Is Teaching Right For You?

Becoming a teacher takes more than a love for children, being able to write neatly on a white board, and wanting a career with summers off. It takes hard work, a love for learning, great time management skills, a lot of energy, and much more.This is especially true if you want to work with the youngest of learners in early childhood education (ECE.) It seems some people have a certain something that allows them to naturally fit into a school setting. So, before you sign on the dotted line to begin training for a job in early childhood education, see if you already have any of the following traits to know if teaching is really right for you.

Patience

If there is one characteristic any elementary or preschool teacher needs to possess, it is patience. Early childhood educators deal with a multitude of different situations each and every day. Young children have different abilities, develop at varying rates, and can have behavior issues. A teacher needs to keep cool no matter what situation arises, or how many times you hear a little person calling your name.

Passion

Employers want to hire teachers who truly want to work with children to make a difference in their lives. This passion helps early childhood educators make it through the tough times when students just don't seem to want listen, or when your day starts by dealing with various bodily fluids. Your love for learning and passing it on to the next generation will always come shining through.

Flexibility

Control freaks need not apply. You just never know what your day will hold when it comes to little learners. Flexibility is key in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. The best way to prepare for this is to be ready to expect changes, handle the unexpected, meet new challenges, and just roll with it.

Creativity

Creativity truly counts in early childhood education. The most successful preschool and kindergarten teachers make learning fun and exciting. This may mean thinking outside the box to bring educational lessons to life for students of all abilities and backgrounds.

Dedication

The best teachers are in it for the long haul. They have a willingness to improve the lives of children, and are dedicated to their students and their career. The work of a dedicated teacher sets a solid education foundation for students that will stay with them through graduation.

If these characteristics describe you then you could have a long, successful career as a teacher. Athena Career Academy can help get you on your way. Athena offers a comprehensive Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program that studies the developmental levels of birth through age 8. Contact Athena today to talk to one of our admissions counselors to begin working toward your degree in early childhood education.