If you’re considering becoming a teacher education major, you might have some doubts about whether it’s the right career for you. Many of us future educators have known for a long time that we wanted to become teachers, however, that isn’t the case for a lot of people. If you’re thinking about switching, here are ten signs that you should be an education major.
- You love working with kids.
-
Okay, so this one’s a little obvious. Working with kids, no matter what age, is not a task for everyone. In the classroom, you’re around kids all day long. For some people, this is ideal. I know it is for me — I used to tell people that I was an education major because I did not want to work with only adults. If working with children is your forte, education is definitely something for you to consider.
- You have an affinity for office supplies.
-
There’s just something so nice about a new highlighter, or colored Post-It notes, or a new set of pens. Office supplies are every teacher’s best friend. If you have the same love for spiral notebooks and pencil sharpeners, you might love the education field.
- Disney movies are your go-to.
-
This may be exclusive to teachers of younger grades, but most of us love some Disney! Whether it’s a musical, a live-action or an original movie, most education majors are down to binge.
- You love the dollar section at Target.
-
The infamous dollar section at Target, professionally called Bullseye’s Playground, is always stocked with teacher and classroom related items. If you ever find yourself wishing you had a use for those chalkboards or cute erasers, you may want to think about becoming a teacher. There’s nothing better than an excuse like that to justify spending too much money at Target!
- You enjoy group projects.
-
Group projects get a bad rap in most college settings. While they can be frustrating and difficult with the wrong partners or wrong professors, group projects are a key feature in education classrooms and usually work out well. Collaboration is not a bad thing! In my experience, most education majors work well together because we all have similar interests and work styles. If you want to be a teacher, you are going to do your fair share of group work.
- You enjoy school.
-
This is another one that’s a little bit obvious. But liking school is a big part of wanting to become a teacher. The structure of school is something we all adhere to, and most of us really enjoy the structure of the day. And it helps to have summers off! As a teacher, you’re constantly in school and constantly learning.
- You’re unnaturally patient.
-
One thing I have noticed about non-education majors is that many of them are less patient with “teacher tasks,” such as group projects or tutoring their friends. Many education majors find themselves with more patience for those kinds of things than others. If you can relate, you should take that as a sign to enter the education field!
- You like to dress up for things.
-
Being a teacher is about being fun. And most students, no matter what age, enjoy their school experiences so much more when they have teachers who aren’t afraid to have fun. Getting to dress up for Halloween, spirit week, and other holidays is one of the best perks of being a teacher in my opinion.
- You’ve been called the “mom” of your friend group.
-
When you’re a teacher, you often have a good instinct for taking care of people. If you’re the kind of person to noticeably care for your friends (like carrying things in your tote bag for them!), then you might like the caretaking experience of being in the classroom.
- You want to make a difference.
-
The fastest way to make a difference in someone’s life is to be a teacher, and to be a good, compassionate teacher. So many kids have home lives that aren’t great, or just need a friend. Being able to be there for these kids is such a rewarding aspect of becoming a teacher.