Do teachers find a classroom of students to be intimidating?

Question

I've known some education students who dropped out of their program because they found the classrooms to be intimidating during their student teaching. Did they make the right decision, or is this normal and lessen with time and experience?

Intimidated might not be the right word. I didn't get the impression that my friends were physically scared of the students. It's more of a "Eek, there's 30 sets of eyes staring at me! What do I do?" kind of feeling I think.

Answer 1

I don't know if I've ever been intimidated when teaching. I get nervous that I'm not going to get what I want across. However, I think that makes me a better teacher. It makes me in touch with my students needs throughout the lesson. I love being in the classroom, the look on a student's face when they get the right answer for the first time, and I love being there for my students.

On the flip side, my husband was going to be a teacher. He quit because he he felt intimidated and the feeling never left. In fact, while he was in teaching he would get so worked up about being in the classroom that he couldn't sleep or eat.

I think if teaching is eating you up, quit. It's a very personal thing. No matter how much you want to be there, if you worry about it too much, then it's not the right place for you.

Answer 2

Teachers are born , not made. If you find the students intimidating during student teaching, with all the support you receive- how can you ever control a group of your own. All of the education and experience in the world cannot make a teacher. You must have high self-esteem to be a teacher. You must have an open personality. You must have a good sense of humor. Above all you must love all children and feel it a mission of your life to be an educator. You never do for the money.

Answer 3

there could be several factors....
1. the student really wasn't feeling in their heart that they wanted to teach....just wanted the no evenings no weekends no summer plan
2. they are incompetent. I plan on becoming a Spanish teacher in about a year. I am quite confident in my abilities. However, there are other students going for the same thing and they are way behind on the Spanish level they should be at to teach. So some students may be student teaching and finding that they do not know their subject like they should. some how they managed to slide by in the classes
3. their schools did not prepare them. I feel this is the problem with my school. I have to take all of these education classes and I feel that all they do is say "you will have a variety of students in your class culturally" "classroom management is important" but they never go into detail or explain what we can do when we run into a problem.

Answer 4

I know that I found them intimidating at first and I'm just a Teaching Assistant!
It also depends on what what program they are on e.g. Primary schools or Secondary schools.
I don't think that I could ever work in a Secondary school as most of the children have no respect for the teaching staff and are verbally abusive although this is becoming true of some primary schools as well.

Answer 5

I'd have to say it is a little normal to be anxious, but I don't think intimidated is the right word. You have to be comfortable in your environment and with yourself. That's probably the main thing. I know I wouldn't have been ready right out of college, but with a few years of life experience, I absolutely love being in the classroom. I teach HS and really and truly enjoy my students, well almost all, but it is a pleasure to be able to spend so much time with them. I also have to realize that for many of them, I am the most positive adult role model they have.

Answer 6

I was a substitute teacher last year for all grade levels, I also did an afterschool program at a intermediate school for 5th and 6th graders. I finished a two month term at a middle school, 7th and 8th graders. I was never intimidated. My goal was to teach the lil rascals and not let them get the best of me. Needless to say I achieved my goal and was offered a job at the middle school for this school term, I declined last year, but they begged me so here I am now, a teacher assistant. This week i'll have the class to myself, the teacher will be out. This morning I came in, I gave them their assignment and I haven't had any problems at all.

Answer 7

As a teacher of 6 years, I still get nervous on my first day in front of kids. It lessens with time, and you end up not even noticing that you are on stage in front of 30+ audience members that are less than happy to be there. It would be abnormal not be be a little anxious, I think that shows that you care about the job you are doing. After falling in front of my students a handful of times over the years, hearing about my clothing or hairstyle choices, etc. I think my skin has toughened up a bit!

Answer 8

It's OK to be kinda intimidated when you're a student teacher cuz you're not really used to being in a room of kids. If they just couldn't handle having patience and having the qualities a teacher needs, then yes, it was a good desicion for them to drop out.

You should never do anything that your heart isn't comfortable with.

Answer 9

They made the right call. If you find that intimidating, teaching is not for you. Kids can smell fear on a teacher like dogs on a UPS driver.

Answer 10

It can be very challenging for people that are not mature enough or ready for this job. I've seen many teachers quit during their first year. That's why I always stress for new teachers to have a support system. You need to collaborate with your peer in order to succeed in this field. This job is too big for just one person to do. It takes a team to make it happen.