Help out a future grade school teacher?

Question

I'm about to start student teaching. I'll be teaching elementary school (hopefully 3rd of 4th grade).

I want to teach one of those grades because in the 4th grade I had a terrible teacher that made me feel like I wasn't worth anything and I want to see to it that other kids leave the school year uplifted rather than defeated as I did. That one teacher's behavior towards me affected the entire rest of my schooling.

I would like to hear from other people (parents of kids this age in particular) that can help me get some ideas about things that I should probably know or can use when I enter the teaching world. A heads up, really, about what to expect and how I might handle it.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

#1 Classroom management. You are not being strict. You are establishing a controlled environment. (Harry Wong)

#2 Be creative! They have to sit and learn all day. Make if fun for them.

#3 Address multiple learning styles. Be hands-on when it comes to subjects like science, etc. They learn best by doing.

#4 Have fun. If you enjoy what you are doing, the kids will

Answer 2

keep control of the class. My son Grade 3, gets very stressed when the class is out of control. HAve fun time. be creative and praise the kids when they do well. Kids love to here when they have done a great job. Good luck with it all. Your right, teachers effect the rest of your life.

Answer 3

If your young (in your 20s) than the kids will be really intrested in you. They may listen more to you than the normal teacher.

Answer 4

Keep the class under control. I MUCH prefer strict teachers who get the work done over 'fun' teachers who do nothing. I need order in my classes or else I can't learn.

DO:

--try new and innovative ways to teach the lesson

--have fun with the kids

--be strict, uphold the rules or else they'll run crazy!

--follow your gut feelings

--help your students whenever necessary

DON'T:

--be afraid or uneasy--kids can see that and take advantage of you

--be too lenient or too strict

Answer 5

I think as a parent the most important thing is communication.  I work, so I don't get to volunteer in the classroom and so most of my interaction is limited to conferences and what comes home in the backpack.  If you have an issue with my child tell me sooner than later. If something is going really well let me (and especially my child!) know that too.

I'll agree that 3rd and 4th cliques can be a problem, and (the girls at least) are starting to figure the whole social thing out. As a parent the hardest thing for me to learn when my daughter was that age was that something that was a tearful "crisis" for my daughter usually blew over in a day.

Answer 6

I finished my student teaching last year, so I kind of know how you feel! I am now a teacher's aide (hoping to find a teaching position soon!) in a third and fourth grade special ed. room. So I am around this age group a lot! I've noticed that most students this age are eager to please, so you have to make sure you are challenging them, and helping them reach their potential! Also, things are starting to get a little more difficult for them as far as peers go: gossip, cliques, talking behind backs, etc is really starting (especially in fourth grade). At my school we try to promote good relationships between students. Don't let them disrespect each other, or gossip. They will respect you more if you don't stand for those things! Try your hardest to be fair to everyone. This is very important to students who are this age (and every age, I guess :-). Finally, a sense of humor is very important! It makes you more approachable and creates a fun classroom environment (Just don't use sarcasm...they might not understand). Keep order in the classroom, but allow and promote a lot of laughter.

There's my 2 cents...I hope it helps you! :-)

Answer 7

I teach 4th grade & LOVE it.  The kids are independent, but still obedient.  (I'm in a private school, though, which is supposedly much different than a public school.)

My 4th grade teacher was a retired military man who did nothing fun, we had no "decorations" in the class, etc.  My class is a lot of fun.  Lots of laughing, but the kids know when I mean business & we do have order.

The other grades are great, too.  Be open-minded about what grade you'll teach.  There are bad & good teachers in every grade.