Chicago Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
**Chicago Preschool/K teachers...
I'm considering going back to school to get my Masters in elementary education, with the hopes of becoming either a preschool or K teacher. Any advice from Chicago teachers of these ages? Looks like there are a lot of great schools here. Do you know if I'd be able to "shadow" a teacher at a school somewhere to get a better idea of what teaching children of this age is like? Thanks! 
Re: **Chicago Preschool/K teachers...
An elementary certificate is for K-9.
Unless you get a job at a daycare, you won't be able to do preschool with a type 04.
In Illinois, you will have lots of observation time. And clinical time and then student teaching.
It depends on where you want to teach. There are some wonderful schools in the Chicago area. My experience is in the private schools, and you don't always need a teaching certificate to teach with them; it's basically up to the principal's discretion. Observation time is key to teaching kids at this age, as well as clinicals and student teaching. It's really the best way to get yourself familiar with classrooms and kids.
As far as observing in classrooms, that might be difficult to do if you're not enrolled in a program or observing for a course. Schools take so many precautions these days. Do you know anyone who's a teacher? If you have friends or family who can pull some strings, that might be a better fit for you if you're just starting to observe. I hope this helps!