Early Childhood Education Degrees in West Virginia
While federal standards aim to make education equal for all students in the United States, it’s clear that each state has its own educational challenges to overcome.
For example, rural states like West Virginia have many remote communities that are often served by larger school districts or small, underfunded districts. However, children in rural areas deserve the same high-quality education as students in urban and suburban areas.
By using research and high standards in your daily work, you can help the field of early education grow in West Virginia.
Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in West Virginia
The future of early education is decided by educators, administrators, and professionals who are passionate about teaching.
Become part of this growing group by contacting early childhood education schools in West Virginia.
The more you learn about early education in West Virginia, the more you can see how much it influences children and families throughout the state. Early educators don’t just teach children and help them master letters, numbers, and shapes. They also provide a huge amount of support to parents and caregivers (West Virginia Metro News, 2016). This type of help gives parents the tools they need to be active in their child’s education. As a result, children learn more, build stronger relationships, and expand their horizons.
Are you ready to earn an early childhood education degree and jump into a teaching career?
Compare West Virginia schools below to start.
Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in West Virginia
To become a licensed teacher, you have to meet the requirements set forth by the West Virginia Department of Education. Since education is licensed on a state-by-state basis, each state has slightly different expectations. You must prove your overall academic knowledge with an initial exam and pass additional exams before getting your license. These tests look at your ability to handle common classroom situations, meet the learning needs of children of different ages, and utilize accepted evidence in your teaching decisions.
To give yourself a solid background in education and childhood development, consider earning a Bachelor’s degree in early education. This 120-credit degree includes about 60 credits of basic academic courses and 60 credits of education coursework.
Your curriculum may include the courses listed below or courses similar to them.
Early Childhood Teacher Courses in West Virginia
- Essential Topics for Teachers
- Mathematics in Early Education
- Curriculum Studies
- Elementary School Curriculum Development
- Teaching and Learning
- Alternative Learning Environments
Another important component of your training is hands-on experience. It’s crucial to work with real students to find out how theories play out in the classroom and how you can adjust your teaching to suit different environments.
Your education culminates with a semester of student teaching. Student teaching requires considerably more time than other classroom experiences, since you spend upwards of 40 hours per week in the same classroom. This helps you learn how to build a bond with a class and plan for your students’ long-term education.
You may get references or referrals based on your student teaching performance, which makes it especially important to work hard, take feedback into account, and improve as much as you can.
The students of West Virginia deserve the expertise of highly trained teachers.
Contribute to the field of education by contacting early childhood education programs in West Virginia today.
Working as an Early Childhood Educator in West Virginia
Legislators in West Virginia are committed to improving this industry with support, funding, and research. Educators in West Virginia enjoy membership in groups like the West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources association, which helps teachers attend continuing education events, learn about advancement opportunities, and get legislative updates.
For several years, statewide need for teachers may stay fairly stable in West Virginia. From 2014 through 2024, job openings for preschool teachers may increase at an average rate of 30 jobs per year (O*Net, 2016). O*Net expects job openings for elementary school teachers to increase 3% by 2024 (O*Net, 2016).
Your salary may be influenced by which grade level you teach. West Virginia preschool teachers earn an average income of $32,510 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average salary for an elementary school teacher is $46,010 annually (BLS, 2016).
Discover how you can use your passion for teaching to change children’s lives.
Check out the list of early childhood education programs below to find schools that catch your eye.
