Help becoming an elementary school English teacher.?

Question

Okay, so I'm moving to San Diego, CA next year and I want to become an elementary school english teacher. I'm not sure what classes to take. Do I take regular English courses or what? If you have some time to spare please help out! I am very interested in Mesa College or San Diego State. Thank you so much!

Answer 1

In Wisconsin anyway, elementary teachers major in "elementary education" and teach math, science, reading, etc.  It would probably be different if you were interested in working with English Language Learners...otherwise, you wouldn't really teach just English at the elementary level--unless California is a lot different from Wisconsin.

Answer 2

As most have stated, most school districts do not isolate English as the only subject to be certified in as an elementary school teacher, unless say you're a reading specialist or something of that nature.  You would be required to teach all the core content areas like math, science, and social students and receive certification in elementary education.  If you want to solely focus on english you need to go to the middle school or high school level.

Answer 3

Elementary school teachers focus on all the subjects not just english. Only Middle schools and high schools have specified english classes. so you either want to teach english to students who have english as a second language or you could be looking into something of a higher education, which in then u would need to take english courses. im sure a counselor would help you out alot more.

Answer 4

You can major in English and Elementary Education in college, I had to do a dual major.  Just so you know elementary teachers have to teach everything, math, science, social studies.  But most of the day is spent reading.  The good thing about a dual major is you can apply to teach 7 -12. So if you get tired of the little kids you can try the big kids.

Answer 5

English is called Language Arts in elementary school and is taught both as a separate block of instruction or integrated into other subjects.   Some schools departmentalize at 4th and 5th grades.  For example, one teacher teaches math, one teaches language arts, one teaches social studies, and one teaches science.   To be an elementary teacher you will need to study all subjects.  That doesn't mean you cannot take extra courses in language arts.  

You  may wish to become a Reading Specialist or a Writing Specialist.  In some states, that requires certification as a Reading or Writing Specialist.  In others, it does not. My degree was in early childhood, but I was hired as a Reading Specialist and picked up some extra courses to become better informed.  I loved the job.  I worked with small groups of students who were struggling readers and I modeled writing instruction in the intermediate grades.  It was a job with great variety and I was involved in the subjects I loved, reading and writing.  

I would check out the CA Department of Education website for info on elementary certification.  I would also make inquiries about the San Diego school district which might have its own requirements in addition to the state's.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.