Keep Calm and Teach On: The Life of an Education Major

Teaching younger children may sound like a simple job.  You get to spend time with a group of students and teach a subject you are passionate about.  However, it is not as easy as it looks.  People may not be aware of how selective and rigorous FSU’s Elementary Education program really is.  A maximum of 35 students are accepted into the program every semester.  Applicants must come in with previous work with children.  Prior to applying, applicants take a general knowledge test, several prerequisite courses, provide multiple references, and complete an essay concerning their perspective on the profession.

Alex Coulter, a junior, is currently in her first semester of the Elementary Education program.  She is taking 16 semester hours, while doing field experience at an elementary school in Gadsden County. Her classes currently include studying children’s thought process when learning math and reading, how to incorporate creative elements into the classroom, working with children who have disabilities, and how to work with ESOL (English as a Second Language) students.  Coulter states that her workload is plentiful, with several assignments and group projects weekly.  She says that this  is a good thing: “It does prepare us for what it will be like as a teacher because a teacher has to prepare lesson plans daily.” However, Coulter explains that the program was more than what she expected: “One negative side was that the workload was quite a shock to me.  I had gotten used to the typical college workload. However, there is now a much heavier workload that is pretty consistent throughout the semester.”

Photo by Jeannie Kays via Flickr

Most people don’t realize the magnitude of this profession.  Coulter explains that “you’re not just going in and playing with kids, or even teaching them. You are taking care of them all day. You are responsible for their safety and well-being. Just look at what has happened around us.  It is a big deal to be entrusted with kids.”  This program is preparing students for the diversity and the unpredictable nature of the profession.  Students come out of the program with hours and hours of experience and a background with a plethora of different cases in children.  Students, having plenty of opportunities in the classroom, gain a strong perspective on the daily lives of elementary school teachers.  They have a better grasp on how to handle children for hours each day and gain the stamina needed for long workdays.

Being an Elementary Education major is a big deal.  You are one of the few in the program, and it is an honor to be chosen.  Coulter states that being part of this program is a joy: “Being a teacher has been my dream since I was in kindergarten.”  Teaching is a profession that consists of individuals who are passionate, caring, and driven, and we should be more respectful and aware of the work it entails. You never know – Alex could be teaching your kids one day.