Elementary Education with a liberal arts or science major?

Question

I am transferring to a four year from a community college into elementary education. I have to pick a major along with the elementary education major and can go anyway with it. I would like to do history. Are there any teachers out their who would recommend a certain area to major in? Is history a good choice?

Answer 1

Do a science major!  I didn't have a teacher who had a clue about science until high school, which was very frustrating.  I really wish some of the 'science' classes I had taken before high school were taught by someone who had ever taken a high-school level science class.  When your 6th grade student knows you're wrong, that's bad.  My teachers told us that the seasons were caused by the distance from the sun (they aren't), the sky is blue because it reflect the ocean (it's not), and one even showed us a video about how the Earth is flat (it's not!!!).

Answer 2

History is as good a choice as any.  I majored in math and I wanted to teacher elementary school, no elementary school would even consider me when their high schools were in need of math teachers.  Math and science is always in high demand.  English and reading are in demand for elementary schools

Answer 3

History is an exciting choice, but the most useful choice would be reading.  All elementary students need to know how to read in order to be successful in history, science, social studies, and even math (those dreaded word problems).  You might try a minor in history and pick reading as the major.  Most schools would rather hire a new person who has a strong background with the reading... the big push since No Child Left Behind.  Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

Elementary Education is a very popular area of study these days and depending on where you live, you may have a lot of stiff competition upon graduating from college. My suggestion would be to go the English or Math route. Both are major areas of study and highly tested areas right now. Also, Science is the next area they will be bringing in to test and have already started testing in some areas. I firmly believe History will be next, but I don't believe it will be an area you will use much in the Elementary level.

Before you go full head-on into the Education field, might I suggest volunteering in the classroom some if your college doesn't offer this opportunity? It's much different than you may think, as many of my fellow classmates and I have learned, even though we had many opportunities in classroom.

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll make the best choice for yourself and your career.