shyness and teaching?

Question

I love children and the gift of being able to help someone. This is why i want to be an elementary school teacher. I have patience, am creative, and helpful. the question i have is that I am very shy. Would being shy interfer with teaching? Seeing as you have to reason and talk with parents and other teachers.

Are there any shy teachers out there?

Answer 1

Because we are shy with adults we feel very comfortable with children. It is easier and they love humor more than anything!! You sound like you have the heart for children and that is sometimes all it takes. Don't worry about parents. If they know that their children are in a caring atmosphere ,it goes along way.
Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm a teacher and also very shy. It's really not that bad. I find that I'm not really shy around kids. And it didn't take very long to be able to stand up at the front of the room and teach at a good volume. It's not bad collaborating with other teachers. I would be the last person to stand up at a staff meeting and start talking, but I do fine collaborating in small groups or one on one with other teachers. Dealing with parents still terrifies me. But of course it has to be done. I usually make sure I have something written down when I'm talking to parents or in an IEP meeting that way I can remember what I'm trying to say and I can get through it. I also always wear clothes that I would otherwise be cold in because when I have to speak in a meeting I can just feel myself turning red. If I'm cold to begin with, I don't feel like I'm quite as pink. I think being a shy person as a teacher can be good for the kids also. I think that shy people are sometimes more aware of how kids are feeling about having to answer questions aloud or having to persent something. It makes me a lot more compassionate about putting someone on the spot. You definitely should become an elementary teacher if you want to. Don't let shyness be a barrier. There are fewer shy teachers, but you can still be a very good teacher even if you're shy.

Answer 3

I am terribly shy, actually... and suffer from awful social anxiety, but I absolutely LOVE teaching.

When I'm teaching, I am an actress, and my teacher-self is totally different from my everyday-self, so it's not a problem. Plus, I took some public speaking classes to help me get tips & pointers. My first year I was WAY too nice and made the mistake of letting my kids know I was nervous as heck. It was the worst year of my life. Don't make the mistake of showing your kids weakness!

I'm not saying you should crack a whip... but just keep things matter-of-fact with both the students and their parents. I hate dealing with parents... but it's a must! My suggestion is to go ahead and make phone calls early and often, for the good AND the bad, so that you can get used to talking to parents. My first parent-phone call had me so scared it took me 2 hours after school of self-motivating before I actually got the guts to pick up the phone! You'll be in constant interaction with other teachers, and with time, you will get used to them.

I still feel nauseous every time I have an observation done lol. We will be starting at the end of August, and I am already feeling butterflies thinking about meeting all those kids on the first day... what will they think? Will this year be better? Will I encounter any more psycho parents? Sorry for ranting here lol :)

Good luck! Remember, practice makes perfect! So once you've done it the first time, it only gets easier!

Answer 4

I am a very shy person and I have been teaching for 8 years. In the classroom you are not shy, you are an actor/actress and you
have a task and purpose. No absolutely no contradiction.
I do not recommend you tell students of points they can take advantage of " like I am shy" they could take that to mean I am weak.

Answer 5

Of course there are, I am a quiet person as well. But you will open up with colleagues, and the parents are always intimidating no matter how open you are. But with time and building your social skills you can definately over come this. Principals look for people with your skills, share your ideas and you would have no trouble.

Answer 6

you have absolutely nothing to worry about

shyness is more common than you think, it is a matter of how your parents raised you.

if your shyness does not decrease as you go through school and present publicly, then you can take classes that are available to help build confidence, provide techniques, and help you overcome your anxiety.

many of my teachers have admitted that they were terribly shy as children.

i break down during public speaking so i understand what you mean :)

Answer 7

You'll need to get over the shyness. You are essentially working for the parents of your students and they will be te ones who support or pass judgement on you. I would love to say that all you need to be successful is to inspire and educate the young ones, but that's just not the truth. You'll need to teach in front of your peers, and administrators. Parents will be in and out of your class (especially in elementary) volunteering and you'll need to be organized, decisive and yes, gregarious.

Let's not even talk about when you need to collaborate or team teach. Shyness will defiantely be a hurdle for you.

I would suggest an acting class or teaching in the community (like art classes or something) before the big gig. Best of Luck!

Answer 8

Please sign up for substitute teaching and find out what grade has the curriculum you like best. As long as you are comfortable with teaching your subject matter, all the parties involved in education are on your side.
There is no need to explain your personality to anyone, especially in the classroom since it shows up anyway, no need to dwell on it.

Answer 9

I'm shy and I teach sunday school to the 3rd graders. On the first day everyone should introduce themselves (made it easier for me). Also, just explain to the kids that you are shy and they should bare with while adjusting.