One of the more unique areas of teaching is family education, and a family life educator may work for a high school, college or even for the government. Those working in this field usually focus on teaching students the steps they need to take when raising a family in the modern world. While you might think that these teachers work in home economics classrooms, they actually deal more with budgeting, scheduling and the more complex aspects of family life.
What is Family Education?
Family education is a unique field of study that looks at how individuals can prevent some of the more common problems that tear families apart. You might work with your students to help them identify potential problems, learn stress management techniques and stop the cycle of substance addiction or domestic abuse. Educators working in this field often use a variety of teaching methods. They hand out brochures, pamphlets and materials designed to teach students, host workshops and interactive activities in front of their classes and send students home with assignments that they complete before the next class.
Where Do Family Life Educators Work?
Though you might think that these teachers work in high schools or middle schools, they actually work in a wide range of fields. Many colleges hire these educators to teach students some basic skills that they will need after getting married and having children. According to the National Council on Family Relations, educators work in three key areas: promotion, practice and administration. Those working in administration include church workers and government workers who manage, lead and organize classes on family education. The practice field includes positions in public and private schools. If you work in a promotion field, you might raise awareness of family issues or work as a lobbyist to bring funding to certain groups of people.
How Much Education or Training Do They Need?
Whether you work as a science teacher, family life teacher or history teacher, you still need the right skills. While you will not need a teaching license to work as a lobbyist or in an administration position, you will need a teaching license before teaching classes in an elementary, junior high or high school. Your state will have its own requirements as to what you need to do to get your license, but you usually need a college degree, some teaching experience such as fieldwork experience in college and a clean background. If you teach at the college level, you may need a master’s or a doctoral teaching degree.
Getting Certified
The National Council on Family Relations offers certification for anyone who wants to work as a family life educator. Those who seek professional certification must demonstrate knowledge in 10 key areas of family life, including interpersonal relationships, human sexuality, professional ethics and families in society. It also offers full certification for applicants who have knowledge in each of those areas and some level of college education. The NCFR offers an examination that you can take to get your certification before you begin teaching.
As society constantly changes, students have a hard time balancing their home lives with their professional lives. Family educators can help them learn more about balancing and other aspects of raising a family. A family life educator generally has a college degree and may have certification too.
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