To any elementary teacher out there...?

Question

I am a Junior in college and still wondering what grade I would like to teach. I have worked with kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. What grade is your favorite and why? What were some bad things about the grades you have taught?

Answer 1

I always thought I wanted first grade. That is what I got my first year. I ended up much happier in 5th. It is kind of one of those things I think you have to try out. Whatever you do, try to be happy if you end up in a class size reduction class. I have 36 fifth graders while the 1st and 2nd grade teachers have less than 20. I am trying to move down just to lighten the work load. It isn't like I get more money or respect for what I do!

Answer 2

It is important to consider issues like class size, what age group & curriculum you most enjoy, and where your strongest skills lie. However, at different stages of your life, you may find you enjoy teaching different curriculum & different ages.

Don't be one of those teachers who locks into the first grade they are hired to teach and never leave that comfort zone! Changing it up can make you a better teacher & give you a better understanding of the big picture at your school - how important each and every teacher is and how the curriculum fits together as the students matriculate.

I've taught every grade level K-5 and there are pros & cons to every one. Personally, I prefer having the opportunity to loop with my students, regardless of their grade level - most of my best teaching experiences have been with students I have taught for 2-3 years.

Answer 3

Actually, I enjoy third grade the most- they are beyond needing constant assistance and ready to explore new ideas- they have the basics out of the way-

I have taught in the Public School system in a district accredited with distinction for 14 yrs and have always noticed a slow down in 4th grade- can't explain it- but I feel it

Answer 4

the reality of it is that you will most likely never be able to choose what grade you teach. It would be nice to think so, but in reality, you will be credentialed to teach a grade range, mine was K-9 and they will choose your grade for you, that is my experience. I do not believe any grade from K-12 is easier than another. Each has its own tricky parts. In first grade and K, they are more like your children and you have to be mommy to 30 kids . They have runny noses and need shoes tied etc. and if you are kind and patient and want to emotionally nurture 30 small children, that is the hard part I felt. I loved teaching 1st grade, but when I got divorced and became a single parent of a 1st grader and 3rd grader and took care of 25-30, 5-6 year olds, I didn't have enough emotional energy to do it all. I was fortunately moved up to 4th and there is more of a discipline challange there, but they are far more independent. In K, they don't know how to line up to go anywhere, how to wipe themselves sometimes, they often think of themselves as the only one in the room like one on one with mommy because that is their stage of development. Each age has its issues and luckily for me when I was in college we started spending a lot of time in the elem classroom in our sophomore year. Teaching is an extremely hard and demanding job, I loved it, but it nearly killed me as parents today want teachers to be the parents. And kids don't want to follow rules. Just be prepared as teaching is #2 in high stress level with air traffic controller being #1, that is a huge statistic, It is like being "on" 6 hours straight with no off time with 30 kids. Exhausting.

Answer 5

if you want to consider suicide go with 3rd grade if you want to go bald by june go fifth grade if you want to mess around for the rest of your life go kindergarten

Answer 6

it depends on you..... or you more understanding to children... k goes super fast pased to keep up with the kids minds... 3rd hard to keep attention,, 5th at that point where they try to defy you... I would persoanlly choose 3rd ,,,