| One of the hardest things about being a new mom is | | | | There are a wide variety of education degrees that |
| deciding when to go back to work. Some moms stay | | | | you can get, depending on what age children you want |
| at home for a few years, and some moms go back | | | | to teach. If you want to teach younger children at the |
| to work as soon as their maternity leave is up. There's | | | | pre-K level, you can go to school to get an associate |
| no right answer, because it depends on the particular | | | | degree in early childhood education in about two years. |
| family situation a mom is in. One thing is certain though, | | | | In many associate degree programs for early |
| moms everywhere want to have a good balance of | | | | childhood education, the state certification process is |
| work and family time, without sacrificing too much for | | | | included in the degree itself. |
| either one. | | | | Teachers who teach at the elementary school level |
| For a lot of moms, working a typical 9 to 5 job just | | | | and higher need to complete a bachelor's degree in |
| doesn't fit because they want more time with their | | | | order to teach. Students who get a bachelor's degree |
| families. They might be thinking about trying to find a | | | | in a particular subject such as English or history will |
| job that suits the schedule and life of a busy family, | | | | also need to complete an education certification with |
| including school, work, soccer and more. Moms who | | | | the state they will be teaching in before they will be |
| are trying to figure out a job that's more realistic for | | | | allowed to teach. Other aspiring teachers will work to |
| their lives may want to think about going back to | | | | receive a bachelor's degree in education, often with a |
| school to get an education degree. | | | | specialized focus, like K - 5 education or science |
| Getting an education degree may be the right move | | | | education. Your college will be able to help guide you in |
| for moms who want more flexibility in their schedules. | | | | choosing your major and education specialty. Another |
| Being a teacher means a different set of working | | | | good source of information is your state's department |
| hours and days that better matches what their | | | | of education website. |
| children's school schedule is. While a teacher still works | | | | Additionally, there are many grants and scholarships |
| from Monday through Friday, there are a lot of other | | | | available to help pay for school for people who want |
| days off during the year, too. Most of the days off | | | | to receive high levels of teaching accreditation in |
| that a teacher has match with the kids' days off, | | | | preparation for their teaching career. The TEACH |
| except for teacher in service days or other scheduled | | | | grant is a federal program that awards money to |
| workdays when kids don't go to school, but teachers | | | | students enrolled in teaching programs and requires |
| do. | | | | graduates to teach at schools that are identified as |
| For example, when the kids are home for summer | | | | having students from primarily low income families. |
| vacation, you will be, too. The same goes for | | | | TEACH recipients are required to teach for four years |
| Christmas and Spring breaks. You won't have to | | | | at one of the schools identified in the Department of |
| worry any more about what you'll be doing during all | | | | Education's Low Income Directory. For teachers who |
| those school holidays, because you'll be home with | | | | are interested in making a big difference, a TEACH |
| your kids. The worry and cost of finding childcare can | | | | grant may be an ideal tool to help pay for school and |
| be mostly a thing of the past, because you can largely | | | | giving teachers an opportunity to make a big impact. |
| be at home when they are. | | | | |