I am a teacher who has received my master’s degree and certification via an alternative route: the NYC teaching Fellows. I can provide some light on an alternative programs. If you decide to go this route, keep in mind you may not have many options about where or what to teach. These programs are usually designed to recruit teachers into high needs areas in poor performing school districts. Case in point: when I decided to become a teacher through my program, I was accepted into the program on the condition that I teach special education in the Bronx. That means I will be working in an area with students who have many issues, including poverty and other societal ills that keep them at a disadvantage. To me, it was not a problem to work in a suffering inner-city south Bronx school because this is what I preferred. However, some people will feel overwhelmed and out of place with the challenges this can present.

Also, I completed a master’s degree through this program. There was no leeway within the program. They dictated what courses I would take, when I would take them, and where I would complete the degree. On the other hand, the degree was subsidized by the city department of education and I only had to contribute a small amount. They also work with you to make sure you are permanently certified. That is one benefit with the alternative licensure programs.

I also feel through personal experience and that of my colleagues that new teachers in the Teaching Fellows program are “thrown into the wolves.” You are not fully prepared to be a teacher before you are placed into a classroom. With most of these programs, there is some intensive summer training but not enough to prepare you for the whole state testing culture, venomous administrators, apathetic parents (in urban schools) and other school politics that play a lot into your career.

The bottom line is that in programs like Teach for America and NYCTF, you will be limited as to where you work and what subjects/grade levels you teach. However, they will give more support and financial help with becoming certified. If you decide to pursue a traditional education graduate program, you will incur bigger costs but you have more control over where and what you teach.

Best wishes!

Definately flow with the Ed. degree! the variation in time and money isn’t so significant that it particularly is particularly worth being constrained by ability of the licensure software! i’m so happy I have been given my B. Ed. with the aid of fact a lot of human beings i understand flow and can’t get qualified without going returned to college. additionally, the concentration would be extra tutorial, which will open your ideas to discover your coaching variety fairly than ‘practice’ you to be a ‘instructor’. sturdy success and you may desire to have exciting with the little ones!