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Early Childhood Education Degrees in Maryland

Everyone has their own skills and talents that they can use to improve society and create a lasting legacy. If you are patient with children and passionate about the field of education, you may consider becoming an early childhood education teacher and helping children get a solid start in life and in education.

The field of early education covers ages birth through eight years, so it gives you plenty of options in the workforce after you graduate.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Maryland

To educate, you must be educated. You can start your teaching journey at one of the many teaching colleges in Maryland.

Keep reading and request information from Maryland early childhood education schools to take the next step.

Early education is a big priority in Maryland, as it is in many other parts of the country. The Western Maryland Early Childhood Conference reinforced that early childhood education is an investment that society must make, because it pays off not just for individual children, but for society as a whole (Herald Mail Media, 2016).

Maryland has led the charge in many ways; the state offers pre-K for economically disadvantaged four-year-olds (Baltimore Sun, 2016). Legislators and education experts hope to expand that to include three-year-olds as well.

Become an early childhood teacher and make a lasting impact on your students and their families.

Find the right school for you by requesting information today.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Maryland

For most aspiring teachers, the most straightforward path to teaching certification is a Bachelor’s degree. This four-year degree gives you extensive classroom experience and exposure to different academic topics that you may teach over the course of your career.

The process does require some planning and preparation. Before you begin your teaching courses, you must meet the requirements of your school’s teaching program. This involves passing the Praxis I exam and maintaining a certain GPA while completing coursework in other topics.

Once these requirements are met, you may start working through your set curriculum of teaching courses.

Commonly Offered Early Education Courses

  • Child Development, Birth to Three Years
  • Language Development and Reading Acquisition
  • Reading in the Early Childhood Classroom
  • Assessment and Instruction
  • Interventions for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
  • Families and Culture in Early Education
  • Mathematics for Young Children
  • Reading Diagnosis and Assessment
  • Research in Early Education

While the tenets of early education are applicable to the majority of students, it takes experience to know how to respond to classroom challenges and student needs. For that reason, Maryland schools make sure you get plenty of time in the classroom. By working with babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, you can adjust your techniques and methods to make them work for each individual child.

Early education is a fairly broad age range, so you should have an idea of which age range you’d like to focus on after completing some classroom rotations. This can help you choose a student teaching site and get the experience you need to qualify for teaching jobs in your area of interest.

As you earn your degree and begin your career, it’s important to remember just how important early education is. While it’s important for children to have a strong academic foundation, it is even more important for them to communicate well with peers and authorities, grow through guided and independent play, and develop their natural curiosity. As an early education teacher, these are just a few of the responsibilities you take on every day.

If you’re excited about earning your early education degree and making a difference in this field, check out the list of Maryland schools below.

You can learn more about schools in your area and request more information.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Maryland

Once you are the proud owner of a Bachelor’s degree in early education, you can apply for your license. The Maryland State Department Of Education has a straightforward application process that includes transcripts, professional references, and a passing score on the Praxis II.

Demand for teachers is extremely high in Maryland, a fact that may help you negotiate a position that you are passionate about. By the year 2024, job openings for preschool teachers are expected to increase 38% (O*Net, 2016). Demand for elementary school teachers may swell 30% during this time (O*Net, 2016).

Your salary potential may change over the years, particularly as you gain seniority within a district and become more experienced. Statewide, the average salary for a preschool teacher is $31,120 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average annual income for a Maryland elementary school teacher is $63,750 (BLS, 2016).

By connecting with other teachers and staying on top of legislative changes, you can ensure that you are giving your students the tools they need to succeed. One of the most popular resources for early education teachers in Maryland is the Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children.

Education is growing quickly, and by taking action, you can be part of it.

Make your move by contacting Maryland teacher training programs below.