I read Education Week to keep me updated on educational issues. However, rarely do I read an article with as much interest as I when I read Sean Cavanaugh’s piece on how a teacher’s college degree affects student performance. The author pointed out that teachers, particularly those in high school and middle school, should have both a content-area and education emphasis in his/her college major.
The NAEP results also show that teachers who reported having majored in “mathematics education” produced higher scores than teachers who did not.
I understand that the nature of the evidence about the impact a teacher’s college major has on student achievement. However, I support the idea that teacher preparation must include a balanced emphasis on content and classroom. If you are heading to college and are considering teaching middle or high school students, I suggest getting a degree that includes both education and content-area knowledge.
When I made my decision to become a teacher I declared a major in mathematics education. I believe that this degree prepared me for life as a teacher. I went into the profession feeling that I had both the content and classroom-management skills required to be successful. I also believe that my undergraduate training prepared me for life after teaching. I owe much of my success in the field of educational assessment to my undergraduate training.
If you are thinking of entering a “traditional” college teacher preparation then drop me a note. I’d be interested in hearing about the program you are considering.
Reference
Cavanaugh, S. (2009, December 2). Math major for teachers may not enhance student performance. Education Week, 1, 14-15.