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Josie
Student
Antwerp, Ohio
1
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What is the easiest and most challenging part of being a middle/elementary school teacher What were the requirements for this job??
What is the easiest and most challenging part of being a middle/elementary school teacher? What were the requirements for this job?
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3 answers
Maeve Cannon
CareerVillage.org TeamPartnerships Manager
48
Answers
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Updated
Maeve’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Hi Josie!
I am a former elementary school teacher. I have experience teaching first grade and kindergarten. I think the most challenging part of teaching had to do with classroom management. As a classroom teacher, you will get to work with a group of students who all have diverse needs, and it is up to you to figure out how to set very clear expectations and rules in your room to create a safe, predictable, and consistent learning environment.
When I first started teaching right out of college, I struggled with being consistent with the rules I set. There were so many occasions where I would let little things slide (something simple like one student calling out the answer when I asked them to raise their hands) and very quickly I learned that the little things can snowball into bigger problems (suddenly all 20 students are randomly calling out their answers).
Classroom management looks very different across different age ranges. What motivates or incentivizes younger students may not work for middle school students, so teachers use a bunch of different classroom management techniques. But don't worry, if you enter into this profession, you will be able to learn from tons of best practices from teachers in your program or school on what has worked for them! This was a very important and rewarding part of the job: figuring out how to keep all students excited to learn and having fun, but also following rules and being productive.
I am a former elementary school teacher. I have experience teaching first grade and kindergarten. I think the most challenging part of teaching had to do with classroom management. As a classroom teacher, you will get to work with a group of students who all have diverse needs, and it is up to you to figure out how to set very clear expectations and rules in your room to create a safe, predictable, and consistent learning environment.
When I first started teaching right out of college, I struggled with being consistent with the rules I set. There were so many occasions where I would let little things slide (something simple like one student calling out the answer when I asked them to raise their hands) and very quickly I learned that the little things can snowball into bigger problems (suddenly all 20 students are randomly calling out their answers).
Classroom management looks very different across different age ranges. What motivates or incentivizes younger students may not work for middle school students, so teachers use a bunch of different classroom management techniques. But don't worry, if you enter into this profession, you will be able to learn from tons of best practices from teachers in your program or school on what has worked for them! This was a very important and rewarding part of the job: figuring out how to keep all students excited to learn and having fun, but also following rules and being productive.
Thank you, Maeve!
Josie
Robin Ramirez
I'm in HR and was a former middle school math and science teacher
3
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Robin’s Answer
HI Josie!
This is a BIG question and the answer really varies depending on the age of the students. Most younger kids are still very eager to please adults where as older, especially teens are way beyond that. They are trying to figure out who they are, where they belong and lots of other social stuff.
As mentioned above, I think classroom management is one of the hardest things to tackle, and you need to do it successfully right from the beginning of the year or the rest of the year will be a huge struggle. Another really hard thing to tackle is time management and stress. Teaching is NOT a typical 8-9 hours working each day with weekends off. You will put in long days and work weekends. So be prepared for that. Start to learn and practice good self care and stress management. Figuring out now what works for you, whether that's exercise, reading for pleasure, hanging with your pets or friends, or just being outside, will be a great help when you find you need it most.
As far as the easiest thing about teaching, that really depends on you and your students. You may find it varies from year to year. I found creating lesson plans was pretty straightforward and easy when I got to teach subjects I really liked. It was more challenging when it was a subject I was not that into. I also found connecting to the students easier certain years over others. But don't worry, you will find your groove.
This is a BIG question and the answer really varies depending on the age of the students. Most younger kids are still very eager to please adults where as older, especially teens are way beyond that. They are trying to figure out who they are, where they belong and lots of other social stuff.
As mentioned above, I think classroom management is one of the hardest things to tackle, and you need to do it successfully right from the beginning of the year or the rest of the year will be a huge struggle. Another really hard thing to tackle is time management and stress. Teaching is NOT a typical 8-9 hours working each day with weekends off. You will put in long days and work weekends. So be prepared for that. Start to learn and practice good self care and stress management. Figuring out now what works for you, whether that's exercise, reading for pleasure, hanging with your pets or friends, or just being outside, will be a great help when you find you need it most.
As far as the easiest thing about teaching, that really depends on you and your students. You may find it varies from year to year. I found creating lesson plans was pretty straightforward and easy when I got to teach subjects I really liked. It was more challenging when it was a subject I was not that into. I also found connecting to the students easier certain years over others. But don't worry, you will find your groove.
Jerry Tingstad
Professor/middle school teacher/48 years
123
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
First, the "requirements for the job", as you put it, depend upon the state and school district one teaches in, so I cannot answer that question, as I do not know where you wish to teach. And Perhaps you do not know where you wish to teach. But if it is in Ohio, and you get your teacher training and certification in Ohio, you're all set. If you wish to teach in another state, I would also attend college/university there for obvious reasons.
What is the easiest in teaching middle/elementary education? While there are several challenges, the easiest of the mix, in my opinion, would depend upon the teacher and her or his personality and level of comfort in differing situations.
Many find the most challenging to be the first day/week of class with a new class. Regardless of all the rules and routines, the most successful classes are those where the students feel that they and the teacher are a single unit and they are the "insiders" and al try to work together. If that doesn't happen, and it should happen early, the year could be... ahh... rather difficult.
What is the easiest in teaching middle/elementary education? While there are several challenges, the easiest of the mix, in my opinion, would depend upon the teacher and her or his personality and level of comfort in differing situations.
Many find the most challenging to be the first day/week of class with a new class. Regardless of all the rules and routines, the most successful classes are those where the students feel that they and the teacher are a single unit and they are the "insiders" and al try to work together. If that doesn't happen, and it should happen early, the year could be... ahh... rather difficult.
Thank You!
Josie