May 8, 2008

I think I've finally decided what I want to be when I grow up. I've put off getting my Master's degree for a number of reasons. None of them are great reasons, but the one half way decent reason is that I just was never sure what I wanted to get it in. I have thought for a long time that I wanted to go the counseling route. But, something just kept holding me back. I thought it was just the money thing, but now I know it's not.

I realized after watching our school counselor that I just do not like the idea of administering all those tests they have to administer. Also, I know it's a very involved program that would include more statistics classes and I'm horrible with that. I just don't know if I'm up to getting that involved when I have two young children.

Well, for a while now I've been considering getting a certification in reading. Recently, I found out that to be a reading coach in a Reading First school you have to have a Masters Degree and a reading certificate. That is a job I would really love. But, I also love using technology in the classroom and have looked into that. In the state of MO you do not have to have a specialized certification to be a computer lab teacher or hold a similar position. However, more and more colleges are offering degrees in this area.

To get my reading certification I do not have to have a Masters in reading, I just have to have a Masters and then take the few extra hours after I earn my Masters to get the certification. So, if I get a Masters Degree in Educational Technology and then enter a certification program for an extra 15 hours in reading then I've got the credentials to do either/or and am more marketable.

Also, the way a teacher's salary scale works is you have multiple tiers. The first tier is for people with just a Bachelor's Degree. Usually a district will continue to give what's called step raises for 15 years for a Bachelor's Degree. After that you get the yearly cost of living increase and that's it. The next tier is Bachelor's plus 15, which means after you get 15 credit hours past your Bachelor's you move up and this bottoms out at about 17 years. After that you have the Master's Degree which bottoms out at about 18 or 19 years experience. Next, comes the Masters plus 15. Then, finally the Doctoral Degree.

So, my point is that if I did the Masters and then the reading certification program that would put me at Masters plus 15. This would take me about 2 1/2 years. The only problem is to figure out how to pay for it. Oh, and I'm planning on doing this through an online program. OH, and I guess this means I'm supposed to grow up???? Not sure I like that idea.