carson_reb
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2010
- Location
- Carson City, Nevada
As a newbie in the teaching profession, I'm having trouble deciding which age I prefer to teach. I suppose that is the advantage of substituting for grades K through 12. I am finding that there are pros and cons to every age group. Honestly, I'd rather have a credential that permits me to teach all the grades; but that isn't how my state works, and I suspect most or all the others, either. I can't obtain a full-time teaching credential as a generalist.
I could complete my education as a special education teacher, and be able to teach all grades. That is something to ponder. In the mean time, though, I'd like to poll all of the teachers, former teachers, and future teachers-to-be on the age group(s) they most prefer teaching, and why.
Do you prefer K-3? Fourth through sixth? Middle school? High school? Or maybe adults?
I am getting experience teaching all of these grades, and I must say, there are benefits to each, and challenges to each. I like teaching adults because they generally have a vested/invested purpose in the classroom. They are also, generally, mature and more on my intellectual level. But they can be pretty disengaging, and their lack of participation leads one to wonder if they are getting the material and if I am delivering it effectively.
I like teaching high schoolers because their intellectual level is generally high and I can explain more complicated concepts to them without concern about whether or not they understand. But I then have to deal with some disinterest, apathy, and a lot of sarcasm, too.
K-3 is a neat age to teach, because they are still eager little sponges and they actually show that they want to learn. They are enthusiastic, genuine, and brutally honest in their responses. But, they are also very energetic. I am generally an off-switch; and most K-3 students are on-switches. I get fatigued just watching them run circles around me.
I'd like to know what you think.
I could complete my education as a special education teacher, and be able to teach all grades. That is something to ponder. In the mean time, though, I'd like to poll all of the teachers, former teachers, and future teachers-to-be on the age group(s) they most prefer teaching, and why.
Do you prefer K-3? Fourth through sixth? Middle school? High school? Or maybe adults?
I am getting experience teaching all of these grades, and I must say, there are benefits to each, and challenges to each. I like teaching adults because they generally have a vested/invested purpose in the classroom. They are also, generally, mature and more on my intellectual level. But they can be pretty disengaging, and their lack of participation leads one to wonder if they are getting the material and if I am delivering it effectively.
I like teaching high schoolers because their intellectual level is generally high and I can explain more complicated concepts to them without concern about whether or not they understand. But I then have to deal with some disinterest, apathy, and a lot of sarcasm, too.
K-3 is a neat age to teach, because they are still eager little sponges and they actually show that they want to learn. They are enthusiastic, genuine, and brutally honest in their responses. But, they are also very energetic. I am generally an off-switch; and most K-3 students are on-switches. I get fatigued just watching them run circles around me.
I'd like to know what you think.