April 15, 2022
What Is the Difference Between Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education?
You know that you want to educate younger children, but you may not be sure what the difference is between early childhood education and elementary education. The early childhood age range is from birth to second grade, and elementary education teachers work with students from grades one to six.
Early childhood versus elementary education is not just about students’ ages, though. While both professions demand passionate, empathetic, and nurturing individuals, their approaches and teaching environments cater to different developmental stages.
What Is Early Childhood Education?
Early childhood education, or ECE, focuses on the development of children from birth through second grade, or around eight years old. This stage emphasizes fostering cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth through play-based and interdisciplinary approaches. Language acquisition and early literacy skills are significant components of the curriculum as well.
ECE teachers work in a variety of environments, including daycare centers, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms. Those pursuing this career usually earn an early childhood teaching degree, which equips them to address the unique developmental needs of young children.
What Is Elementary Education?
Elementary education focuses on first through sixth grade, catering to children typically ages 6-12. In contrast to ECE, the elementary education curriculum is more structured, emphasizing subjects like literacy, math, science, and social studies. Teachers in this area develop standards-based lessons and employ differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Elementary educators often focus on more advanced instructional methodologies, including educational technologies and assessment tools, to prepare students for academic success. To qualify for teaching roles, aspiring teachers must earn a bachelor’s degree, often with a concentration in elementary education.
Early Childhood Education versus Elementary Education Teaching Methodologies
Early childhood education is rooted in play-based learning and interdisciplinary methods. Language development and early intervention are priorities, and teachers monitor progress through developmentally appropriate practices. The goal is to foster growth across cognitive, physical, and social-emotional domains.
While social/emotional learning is still a priority as students progress, the elementary education curriculum begins to focus on core subjects like math, reading, and science. Teachers design lessons aligned with educational standards and incorporate group projects, STEM/STEAM activities, and collaborative discussions to encourage critical thinking.
Choosing Between Early Childhood or Elementary Education Grades
Deciding between early childhood or elementary education depends on your preferred teaching focus and the age group you feel most passionate about working with. ECE may be the right path if you’re drawn to nurturing early developmental milestones in the early childhood age range. However, elementary education could be the better fit if you’re eager to help students build academic skills and explore structured subjects.
At Molloy University, you do not need to decide immediately if you want to work in early childhood or elementary education grades. We offer childhood/early childhood bachelor’s and master’s degree programs that prepare you for New York State certification in both grade levels.
Molloy’s Childhood/Early Childhood Teaching Degree
In our dual certification programs, you gain the knowledge and experience you need to teach across early childhood and elementary education grades in New York. You will be empowered to transition effectively between developmental stages, addressing the unique needs of both age groups.
Field Experience
Pre-student teaching requirements include 70 hours of fieldwork, reflecting the diverse skill set needed to succeed in both early childhood education and elementary education. You will spend 35 hours in pre-kindergarten through second-grade classrooms and another 35 hours in third- through sixth-grade settings. When you begin student teaching in your final semester, you will have experiences in the different grade level bands.
Mentorship
You will work under the guidance of a dedicated field supervisor, who typically mentors small groups of two to four students. This individualized support helps you navigate the complexities of teaching across different grades.
To teach in New York, you must also pass the Content Specialty Test(s) (CST), and our professors offer several review courses at no additional cost.
Small Class Sizes
Molloy has a small student-to-faculty ratio, allowing you to work closely with your instructors and classmates. Small class sizes also lend themselves to:
- Collaborative discussions
- Interactive instructional activities
- Project-based group learning activities
- Practice with STEM/ STEAM activities and manipulatives from multiple subject areas
Take the Next Step
Whether you want to work in early childhood or elementary education—or both—our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in childhood/early childhood education will help you reach your goals.