Kindergarten or other teachers: how do/can you become at kindergarten teacher?possibly

Question

I am going to be a senior in high school and I have begun looking into what i would like to do after graduation, and I am very interested in becoming a kindergarten teacher. The more I am looking into schools and different programs, the more difficult it is to find a clear answer. I was just wondering if maybe any kindergarten teachers themselves or teachers or maybe parents of kindergarten teachers had any helpful advice as to what major, subjectspossiblyly even schools that you could recommend, anything would be fantastic.

Thank you in advance for any help, it is very much appreciated.

Answer 1

Check the requirements in your state.  And I would recommend if you can, getting certified up to third grade or even beyond if you can (depends on the state you live in).  Just because if you change your mind about Kindergarten you do have other options. I got certified for Pre-Kindergarten through Third grade and ended up teaching Pre-Kindergarten (Head Start) and love it.  Also, colleges should know about the requirements.

Answer 2

I am a Kindergarten teacher.  I live in California, which requires a Bachelor's Degree and then a fifth year to earn a teaching credential, in which you take methods courses and do your student teaching.  The requirements vary by state but shouldn't be too hard to figure out.  Contact the Education Department of a University in your area if you have questions.  You should know, though, that once you complete your education and are hired by a school district, it is very unlikely that you will be able to choose what grade you teach, particularly in the first few years.  If you are certain that you only want to teach Kindergarten and are flexible with your income (meaning you would likely earn less money) you could probably get early childhood education credits from a community college and teach in a preschool that has Kindergarten.  Again, though, check out the requirements in your state.  Good luck!