education?
I live in Illinois and I am currently studying to get my Bachelors in Elementary Education, however, school is so expensive and i am now wondering what I can do to get my career started? I know I can't be the actual teacher, but I am wondering what I can do. The counselors at my school are not very helpful. They like to get you in and out the door as fast as possible. Thanks!!!

A: This country is in need of teachers badly. So bad that some states will let you teach while your in school and pay for your schooling. You can always get a job working with kids. Since your going to school to become a teacher you might can get a part time job and tutor young children. Tutors make about 12 dollars an hour or more depending on experience.You can become a Teachers Assistant or you can work at a day care. Girl the counselors at my school are not helpful either they put me in a bunch of classes i didnt even need for my major and it was already expensive. I took like 3 classes wasted money and didnt need them so i understand. Associates degree in elementary education does not take to long. Theirs a book you will have to work on called a CDL book (Child Development Learning). Get some info about and begin working on it cause that my friend is the hardest part aside from the studing for your classes. GOOD LUCK!!!

Q: Can I use a Praxis II study guide to prepare for the GACE elementary education exam?
I will be taking the GACE (formerly Praxis II) Elementary education exam in October, but can't find any good study guides. Is the GACE similar enough to the Praxis II that I can use a Praxis II study guide to better prepare for the GACE?

A: I will also be taking the GACE so I searched for some study guides. You may want to try Amazon and type in gace study guides. There was a list of the different study guides for the different GACE assessment. Hopefully you will find the one that fits your GACE.

Q: Is it better to get another bachelor's degree in elementary education, or get a master's?
I already have a BFA in Theatre and I want to teach elementary school. Am I more likely to be hired with a bachelor's degree in education, or a master's degree? I live in Illinois and will be getting certified here. I want to teach in the Chicagoland area. I've had classroom experience at the early childhood education level, as well as tutoring experience. Will the experience help me get hired?

A: It depends are where you are located... In my state and many others it would be foolish to get your masters and then try to get a teaching job at the elementary level. Many districts do not have the money to pay someone with their masters.

Q: can you be a magazine or newspaper editor with a bachelor's degree in elementary education?
I would really like to develop my career and explore different options with my degree, but I know not what career paths are available other than teaching for an elementary education degree. I'd like to know which paths are open to me.

A: That's a hard job to get with a journalism degree. You might try copyediting or copywriter and have to build up from there.

Q: Is Elementary Education one of the careers that the Air Force offers after Basic Training?
I'm 19 years old and I've always had 2 dreams. 1 to become an Elementary Teacher and the other to join the Air Force. I have 1 question. After Basic Training, is it possible to go into Education Training as your career field in the Air Force? I would appreciate it if someone from the Air Force would answer me!! Thanks!!!

A: no. there are no Teachers in the Military. Only Instructors.

Q: I have a question on Elementary Education direction?
Right now I am enrolled in college with a major in Elementary Education. I want to teach elementary school but I prefer to teach 4th - 6th if possible. At the same time I also want the option to teacher a middle school english class. Can anyone send me in the right direction?

A: My degree is mid-level ed, which basically means that I am certified to teach any subject in grades 4-8 or a self-contained class. Although I "majored" in Language Arts/Social Studies, I am just as qualified to teach Math/Science. (I had to choose which area I wanted to "major" in; however, all four subjects are listed on my license.) Currently, I am teaching math in grades 4-6, but I could teach an English class in 7th or 8th grade if necessary. Check on the mid-level ed certification at your college.

Q: Can I use myself as a bargaining chip to get my girlfriend a job in elementary education?
So, here is my situation. I am a guy going into special education elementary....there practically no males going into special education(Ive noticed from my class sizes). However, there are plenty of female elementary education majors. So, when I graduate 2 years from now. Can I used myself as a "Bargaining chip." Can I explain to districts that I can't work for them unless they can provide her with a job? You guys are all morons. Sorry. a.) Special Education is in high demand...I dont know who told you otherwise b.) Do some researching and talk to some teachers. They are DYING for male teachers at the elementary level. I am one of 2 special ed majors in all my education specific classes(40 in a class). Whats that tell you?? c.) I really don't see how jerky it is to request a district to maybe take a look at my girlfriends application again. If a district that is desperate like Phoenix really wants me out there...then I need some motivation as I can get a job practicially anywhere.

A: If you are having to move to another city for a district who really wants you, you could certainly bring it up in a way that - In order to move both my wife (girlfriends may not be enough of a draw) and I would need a job - do they think they have positions to accommodate both? That is reasonable - however, if you are not moving to an area of high need, although you could ask - they probably won't hire her just because they need you. If she is very qualified, and a great teacher, I don't think she will need you as a bargaining chip. Good, effective elementary teachers are always in demand.

Q: would it be a smart idea to major in elementary education and minor in psychology?
i have a big big big career project coming up in about a month and i really need to sort of..decide on what i want to do with the rest of my life lol. so would it be smart to major in elementary education and minor in psychology? because i don't think i want to major in psychology.. so maybe that way i could be an elementary teacher and counselor or something? ahh! suggestions please! lol

A: I'd only suggest majoring in elem ed if you are pretty sure you want to be a teacher. It can be tricky getting another type of job if you've majored in it but decided you don't like teaching. Unless you plan to go to grad school, majoring in psych gives you a very limited number of possible jobs. If you are thinking about teaching but are unsure, you might rather be a high school or middle school teacher. If you study math education or science education, for example, you could get a job in a math or science field if you realized you didn't want to teach for the rest of your life. Psych isn't a bad minor if you want to teach, but don't feel the need to do it unless it is something you are really interested in.

Q: I need help deciding between a career in Elementary Education and Secondary English Education. ?
I am done with most of my prerequisites, (other than the math that I need for Elementary Ed), but I can't continue to take all classes for BOTH majors, because once I transfer, I will need to know which education program to enter. Any advise, or personal knowledge of the day to day life of these teachers will be greatly appreciated.

A: I was a middle school language arts teacher for a few years, while my wife taught elementary. The big difference I saw between the two was that I prepared one lesson a day, regular and pre-AP, with only slight differences, and she would prepare at least three (reading, math, and writing) and often more, depending the days, that included science, social studies, art, etc. I just couldn't fathom preparing so much. Another issue is the number of students we dealt with. I had around 120 student come through my door daily, while she only dealt with 20. I personally preferred this because if a student is having an off day and would choose to get in trouble, I only dealt with him/her for about 50 minutes, not the whole day. But the biggest issue I would have had with teaching elementary is their ages. Middle and high school kids can think for themselves. You can actually hold conversations with them. This made learning more fun, and it encouraged me to really prepare for the objectives being taught because I knew those far out questions were coming. Well, this is just my point of view. If you asked my wife, I'm sure she'd have a different response. Good luck!