Will I be able to overcome my feeling of intimidatation of teaching high school students?

Question

I have always dreamed of becoming a high school math teacher, but I have I think I have this fear of being around adolescents, especially those with discipline problems. Do other new teachers start out with this fear, and are they able to overcome it?

Answer 1

good luck,

kids are thugs these days,  not to mention the rents your gonna have to deal with

Answer 2

I think every new teacher feels that way.  I think the most important thing to remember is that you're the adult.  It sounds obvious, but you ARE NOT their friend.  I also think it's important to treat the students with respect.  Do not judge a student by their reputation...it's called the self fulfilling prophecy...expect success from everyone.  Also, build a relationship with the parents.

Good luck!

Answer 3

i had a first year teacher and she was so timid and the students walked all over her. now she is the best teacher in that grade. you just can't let your nervousness show and must have control but be fun. make your subject interesting and don't just spit up facts. i'm sure you'll be fine. most kids aren't serious in action after threatening anyway. it's not like they can beat you up or something, you're the authority figure, but be nice so they don't hate you. if they don't hate you they won't try anything.

Answer 4

Many of the answers on here are quite thoughtful and have good points.  I would add one thing.  Make sure the students know you genuinely care about them.  Be firm, be friendly, be fun...all of these are good, but there is nothing to compare with compassion, kindness, and a heartfelt concern.  The old teacher's proverb is still true--"People don't care what you know until they know that you care."  Think about the kids and what you can do for them rather than concentrating on your fear...you'll be surprised what it will do for you!

Answer 5

noo way u can overcome itt=/

Answer 6

Intimidate them first, dont hesitate to punish and raise your voice.

Once you gain that reputation, you gain the respect, and no teenager would wanna try you

Answer 7

Sure other teachers start out afraid, each phobia as unique as the teacher him- or herself, surely. There are two major weapons employable to fight your fear. One, practice. Force yourself, no matter how embarassing, painful, tortuous, make sure you teach exactly the kids you're afraid of. You can build up to it gradually. But eventually you have to face your fear in order to overcome it. Practice acclimates you to what you're afraid of; it allows you to see the truth, you're afraid of shadows and the wind, there's no there there.

Another weapon is being forwarned and forearmed. Know your classroom management skills, and use them. If you fear something, you can overcompensate just a little, in your case, be stern and unwavering. Like the Captain of the Starship Enterprise. There's a good role model for any one. Let it be your way friend, or the highway, mister. Find out what the rules in whatever school you're to teach in are about disciplinary actions. Will  you need to fill out a form? Do you have some? Who are the characters, as there are always some.

All told, intestinal fortitude, mental toughness, are what you need. With these, you'll get that practice or if you don't, it won't matter. You'll see within 5 minutes that you've nothing to fear. And if you wonder if you're alone in your particular issue, I assure you, you're not! Absolutely  not! It's common. Normal. Don't sweat the small stuff. You will have to follow a curriculum, maintain your students grades at some mean number, these kinds of things are your worries. Oh yes. Being observed. Everyone but everyone fears that. Get your fears in order man (:-). They're out of order. It's the staff. Your colleagues and your superiors, the parents, these are things that'll bother you enough. You don't need a wise-cracking jerk as the object of your issue; there are far more real, more frightening things elsewhere. The kids are just that: kids. Priorities, man, priorities.

Answer 8

High school is not the most intimidating group of students to teach. High school students already made their decisions. Most of them will not do anything to jeopardize their chances of graduating from high school. The rest plan on dropping out when they are 17 anyway. Trust me. Middle school has far more behavioral problems and discipline problems. Never let students know how afraid you are. You will get walked on until the principal walks you out the front door of the school building! Adolescents are not as scary as 12-14 year old adult acting children.

Answer 9

most are aggresive towards the students, so they are scared, not u

Answer 10

I'm thinking of becoming an English high school teacher. I've gotten some advice from my sister-in-law's sister who teaches high school history at the moment. I find myself worrying too because personally, i've never seen myself as a teacher.

