Masters in Education for Early Childhood - Ohio State University - (Winner)
Editors Note: This teaching student story essay was selected as second place winner in BrainTrack's Teaching Schools Scholarship for Spring 2010. At the time of submittal, Carmen McFarland was studying for a Master's in Education (Early Childhood) at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.
Wishes Had Known | Program Likes/Dislikes | Choosing Teaching
What do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your teaching school that would be helpful to others going into teaching?
My selection process in finding an excellent teaching program was a little bit unique. I had already received my Bachelor’s degree in another field and was in the process of switching careers. It was important for me to decide if I wanted to obtain another Bachelor’s degree or just do pre program coursework for a Master’s degree in Education, which did not result in another Bachelor’s degree. I chose to pursue the latter. The program I am currently enrolled in requires a certain amount of pre program coursework, prior to being accepted and starting the Master’s degree. Much of this coursework was transferable from my Bachelor’s degree. The rest of the courses which I needed to take were education based, which helped me decide if this is truly the field I wanted to go into. I would highly recommend looking for a program such as this, if you are changing careers and pursuing a teaching degree.
I wish I had known a little bit more about how different programs work, especially in relation to how much elementary classroom exposure students have. Many programs do not have that much exposure within their Bachelor’s program, but have full time student teaching in their Master’s program. These questions are important to ask when searching for the best program for you. Additionally, it is important to find out what elementary or secondary schools they are partnered with. If you know you want to teach in an urban environment, but the college is mostly partnered with suburban schools, then that program would probably not be the best fit for you. You want to be able to gain as much exposure as you can in the environments you eventually want to teach in. Another factor to consider is the tenure and background of the professors you will have in class. Finding a college which hires faculty who are well versed and have a lot of knowledge in the subjects they are teaching is also important. All of the above mentioned points are important considerations in finding an appropriate university and things I would definitely have looked into further if I had to start the process over again.What have you enjoyed most and least during your teaching degree program so far?
I have most enjoyed the experiences I have had in local schools as part of my coursework. Working in both a suburban and an international school, I was amazed by the differences in resources, parental involvement, teaching styles, and classroom interactions. From these experiences, I have learned I will need to be creative about getting needed resources and acquiring parental involvement. For example, I have had Half Price Books donate several boxes of books to students, allowing them to have more reading opportunities at home. There are definitely ways for teachers to acquire resources outside of having the parents buy everything. When looking for the best teaching degree program for you, it is important to find a program that allows a good amount of classroom exposure, specifically in the grade level or subject matter you would like to teach. Through observation, interaction, and actual teaching, a great deal can be learned, which can assist you in your future teaching capacities.
One area which has been a struggle at times was seeing teachers, both in my college classes and elementary classrooms, who lacked passion. However, looking at the big picture, this has been a great learning tool. No matter how long a person has been teaching it is important to continually be seeking ways to improve your teaching methodologies and finding ways to reach out to your students. It is crucial for educators to still have a passion for teaching, even if they are teaching the same subject as they were twenty years ago. Education is a continuously growing field, with new ideas that can be brought into the classroom. From these teachers I have been able to learn, it is important to watch for signs of burnout and complacency. At that point, it will especially be important to find creative ways to present the material, so the students are not negatively impacted in the learning process.
What led you to choose teaching as a career path?
As a preface, I remember specifically stating when I was in high school, that I would never become a teacher because of my fear of speaking in front of people. It is interesting how things change when you are led to do something. The valuable experiences I have had with children have solidified my decision to become an educator. In October of 2007, I traveled to Ghana to teach in an orphanage. By providing them with books and other supplies, I was able to work with them on their reading abilities. We also sang a variety of songs, which was a wonderful way to communicate with them in English, while still learning their area language of Ewe. It was such a humbling experience and forever changed my life and ultimately the direction I had originally planned to go professionally.
Additionally, in October of 2008, I participated in a Spanish Immersion Program in Costa Rica. While there, I volunteered daily in a child's home, as well as assisted in a few local schools. One of my most memorable experiences was sitting with an eight year old girl in a playhouse at a school in an impoverished neighborhood. We took turns going through all the colors in the house in both Spanish and English. Even with a language barrier, we were both able to learn new things, confirming the idea that teachers learn along with children.
I have been a Financial Aid Advisor at a college for the past four years. I love being in education, but after these experiences I knew I wanted to go into teaching and felt inspired to do so. I had been looking at ways I could help people professionally and had thought about international relations or starting my own non-profit business, but somehow teaching made sense, even with my fear of speaking in front of people. Education is so important. I have seen the effects of how a lack of education can truly affect your life. I hope to eventually teach first grade in an international or bilingual school, finding a way to reach out to every child I meet.
As a future educator, my mission will be to create a positive and interactive learning environment, providing children the resources they need to grow individually and collectively. Every child, including those with special needs and from diverse backgrounds, should feel included. I want my students to learn from and appreciate each other’s strengths. Teachers have a great opportunity to make a difference in the minds of the future, helping their students to realize their full potential.