teachers...

let's say you had to give advice to someone about grades. would you say it is probably easier to teach the lower grades than it is to teach the higher grades?
for instance, comparing 1st to 5th...
smaller class size
h/w is easier to grade

can you come up with arguments for each? i want to hear your opinions.

Hmmm...that's a tough one. Obviously the curriculum is easier in 1st grade, but the kids are still very needy. Sometimes it's harder to teach the lower grades, because it's harder to break simple things (to adults) down even more for the kids.
The upper grades are fun, with a meatier curriculum, but then you have to deal with more of the social problems that kids encounter at that age.
I really think it depends on the person :)
I teach K right now, and it was a hard adjustment for me to make, cause I taught 4th last year.

I think it depends. I have taught mainly 6th, 7th and 8th. I have had people tell me that I am nuts because those are the hardest grades. But I could NEVER function in a first grade classroom. I did preschool as a teacher assistant one summer and it was a nightmare!

I like the middle level kids because they are fun and while they are immature, I have found that I can reason with them. I think lower grade kids need someone who is more maternal and willing to be the mommy when they need it. I don't have that kind of personality.

I think all grades are hard, but for different reasons and in different ways. If I was told that I had to teach second or third grade next year, I would be a mess because kids at that age are different from the age I am used to. I would find that MUCH harder. But if you put a second grade teacher in a sixth or seventh grade room, they too would probably be stressed dealing with hormones and boy crazyness and stuff like that!

It's a tough thing to make an argument for. I hope I made sense.

I really think it depends... many elementary teachers wouldn't want to deal with the curriculum of the HS, or with the laziness, apathy, attitude, sex, drugs, and other problems related to teenagers. But, you can really develop nice relationships with the kids at this age.

In the HS, the other teachers wouldn't want to teach elementary because the kids are too babyish and you can't have a real conversation with them. I wouldn't know what to do with a crying kid. Or bathroom issues. ew.

Middle school, it seems most people say is the hardest. They are still babies in a way, but with raging hormones.

It really depends on the person--is your friend a motherly type? (not that hs doesn't need that--just in a different way)

Can your friend observe a classroom in each setting? to see what it's like?

I dont think any grade is harder or easier... it all depends on the person!! Each and every grade is an entire different world with its own positives and negatives...

I teach at both the HS level and K & 1st... there are days when the HS totally stresses me out and I cant wait to get to the elem school, and then there are days where it is vice versa.

What I love about K & 1st is, they are so loving and also easy to trick... you can have a lot of fun with them.. but you have to watch it because you have to be soo careful with everything you say to them, they are also so needy and it can be frustrating at times. The older elem grades you can obviously do more with them, but they arent as scared of the teacher anymore... you also dont get those hugs and the 'i love yous' from the older kids!

I love the HS because you can form a different type of relationship with the students... but sometimes you get students that have major attitudes no matter what you do... some of them already just dont care and sometimes you just cant change that...but you can also get some amazing things out of them...

I also student taught at the jr high... I had a ton of fun with my 7th graders... but it can be tough at times, because they can often act very immature...

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Posted by cjb88

I dont think any grade is harder or easier... it all depends on the person!! Each and every grade is an entire different world with its own positives and negatives...

I teach at both the HS level and K & 1st... there are days when the HS totally stresses me out and I cant wait to get to the elem school, and then there are days where it is vice versa.

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I totally agree. I'm an SLP and have K-8 and 12th grade. It totally depends on the person! I also think it is good for teachers to try different grades throughout their careers!

It all depends on the person!
I'm a Middle School teacher and I would never be able to deal with high schoolers...or elementary kids...
But people think I'm crazy for loving 8th grade as much as I do.
There are positives and negatives to every grade - so it's tough to say

i'm bumping b/c i would love to hear more arguments about early elementary vs. upper elementary.
ie: planning for lower vs. upper
behavior for lower vs. upper
class size
h/w
parents
etc.

it is that time of the year when we have to put in for grades we'd like and although there is still the chance of being excessed, these may be two option. sooooo...share please

this is a great thread for teachers-to-be like me!

jen, now we just need answers!
i know having done this past year in 5th, it has been awesome but exhausting. i'll tell you the pros and cons.
pros-the kids are able to think about higher concepts and make some good predicitons, they are hysterical, they are capable of so much, the projects are so creative, you can talk to them like mini adults, they can be soooo sweet, they can be changed into adults with discussions.

cons-h/w is overwhelming, tests are annoying to grade, social issues up the wazoo, behavior issues, hormones, attitudes, large class, smelly (hormones again) talkative, opinionated, fresh, tons of planning, lots of testing.

i had an amazing year and would do it again, but i'm curious about the little little guys, too.

