Hello there! Just wanted to apologize in advance. I’m writing this on my phone, so there will be mistakes.
I’ve known for a while that I wanted to go into teaching. Specifically working with first or second graders. I work with that age group currently at a summer camp and love it. I just don’t know what I should major in.
I live in MA, so an early childhood education degree gets you qualified to teach pre K through Second grade and elementary education is first through sixth. Both of these include the ages I want to teach. Which degree will give me better experience for that age group? Which degree would an employer prefer?
It’s also Massachusetts state law that all teachers have to major in something else other than education as well as an education major. I was thinking psychology because it has always interested me. Is this a bad decision? Should I choose a more “academic” major like English or math?
In my experience, you will be much more marketable and likely make more money with the 1-6 qualification. I’ve seen many with the pre-k thru 2 who ended up teaching in day cares and pre-schools, for much less $/fewer benefits than an elementary school teacher.
Also, while you are sure now that you want to only teach 1st or 2nd grade, that may change over time. The 1-6 gives you access to both elementary and middle school positions.
I agree with CGHTeach. With a 1-6 qualification you can overlap with 5-8, if you have the additional subject courses for middle school.
I am not sure about your comment “… Mass state law requires that all teachers have to major in something else other that education…” I am from a different state but could this be for secondary ed (high school)? For 2nd ed, there is a subject major with the education classes added in. Usually elementary ed has it’s own separate requirements like “how to teach xyz subject to students”.
If there are any schools you are interested in, you could go to their website and look to see if they have a list of classes & requirements. Also, you could email/call the contact that is listed on the above link and ask them your question.
As a side note, each state has their own requirements for teacher licensing and their approved in-state schools. Some states have reciprocity with each other.
In my neck of the woods, I know 2 elem ed teachers that got hired right after student teaching because they were dual language qualified. I have heard unofficially that our local school district only wants to hire dual language certified elem ed teachers.