[blueminion]

When is the best time to get your Masters Degree? To continue your education after you receive a Bachelors or to wait a few years and go back to school?

[dubby]

I got mine at the same time I got my credential (after my BA). It's a lot of work and as a full-time teacher, and trying to get a masters, I can't see how anyone can do it without burning out. That or they have some kind of unlimited drive to push trough anything.

[K12ESLteacher]

Like a previous poster replied, doing your Master's and teaching full-time is a lot to take in without actually burning to the crisp. I got my MS a year after I got my BA. After I got my BA, I was hired right away, so I worked at a high school as an ESL teacher. It was horrible. I decided to go back to school and get my MS in Childhood Education. I have been working with the little ones for two years now and it has been the best thing ever!

My point is, test the waters first. Try to work for a year or two, think about the things you would want to learn. For example, you will get a classroom full of students with disabilities and language learners. You may then want to get your MS in Sped or ESL.

I hope it helps!

[Joyfulteachie]

Most teachers I hear of are hired with their BA. If you know what you would like to master in this could be great to get out of the way. As you enter the educational field your interests may shift therefore, it may be best to wait and do it gradually while teaching. Bringing in life experience as a teacher may be rewarding as well while pursuing your masters degree!

[Oncidium]

I have a BA in English Writing, so I consider my Masters in Elementary Education as more of a BA degree. I saw it as pretty basic. If you have been teaching a while after your Education Bachelors, then all of the stuff you learn for your masters is usually just a re-hash of your Bachelors, so doing it is no big deal. I sit in class with a lot of people who are teachers, and though they must do projects and write papers, so far none of them are keeling over because of over-work.

[pmgraham1]

I got my master's after I was hired and got my act together in the classroom, which got me in cheap and then got the pay raise when I finished. I also did the same with my Ed Specialist, was hired in first with the master's and then got a pay raise with my specialist. You might consider doing your master's online, but stay away from the for-profits, stick with a school that is accredited and is accepted for advancement by your state.