whats the hardest part of being a first grade teacher?

Answer 1

The most difficult job of any teacher is classroom managmente, especially if you are new to the field. We tend to want to be nice and sweet with the children, without many rules. But without order, there will be a great deal of chaos. Therefore, you need to have a behvior modification program in place in whcih rewards positive behavior, and try to ignore negative behavior as much as possible. Some children test the waters or try to get attention by being negative, but if you demonstrate tthat the chldren who are adhering to the rules are receiving rewards, then that tends to stop. However, you may have a difficult child, and you can not allow him to take instructional time away from the other children, so if disorder takes place you do need consequences as well. You need to hve the rules, rewards and consequences posted in the room.

Also, we tend now to think that first graders have been in school and used to the routines. However, all chidlren do best learning in the morning. So try to structure the more difficult subject such as reading and math in the morning. Try to do a great deal of hands on activitiies throught out the day especially in thea fternoon to keep the kids from becoming tired. Give a 2 minute break inbetween subjects for water, and bthroom so you wont need to interrupt your insturctional time wtih hands up for bathroom breaks. Aldso, if children need ot use the bathrom dudirng instructional time, have them put heir thumb up, rather than raise their hand. This will indicate to you thier needs, you can nod your head without answering, they take a pass, and instruction conintues wihout interruption.

Answer 2

A dear, close friend of mine is a first grade teacher. The complaint I hear from her most often is about the parents! Parents who dont want to accept that their child may be learning disabled, have a speech impediment or discipline problems.
All in all she seems to have some pretty good kids each year and she loves her job.... but dreads parent/teacher conferences!

Answer 3

I teach second grade- thank god. I wouldn't want to do first grade.
The first graders have to be told how to do EVERYTHING. They are not at all self-sufficient.
They are just learning what it means to be in school, and how to be students. They have to be taught the rules of everything, and how to be patient.
So the hardest part of being their teacher would be finding the patience, and the stregnth to repeat everything a million times.

Answer 4

I think it is management in the classroom. Most kids are very hyper now days. They just can't keep quiet or still so this is the worst part. It's difficult to have them learn while they are talking and moving in their seats all the time. But you will be surprise a lot of them learn even with the jumping and talking. Some won't learn even if there is total silent.

Answer 5

Since I love teaching, for me it always has been not laughing at some of the answers kids give to our questions...check this email one of my friends sent to get an idea of what I mean

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
>> >>
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
>> >>
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell "crocodile?"
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L"
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
>> >>
TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
>> >> TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
>> >>
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLENN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
>> >>
TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with "I."
MILLIE: I is...
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, "I am."
MILLIE: All right... "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."
>> >>
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why
his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the ax in his hand.
>> >>
>> >> TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the
same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, teacher, it's the same dog.
>> >>
TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher!
>> >>

Answer 6

I don't know, but having a 2nd grader myself, I commend anyone willing to do that for 7 hours a day with 25 6 and 7 year olds. My daughters 1st grade teacher had been doing it for 25 years and still had all the excitement and creativity that a first year teacher does. (Thanks Mrs. Lampinen!)

Answer 7

I would think in this day and age, it would have to be taking care of other people's kids. At that age they should be excited about learning, but the behavior of some kids nowadays is appauling!!!

Answer 8

managing their behavior. If you can't keep them on task you can't teach them. Add lots of activity into your day and you will find that the students will attend better.

Answer 9

You always have to be on you toe and have to permit them all the time to go toilet. Otherwise, you will be nothing left behind to blame. i think u must have understood me.

Answer 10

in any teaching situation it is dealing w/ the central office red tape