How to choose teaching elementary or highschool?

Question

my plan is to go to college for teaching. i must decide whether to specialize in k-6 or 7-12. it is very rare in canada for teachers to get a job outside of there specialization. how can i choose what i will like doing best? when i'm fresh out of school i think i would like to do elementary but as i get older i think i would want to do high school! how do i know what i'm going to want later on? this just seems like a major decision and i don't want to mess it up! how can i choose this and does anyone have advice?

thanks

Answer 1

It is really a personal preference. See if you can get a k-12 license and that way you can try both during student teaching practicum. If you really have to choose, here are some personal experiences. Keep in mind that different school district does make a big difference, and teaching k-5 is not necessary easier than teaching high school.

K-5 teacher needs to be very patient and always keep in mind how young the children are. Classroom management is a big thing. Sometimes it feels like you spend more time managing the children than teaching. It is not as challenging because you are teaching the most basics of various subjects. The good thing about children is that they don't hold grudges against you for disciplining them and they are very cute.

I prefer high school a lot more because first of all, you will be teaching the subject you specialized in, and more often than not, you will be teaching the subject you are more passionate about. Also the students are at a higher intellectual level where they can agree and disagree with you... and they can give you the reason why. This kind of high level, intense discussion may not be for everyone, but I love it. Outside the classroom, there are usually more school activities where you can see your students in action, either in sports, music, drama...etc. It is a great way to get to know your students at a more personal level and also have a better understanding of what they like to do outside your classroom. It is amazing how talented some of these students are. I can go on and on because I really do love my job and my students.

Don't be afraid to teach in high school even if you just graduate college. Oftentimes students bond and respond very well to young teachers because they have more in common with you. it is important to draw the line between Teacher and student though, we want to be friendly and approachable but not friend with the students.

I am very bias towards HS because that is what I do, but I am sure an K-5 teacher will tell you all the great exciting things about teaching the younger students. Ask yourself what is it that you want to accomplish and try a few things out before you make a decision. Go observe an elementary school classroom, a middle school and a high school and ask the teacher what they like about their job. Teaching is such a great job and I will not trade it for anything. I hope this is helpful.

Good Luck.    

Answer 2

There may be some ways to become certified K-12; check with your local requirements to see if this is a possibility.

You could volunteer at a school with different age groups to see what you like best.

If you choose 7-12, chances are you will specialize in a specific subject area (math, science, English, etc.).  Do you want to teach the same subject area all day long or would you rather be responsible for all subject areas?  If you think you want to teach all subject areas, then elementary is the way to go.

I don't know what the job market is like in Canada, but elementary teachers are very easy to come by.  If you want to make yourself more marketable, consider 7-12 and specializing in something like math or science.

And if all else fails, if you change your mind in college, there are probably ways to switch to the other age group before you get too far in your study.

Answer 3

You could try getting certified in something K-12. For example, I got my degree in special education. So I can teach any regular elementary grade (like if i just wanted to be a 2nd grade teacher), and any grade for special education. Right now, I'm working as a special education teacher in a school that is K-8 and I have a whole mix of grades.

Answer 4

I'll answer you for Ontario. I must disagree with you regarding this sentence: "it is very rare in Canada for teachers to get a job outside of their specialisation." Truth of the matter is, the principal is the one deciding what position you will have. It's irrelevant that your specialization is music, for example. If the need is in a gr.3 english class, then that's where you'll go.

As far as being worried whether to specialize in K-6 or 7-12, don't worry. In Ontario, if you specialize in elementary (K-6) and realize later that you would like to teach High School, all you need to do is take ONE summer course, and voilà! You're qualified. In Ontario, there are three levels of qualification: K-6, 4-8 (called intermediate), and 7-12.

Hope this information helps.