Can you give me pros and cons of being an elementary school teacher?

Question

I'm thinking of becoming an elementary school teacher, and I was wondering if you could tell me some things you like and dislike about doing it. Anything you would have liked to know before but noone told you? Feel free to add anything you think of! Thanks!

Answer 1

Pros - decent pay, excellent benefits, being able to share knowledge with a child, state holidays + weekends + summers off, and a chance to be a kid in your career.

Cons - way too much red tape and politics [in public schools], parents breathing down your throat at every given second yet refuse to come spend a day in the class, general lack of trust and respect from parents, some long days grading papers, making lesson plans, etc.

Expect to work 10 hours in class and at home for each day you are scheduled to work, not only for instruction, but for lesson planning, progress reports, emails [so many emails!!], parent conferences, meetings, seminars, grad school and additional training.

It's a lot of work and most of it will never be acknowledged but it is worth it!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I don't teach elementary school( I teach Jr. High and High school) so I can't address the classroom environment at that level. I can tell you that the elementary positions in my area are very difficult to get. Last year we had 4 positions open and had over 400 applicants. The teachers that were hired had additional certificates or endorsements in Special ed. and/or middle school education.
My advise to you is to get additional endorsements and to substitute teach at the schools you are interested in.
In general about teaching, I love it! nothing beats when a kid comes in saying how they related what you taught them to their world. Ex: "Ms. so and so, you know how we learned this the other day, well I was watching tv and they were talking about it. I felt smart because I knew what they were talking about. It was kinda cool!" Or when you overhear them in hall or lunchroom telling their friends the "cool stuff" from class or that you are one of their favorite teachers. These moments make my day. :)
Cons: Lots of work, lots of meetings, like others have mentioned - politics and red tape, etc.

I wish I had better training in classroom management. I had to buy books and attend seminars on my own. Some of it I had to learn the hard way. So save yourself some grief and study up on it now and practice it in your every day life. I've include some links to get you started.
I also wish I had realized that the school you are working for can make a big difference in whether you like teaching or hate it. The first school I worked at didnot fit my style of teaching or personality. It seemed I could do nothing right. After two years I was sick of teaching and ready to walk out. I took a job at a new school that was a better fit and I love it. The same class activities that were frowned on at my first school (like learning games) are promoted here. I have been nominated for several awards and this is only my second year here.
Sorry It's so long.

Answer 3

In elementary school you are expected to plan and assess 6 + subjects every day, you have the same set of 15 - 40 students all day long, and parent communication is very important.
In middle school you teach 1 or 2 subjects and lessons to 4 or more classes, have hundreds of students, and don't have to deal with conferences.
You pick which you feel are pluses and minuses, and go from there.

Answer 4

Pros:
The kids
Every holiday off and then some
The benefits
Comparatively easy physical requirements
Relatively decent pay
Meeting lots of good people in the workplace
Status (everyone loves a teacher)
The excitement of figuring out each lesson plan and trying to make it different and original

Cons:
The kids
Administrators
Parents
Long hours after school doing classroom work
Expensive/Long educational program
Paperwork, record keeping, and endless meetings

Answer 5

Pros -
1. Having a meaningful job. Some of the things you teach them they will use forever!

2. Laughter - kids are funny

Cons -

1. PAPERWORK

2. TESTS and more tests

3. Too little time to teach everything

4. Resistance - when I'm trying to make kids see that what I want is what is good for them.

Answer 6

well i plan on being a middle school teacher because middleschoolers aren't quite ready to be completely independant but they are mature and skilled enough to handle most things. (i wanna be an art teacher :])

pros: eager to learn students
blank canvas
many grade options (i mean come on, 5 grades to choose from!)


cons: unfocused classes
misbehavior
not ready to handle many things in a classroom

Answer 7

Pros- summers off
weekends off
no night shifts

Cons- Spending all day with kids.