Its a little hard to overcome it but its not impossible. Give yourself a place in the classroom as their instructor. Usually when students are aggressive is because they are afraid of you or because they dont trust you. They think you are trying to be better than them. Dont let them think that. Be firm but dont treat them like you're better than them. Be friendly and talk to them like an equal but still let them know who is boss when you need to. You can overcome it, just remember that in order to do that you need to be confident in the way you portray yourself to your students.

My sister-in-law's sister is in her late 20's but when you start teaching you arent that much older than most of the high school students. She has a "keep it real" attitude in her classroom and is aware of the social attitudes of the school and students. Learn from the students. When you first start teaching ask them what the school is like. Get information from the students themselves. It will create trust between you both and will help you do your job more effectively without you having to force the lesson on them so much. Remember everything is possible.

Answer 11

no you will never get over your fear of teaching high school student's it will be with you throw out the years.

Answer 12

o man thats a bummer

im a high school student

just be strict but with a lil compassion so they dont hate you more

Answer 13

Don't become a teacher.  If you're afraid, they're like dogs - they'll smell it and run all over you!

Answer 14

It depends -- everybody is afraid, at first.   For some, it lasts longer than others.  I was terrified, but I lasted 38 years in four different schools in two different countries!

I wouldn't have missed it for the world!  Nowadays, I dunno - I might be a little more nervous, but . . .you're closer to their age and so you know where they're "coming from".  I was "losing touch", I thought, so it was time for me to go.  I miss them every day.

You'll be OK the day you decide that you are in charge.  DO NOT YELL!  NEVER YELL.  EVER!

Unless the room catches on fire and you're telling them to get out!

Answer 15

The older you get and the more you OWN your power as a MAN, the less trouble the students will be for you.

I'm not talking about being mean or being a bully to the kids. I'm talking about being a GROWNUP. You can & will make it if you really want it!

Answer 16

Every teacher, throughout their career, is intimidated by students. yet, not towards every single one. That's what my English teacher and countless others have told me. If you're having problems being around ALL adolescents then you might have a problem teaching high school. You can't really overcome it though =/

Answer 17

Jump in the deep end and just start swimming.  You're the one with the experience of life (from their point of view), so pretend to have self-confidence until you actually do have it.  If you know your subject well, you'll gain confidence by helping them to understand it, and you may feel that being called "Sir" a large number of times will make you feel about a foot taller.  As for discipline.  Use the same smile for all of them, and enforce your chosen set of rules every single time.

Answer 18

yes. i teach second grade and honestly i have a fear of being around children. i always am afraid i am going to mess up and hurt them or their parents are going to get mad at me for saying something bad.

i still feel like that sometimes, but it's not nearly as intense.

Answer 19

Definitely yes..  Most first timers fear for first time since  they are not used to it yet. Normally people fear if we get mistakes. Because if we make mistakes people fear to be negatively criticized. This kind of feeling is normal to people. To over come it, is just simply get used to it, be a master of your subject and expect to be criticized.

For more information about meditation: http://www.thearticleonline.com/meditati...

Hope this helps.. :)

Answer 20

You will need to overcome this fear before you start teaching in high school as the kids will walk all over you if they sense a c***k of weakness.

Perhaps you would work with groups of adolescents so that you feel more comfortable with them - the more you mix with them and get to know them and their tricks, the more confident you will feel.  

High school kids can be very difficult, you need to be assertive, firm and authoritative but fair.  Empathize with them and show a genuine interest but you are not their friend you are their teacher.  High school kids are like a pack of dogs and you have to be alpha dog or they will attack.

Answer 21

Every classroom has discipline problems, but you learn how to deal with them.  If you show that you are afraid, you are lost.  If you are so hard that you show no compassion, you are lost.  It's an art, not a science.  Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don't.

They're just kids and it's just a class.  Don't let them intimidate you.  And I agree with the woman who said never raise your voice.  That's good advice.  No one wants to be yelled at.  Take a classroom management seminar and learn the tricks that teachers use.

Answer 22

remember,

YOU are the one with the stick.

use it :)