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Early Childhood Education Degrees in Michigan

A child begins learning far before the processes of learning are recognizable. In fact, experts believe that the first five years of a child’s life are the most important in terms of learning and brain growth.

That’s where early education professionals come into play. They give young children the opportunities they need to thrive, prepare for adulthood, and build a better Michigan. With an early childhood education degree, you may learn how to effectively teach children through third grade.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Michigan

Considering a career in education? You could make a big difference in early childhood education.

Get more information by contacting early childhood education schools in MI.

In Michigan, teachers and other education professionals benefit from a strong support network that advances the field of early childhood education. The Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children is an excellent resource for new and experienced teachers. It aims to make full use of teaching research and use the power of early education to its full potential.

Access to early education has been linked to lower imprisonment rates, higher graduation rates, and higher income potential. It can also close the achievement gap that tends to appear in later grades.

Whether you want to teach preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary school, you can get started with training from an accredited program.

Find out how you can earn a Bachelor’s degree in education by requesting information from Michigan colleges today.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Michigan

The process of becoming a licensed teacher begins with your choice of school. To qualify for the teacher licensure exams in Michigan, you need a Bachelor’s degree in education. It must be from an accredited teaching program.

This type of degree includes 120 undergraduate credits, split between general education topics and teaching courses. The courses listed below are a sample of what you may find in your curriculum. Courses cover theory, practical skills, research, and classroom experience.

Early Childhood Education Certificate Courses

  • The Teaching Profession
  • Educational Psychology
  • Education of the Exceptional Learner
  • Principles of Classroom Management
  • Methods for Teaching Early Elementary Science
  • Teaching Writing and Speaking
  • Young Child Assessment
  • Literacy Methods for Early Childhood Education

Classroom experience is quite possibly one of the most important components of your training. Many schools assign you to a classroom in your very first semester, letting you gain some confidence with children in early education settings.

Your education culminates in a full semester of student teaching, which requires you to combine all of your knowledge and skills to meet the diverse needs of an early education classroom. Overall, you spend several hundred hours in early childhood classrooms during your four years in school.

Once you’re accepted to a program in early childhood education, Michigan may have many scholarships for you to consider. If you’re earning a Bachelor’s degree, you may apply for the T.E.A.C.H. Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship.

After you graduate with your undergraduate degree, it’s time to work toward your teaching license. All application materials go through the Michigan Department of Education. You must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification and provide proof of your education. You may begin working in private and public schools once you have your license.

The future of early education is always changing to adapt to new research and teaching techniques. Why not help Michigan children succeed with your daily work?

Take the first step now by reaching out to teaching programs below.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Michigan

When you’re done with your degree, the real work begins. Even with hundreds of hours of classroom experience, the first year of teaching is a major transition. You should take full advantage of the resources available to you, including advice from experienced teachers, ongoing training events, planning worksheets, and educator assessments. Through Early On Michigan, you can remind yourself of the importance of your work and the impact it can have on future generations.

The demand for educators is growing throughout Michigan. Between 2014 and 2024, O*Net expects job openings for preschool teachers to increase 10% (2016). During this time frame, the state may add an average of 840 new elementary teaching jobs per year (O*Net, 2016).

Salaries in Michigan fall in line with Midwestern averages. Currently, preschool teachers earn an average of $30,020 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). The average salary for an elementary school teacher is $62,220 per year (BLS, 2016).

Your path to a teaching career can start now.

Browse the list of teaching programs below and contact the schools that catch your interest.