My cousin is certified for grades K - 5. Next year will be her first year teaching in a brand new building. The principal told her she could select the grade she would like to teach, because she is only the 4th teacher to be hired. She has to let him know on Monday. I have taught several grades, but I am HOOKED on second grade. I would like her to have other opinions, too. Remember this will be her first year teaching.
Which grade would you select? Why Do you mind sharing any pros/cons?
I think she needs to think about her strengths and interests as a teacher. Does she know a lot about teaching beginning readers? Does she feel she is more primary or intermediate when it comes to connecting with kids. I personally feel the 2 most stressful grades to teach are 1st and 3rd. 1st b/c they really learn so much about reading and 3rd b/c they begin taking the state tests. However, 4th and 5th grade teachers need to really know their content areas and be able to integrate them into all subjects. What was her student teaching experience? Has she doing any substituting? Will she have a mentor? Sorry I am asking more questions than giving advice, but I really think choosing a grade should be more about what she feels she is comfortable.
I teach 5th and I know I am better with older kids. I could never survive K or 1. I could not put up with the shoe tying and nose wiping... bathroom accidents... UGH. I have often said I could never teach below 4th.
I agree 2nd is probably a good grade to start with if she has a choice (and is a little more patient than I am). The kids are more independent and they don't cry at the drop of a hat. They also can probably handle their own bathroom issues pretty well.
There may or may not be state testing in this grade in your state... there isn't in mine. So, that would take some of the pressure off. Also, the kids work probably won't take too long to correct (in 5th it takes forever w/ all the writing).
One of the up-sides of teaching older kids would be that there is likely to be fewer helicopter parents that are overly sensitive to the fact that she's a new teacher.
Thanks for your comments. She did her student teaching in grade 1 in a public school and is now a long term sub in grade 3 in a private school. She says that she sees pros and cons in both grades. She really doesn't know what grade she would like to teach, but doesn't want to ask the principal to select for her.
I loved, loved, loved teaching 5th. I moved to a public school and teach 6th now (just Lang Arts) and I am enjoying that as well.
The pros to 5th are that the kids are relatively independent, have a sense of humor, but still want to please their teachers, are up for any sort of game or reward, but are willing to work for it (can understand that if they work on task all morning, that we can play a game in the afternoon); they love group work, you can have more in-depth discussions, they are thrilled if you treat them as *big* kids but still love stickers, etc. I liked the curriculum I taught in 5th as well.
I can't think of any real cons unless you consider state testing a con.
I'm with bparsons - I student taught 3rd and liked that, but I like kids a little bit older. I could never teach a younger grade, either, for the reasons she said!
. . . fourth; the can work independently, but hormones haven't surged yet. The still want to please the teacher, they don't tattle like younger children, and they are the best people on Earth.
I agree with 2nd! I taught kindergarten, 1st and K/1, but I LOVE SECOND GRADE!!!!!!!! These kiddos are fairly independent, they still love school and easily buy into what you want them to do. I have yet to find any cons, besides I guess they could be more independent, but my kiddos are great! I would go with second. There is sooooo much that you can do with them! What an awesome thing to be able to choose what you want to teach your very first year!
Well I agree, she needs to follow her heart! I started in K and was there for 9-10 years! I LOVED IT and never thought I would want to do anything else- Then I got a chance to go to first, and that was hard for me. Now I am in second and I LOVE it even more than K!! My vote would be second. Mainly because they still like school, want to please, will do a lot just for praise! Also there is no state testing at this level!
I have taught for 10 years and for 7 of them I taught 3rd. It was a fun age, but always dreamed of being a 2nd grade teacher. Two years ago that dream came true when I was moved down to 2nd grade. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! ( Can you tell?)
I agree it can be stressful to teach 3rd because of the testing and you do feel like it is a reflection of your teaching (even though others taught these children before you).
3rd they are also starting to get a little attitude.
I love 2nd because they are still young and you can do the cutsie stuff with them and they still like their teacher.
I wish her luck and I guess I would tell her she needs to go with her gut and where she feels she can do her best work.
I currently teach 4th grade, which I love. I have taught across the elementary spectrum, K-6. Without knowing any more about your cousin, I would advise her to ask for second grade. Many people have given great reason for teaching at that level. I'll give my own view - it's boring! I was truly bored when I taught second grade.
K and 1 are lively because the kids have such short attention spans. Also, there are more parent issues at that age. You do see tremendous growth as you work with the students. In the upper grades (4-6) there is more pressure due to testing. (Although in my state all grades are tested. Science and Social Studies testing begins in 3rd grade.) You teach in longer blocks of time, but you have to keep the kids on schedule in order to get to every subject every day. I personally like the curriculum in the upper grades.
So, for a first year teacher, I can't think of a more ideal grade than second. It's a good place to learn classroom management. She won't have any trouble with the curriculum. The kids are still sweet and their parents are still available to help with parties, etc.
11-20-2009, 02:21 PM
Which grade would you select? Why
Well I agree, she needs to follow her heart! I started in K and was there for 9-10 years! I LOVED IT and never thought I would want to do anything else- Then I got a chance to go to first, and that was hard for me. Now I am in second and I LOVE it even more than K!! My vote would be second. Mainly because they still like school, want to please, will do a lot just for praise! Also there is no state testing at this level!
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