Teaching Associate Degree Online
Guide to programs offering an Associate Degree in Teaching
When some people think about going to school to get their teaching associate degree they picture themselves as an instructor teaching Math, English, and Science to a classroom of children. But what many people don't think of are the other subjects like theater, art, computers, music, or physical education. If you're not crazy about the idea of teaching Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmatic, then you can still use your teaching associate degree to work in other areas of education.
With a teaching associate degree you'll be qualified to work as a teacher's aide. This means that you'll be assisting the head teacher by grading papers, helping plan lessons, maintaining classroom discipline, and working one-on-one with students who might need extra attention.
Working as a teacher's aide can be incredibly rewarding. Most classroom teachers do not have the time to devote to students who might need more one-on-one time, and your job would be to help these students excel at their own pace. Most of the time teacher's aides will work with students who are either far ahead of the rest of the group, or far behind. Without your help, many of these students might slip through the cracks.
When you go to school to get your teaching associate degree you'll learn about all aspects of education. You'll learn the full gamut from art, biology, English, geography, history, and psychology. You'll also learn important skills like how to manage a classroom, maintain discipline, plan lessons, and handle diverse classrooms. You'll also learn how to teach exceptional learns and students with disabilities.
Now, many students who go for their teaching associate degree eventually get their Bachelor's Degree in Education. The reason for this is because salaries for teacher's aides are fairly low, between $20,000 to $25,000 per year. Although this is much lower than most other fields, getting your teaching associate degree is still a great idea, especially if you plan on one day becoming a full-fledged teacher. A teacher's associate degree will give you a solid background in education and classroom management. Also, it's usually a fairly easy transfer of credits, depending on where you're going.
Students with a teaching associate degree should have a fairly easy time finding a job once they're done with school because this field is expected to grow about as fast as the national average, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many students will begin to work in a classroom right after they get their degree, and then continue on with their education at night. This allows them to get into a school system that they're comfortable with and pretty much ensures that they'll get hired on as a full-time teacher once they've gotten their teaching certificate.
If you love kids and would like to work in a field where you get all major holidays and summers off, then you might want to check out getting your teaching associate degree. It can be a rewarding career on its own, or give you the firm foundation you need to go on and get your teaching certificate.