This is my third year teaching 4th grade.

Some of the pros: the kids are a little older, a little more mature when they get to 4th grade; they are beginning to move into more sophisticated novels and more sophisticated math; they are still young enough to be silly, but old enough to reason with

Cons: TESTING. All of the tests are high stakes -- schools are rated based on the results of the 4th grade state tests. Our school is labeled 'in need of improvement/corrective action,' so our test scores are super important - and may cause us to become a SURR school. By the time math rolls around (next week), everyone is exhausted. It is a lot of pressure. In our school, 4th grade teachers spend the most time in extra PD sessions/meetings with the principal than any other grade.

I plan to teach 4th next year, but in 06-07, I really want to teach 3rd grade and then move with that class to 4th grade. Hope this helps

I've been teaching kindergarten for over 5 years and would never trade it for anything... BUT....

even though the curicc. is easier, they are SO needy! You have to be very flexible in your day and know that you won't get through everything you planned. You also are constantly on, that is, you NEVER get to sit down! There is no such thing as independent work where the teacher can work with a small group of students that need extra help. They ALL need you and right away! It's a total balancing act. I have had a 3rd grade retired teacher that I know sub for my class a few times and she told me she would NEVER come back as a kindergarten teacher. I would never want to trade kinder. for anyting on the other hand.

When I said you never sit down, I reall mean it. My DH teaches 4th grade in the same building as me and jokes that kinder is all play.... not true! They have very little play (our district's decision) and the kids get very cranky if you dont manage to entertain them while you teach them.

As for parents.... Most likely, you are the first one to tell them that their little genius isn't the angel or prodigy that they think they are. They fight you tooth and nail and it can get ugly sometimes. If nothing comes of it... the upper grades look at you as the one who looked the other way. And nothing much usually does get done as kindergarten is a very developmental age where some of the kids are just not ready for certain concepts. I do recognize this but with expierence I have been able to red flag the ones who will need help down the road.

h/w wise.... we do give it. They have 1 assignment each night reinforcing skills from that day. I do hand out a pack on Mondays that is due of Fridays to help out the busy parents. It is simple to grade.

I don't mean to sound like I'm Bit**ing about my grade. I do love it. I just gave you teh negs first.

The positives are that you are the first one to help them read. You are the one to give them the first real school expierence and you become a mother to them. They love you unconditionally and will do anyting to please you. You really feel like you make a difference in their lives and it does take a really special kind of person to deal with what I call the 'kindergarten drama'. YOu would think kindergarten is easy, but trust me, it's not..... Just ask Matron!

PS- class size wise.. I have 25 this year and am projected to have 27 - 30 next year! this is without help! AND- I teach in a very good and desirable district!

I agree that it depends. For me, personally, I found 5th to be much easier than Kindergarten, but, I enjoy teaching content much more than teaching children how to glue.

It really depends on the person. I know people who thought third grade was rediculously hard, while Kindergarten was just a blast.

As stated above, for Kindergarten/1st grade, the content is pretty basic, but that's what it needs to be at that age. However, I know from experience that having to repeat how to do a simple action (such as how to glue) everytime you teach can just be exhausting.

In 5th grade, I had to deal with the back talk, as well as having to reteach myself some content, but honestly, planning was much easier for me in 5th grade than in Kindergarten since I enjoyed it so much more.

I don't think any grade is any easier than any other, it's just the challenges that are different.

ETA: My 5th grade placement was in a title 1 school, so I had 19 kids. Kindergarten I had 27 in the AM, 23 in PM, and 3rd grade I had 23. Those two placements were not title 1 schools.