So ever since I can remember I wanted to teach math. My sister & I would play House /School/Movie Theater. .. whatever. We made up silly games when we were kids, and whenever we played "school" I demanded I get to be the teacher and she had to be my student. It was the one time she let me take charge. I'd give her problems to do and then I'd grade them. If she got them wrong (which didn't happen often.. me & my siblings are math geniuses), I'd get to tell her the right answer and show her how to do the problem.
I LOVED doing that. So when my senior year came around, I figured telling all the colleges I wanted to major in math secondary ed was the obvious choice. That was, until I became a peer helper and worked with all the kids in the school who were in the EC classes. I absolutely loved working with them, helping them, being at the special olympics and at field day. After a conversation with Mr. Glennon, who was a really cool math teacher at Jrob, I figured out that I could double major in math & special ed. He said that he had a degree in both and had taught both, or something like that.
Well, when I got to App I was told that doing a double major in those two subjects would keep me here for at least 6 years because none of the required courses really matched up, other than maybe 4.. so it would take me a long time.
Well , since math was my original passion, I began as a math ed major. Then I saw all the courses I'd have to take - Calculus, stats, geometry courses... all the stuff I hated. I wanted to teach Algebra, but it wasn't that simple. So when it came time to actually declare my major this fall (after having taken a special ed class, loving it, and Acing it, I decided to declare as a special ed -adapted major ... since adapted kids were the ones I worked it senior year.
However, the more I'm in education classes, the more I'm not sure if I want to teach. I'm a natural at mastering the information. These special ed classes have been the easiest As of my life. And most everything I learn is common sense. So doesn't that mean it's where I belong? I keep thinking that it must be what I should be doing since I know the material so well. But at the same time, I'm not sure if I belong in the front of a classroom. That though intimidates me. I love kids, I love playing with kids, I love being around them and hearing their stories.. but to actually be in charge of teaching them? That's a big responsibility! And it kinda freaks me out.
If I could work as a camp counselor for the rest of my life, I'd do it. If I could open my own daycare, I'd do it. If Appalachian had an early childhood education major, that's where I'd belong. I'd work in a preschool - that's something I could see myself doing. But there's no way I'm leaving App to find a school with that. So for now, I'm with special ed. Soon, it might become elementary ed. I love kids around the k-2 age, so I wouldn't mind teaching them. I'm just going crazy trying to figure it out. I know I want to be around kids. I enjoy the idea of teaching.. but to actually put me in front of the classroom, oh dear goodness.. IDK. sheesh. I'm already gonna be at app an extra year, so I guess I have time to figure this out.
1 comment:
Kate, Lindsey was a B-K major. GREAT program! She teaches 4 year old in More at Four program in an elementary school, but you could use that to be an early childhood teacher, then eventually own your own center--you have to work your way up to that though--so many years as a teacher, then assistant director, then director.
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