Elementary or Secondary....Which did you choose to teach and why?

Question

I really want to become a teacher but I’m still undecided about what level I want to teach. I know I want to teach 3rd grade and up. I always thought that teaching the young would be good because you get to influence them at such a young age, which can make a huge impact but at the same time I wouldn’t mind teaching older students because of the independence they have and their ability to reason and carry on a conversation.

To the teachers: Do you teach elementary or secondary, and what influenced your choice? Are there any words of advice you would give to a person like me?

Answer 1

When you do your student teaching you will most likely be asked to teach both levels: primary and secondary. The only exception is if you decide that you want certification in one or the other. Some colleges do ask you to choose in your fourth year. To explain: as an art teacher I needed to be certified K-12. My student teaching was at both levels, half for one semester, half for the other. (I also took all the other courses that regular teachers take - in other words, I did twice the work for twice the aggravation.)

Primary is great -  they are little and cute. You would think they want to just sit there and sponge up all that you have to give. Uh, no.

Secondary is great - they are big and cute. Well in their own way. You would think they would want to just sit there and hang on your every word. Uh no.

Primary kids think life is a party. They expect to be entertained. But your job is to teach. And that is a challenge in the lower grades. It is also a challenge in the upper grades. Same problem, bigger kids.

Lower grades take more patience and more perseverance. Just because they are little doesn't mean they are easier to control.  Upper grades takes more than perseverance. You have to be stronger, mentally. They will challenge you on every front. You say black, they say white.

Although teaching lower grades is easier because you don't have to do after school and chaperone duties, teaching at secondary does mean you are expected to do extracurricular, whatever it could be. For me it was yearbook. I hated it.

But the kids - they were GREAT.

As for the little ones - they are great too once you get to know them.

I didn't exactly answer your question. Sorry - but I did have fun answering it!

Good luck to you. Try out everything, because this is your chance to do that. Volunteer in some classrooms or do some summer work with kids. See how you like it. It's hard work, but worth it in the end. And when is the end...? Whenever you say it is...

You'll be good at teaching. Keep an open mind and love them when they are the least loveable.

Answer 2

First of all, I think teaching elementary demands more.  Ironically, elementary teachers don't get paid as much, as a whole, as secondary teachers.  I chose secondary teaching, not because of pay (it's not THAT much better) but because this was the model of teaching set for me early in my life.  My father taught secondary for 35 years.  Not that I immediately went into teaching.  At first I wasn't sure, because I saw how hard my dad worked.  Yikes!  Eventually, I did get my certificate to teach, and I have been teaching high school English for 15 years.  Grade school teaching, as I have said, takes a special kind of person.  But even though I think teaching primary is more demanding, there are certain qualities you need to be a good high school teacher.  Teenagers can try your patience, and it seems like they find more ways to do that with each passing year.  Still, you have to be the kind of person who, in the end, likes working with them.  As with anything you choose to do, you should always learn, always refine and grow as you move through your career.  You have to want that.  There's always something to learn.  That's the best way to avoid burnout and keep fighting the good fight.  Keep your sense of humor, and find the colleagues you enjoy working with, whatever and wherever you teach.

Answer 3

I teach secondary because I'm not patient enough to deal with elementary students.

And I truly admire those who work with the younger ones. They are my heroes!

Working with teenagers is not easy but it's not as hard it's said to be. Personally, I identify more with kids this age and they need discipline and structure.

How do you relate to younger kids? How do you relate to older ones? What kind of activities are you interested in? What are you like? These questions might help you decide.

Answer 4

I'm studying to be a secondary teacher and the reason I chose to work with the older students is pretty much just because I think teaching secondary subjects opens the door a bit more for self-fulfilment because you can specialise in an area of your choice i.e science and continue learning and researching that area throughout your career. Also, I think students at the secondary level are going through major life changes, essentially becoming adults and it would be a great thing to be able to see that transition in people and possibly help them along the way. Ultimately its up to you. I've heard teachers can transition from secondary to primary with hardly any extra study but there is a significant amount of extra study involved if teachers with no secondary qualifications wish to transition from primary to secondary.