Majors at the University of Connecticut
Elementary Education
INTEGRATED BACHELOR/MASTER'S (IBM) PROGRAM
If you enjoy teaching others and working with children, then preparing to become an elementary teacher may be the course of study for you. A student majoring in elementary education prepares him/herself to teach grades one through six. At the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, students undergo a minimum of five years of study. This results in both teacher certification and a Master’s Degree in Education. The curriculum includes completion of general requirements, subject area study, and extensive courses in professional education. Since all states require that a teacher is licensed (private schools are excepted from this requirement) and most states require successful completion of a competency test in basic skills such as reading and writing, preparation for this is included in the elementary education curriculum. Furthermore, through extensive fieldwork, a student majoring in elementary education is prepared to work closely with children in a classroom setting.
Academic Department
Nature of Work
The typical elementary teacher teaches several subjects but only to one class. These subjects include math, science, social studies, reading, and language. Like all teachers, elementary teachers must engage in classroom management which includes preparing lesson plans and taking disciplinary action. The ability to integrate many different mediums into the classroom, including computers, movies, slides, games, music and artwork creates the greatest chances for a teacher to successfully motivate his/her students to learn. Among the elementary teacher’s responsibilities are: assigning/grading class work and papers, preparing report cards, meeting with parents and school staff, and observing/evaluating students’ academic performance. Keeping up with technology and integrating it into the classroom and curriculum is becoming increasingly important as well.
Sample Job Titles
- Elementary School Teacher
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Potential Employers
Most commonly, graduates of UConn with a degree in elementary education work in public or private elementary schools. However, other potential employers include day care centers, nursery schools, or day programs.
Useful Skills
Successful elementary teachers possess strong organizational and communication skills. Teachers must write out lesson plans often days and weeks in advance and communicate not only with children, but parents and school administrators as well. Furthermore, patience and a strong desire to work with children is essential for a successful career as an elementary teacher. Other skills include the ability to utilize technologies efficiently and sensitivity in dealing with people from various backgrounds and educational levels.
Getting Experience
The Neag School of Education offers three types of experience in the classroom: first a student spends time in classroom observation situations, in which he/she observes the interactions of the teacher with students, parents and school faculty and staff. Secondly, a student engages in student teaching, in which he/she leads a class for a period of months under the supervision of a certified teacher. Finally, in his/her graduate year, the student partakes in an internship which allows the student to work in a number of different educational fields outside of the classroom. However, in addition to the curriculum based experience, there are also other ways to gain experience with children. These include after school programs, tutoring, and summer school/camp programs. There are numerous ways to volunteer in the community and gain more valuable experience that will come in handy once inside the classroom.
Employment Opportunities
Aside from elementary schools and private schools, employment possibilities include hospitals, day care centers, camps, recreational centers, and churches. Majoring in elementary education suggests that one would be comfortable and able to work in any situation dealing with elementary school aged children.
Internet Links
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